Yokohama International Congress of Vexillology

ICV Flag 23 Colours of Japan: Red & White



In 2009 Yokohama, Japan hosted the 23rd International Congress of Vexillology. I was honored to speak and be a delegate at Asia's first international vexillological congress. I spoke about the flags of Japan, specifically the sub-national prefectural flags. You can think of prefectures as being the 'states' of Japan. Japan has 47 prefectures, kind of like the 50 US States. In Canada they call their sub-national districts 'provinces' while in Australia they call em' like they do in the USA: states.

My paper focused on the flag symmetry phenomena of Japan. You can watch a video on my Youtube sight that illustrates this point. It also has videos about Canada, Australia, and the USA:

http://www.youtube.com/user/McMaddish#p/u/3/qKDnMNfGoY8



To the right is a mock cover of the book about the flag symmetry phenomena in Japan. Partially visible as a zoomed close up is the Japanese National Flag. In the foreground are several prefectural flags aligned with their partner.

After living in Japan for five years, I traveled to all 47 prefectures. I was a University Student in Osaka and high school teacher of English in Fukuoka Prefecture at Kurume Chikusui High School on the JET Program. The JET Program is a National Japanese Government sponsored public English Education program.

I became very familiar with Osaka and Fukuoka and coincidentally I have aligned them in my book! Osaka and Fukuoka are at the East and Western ends of the Inland Sea of Japan. Thus both have strong reputations for business like acumen, more so for Osaka.


This 'flag symmetry' phenomena takes place in both Eastern and Western Cultures. It is not an isolated event or some kind of 'fluke.'

The ICV 23 congress was hosted by Japans National Vexillological Association. It was held in the prestigious Yokohama Port Memorial Hall. After WWII it was one of the many US-Allied Command centers. Now it's open to the public as community forum.

I gave my lecture at several other smaller community events. They were all amazed that a foreigner knew so much about their country. Most Japanese are totally unaware that their 'state-prefectures' have flags. Civic duty in Japan is less than enthusiastic and most people rarely dare express personal political opinions.

Andorra & Moldova

Flag of Andorra
Andorra, the name almost sounds like something out of a fairly tale? Well it's kinda' true. This little nation of Europe is hidden in between France and Spain.


Kinda of a mix but not quite!

Moldova? Sounds like a nice drink? Perhaps a type of Vodka? No Moldova too is a nation hidden, but in between Romania and Ukraine.

Flag of Moldova

Andorra and Moldova are 'small' nations whose colours unite South Eastern Europe with South Western Europe. Both are Christian and geography has put then on 'opposite' Catholic polarities. Roman Church for Andorra and Greek Orthodox for Moldova.


Andorra has a recent peaceful history being able to exist in the twilight zone as a nation mixed between France and Spain. While Moldova has been recently rocked by ethnic violence after the fall of the Soviet Union and a rather contentious place to live.
Challenged by her Slavic and Romanian Ethnics; although united in faith there is a contentious division in culture and language.


Both flags have coats of arms to distinguish themselves from other look a likes: Romania and Chad. I'll write about them later.

Iceland & Norway, Lands of the Midnight Suns....OR.....

...Lands of the 'Starry Night Moon at High Noon!'


Iceland and Norway are partners in the Arctic Lands with fjords and snow a plenty. They were for hundreds of years ruled by Denmark.

FLAG OF ICELAND
Both nations employ the Scandinavian Cross of matching design and conversed colours.

Here a trick not to get them confused. Iceland is closer to the UK thus it looks more like the British flag, and like the UK Iceland is an island nation separate from the European mainland. And Norway is much closer to Denmark and it looks more like the great Dane flag, and like Denmark she is connected to the European mainland.

FLAG OF NORWAY

Geographically Iceland is at the very fringe of officially European lands that satisfy the requisite that it must be lands due north of Africa. But that's only on the eastern side, the west side of Iceland is not due north of Africa and a part of the North American Continental Plate.

This geographic uniqueness fits Iceland as she sits at a nexus between Europe and North America. Iceland was an essential jumping point to reach the Americas by the Norse peoples.

Although Iceland is a part of Europe she is closer to North America by her proximity to Greenland. Norway also has a portion of herself closer to North America's Greenland than Europe, Svalbard.

And Yes! Santa Clause has homes is Norway and Iceland. Mrs. Clauses family is originally from Iceland. While His uncle twice removed is from Norway.

Greece & Uruguay, The Sun & Cross

Flag of URUGUAY

Greece and Uruguay are a union of the Old and New Worlds. They are worlds away yet much closer than most. Greece is a nation of the Eastern Mediterranean while Uruguay culturally is of the Western Mediterranean, since they are Catholic and speak Spanish.


Flag of GREECE

As you can see both flags have blue and white stripes, nine to be exact. The primary difference is that Greece has 5 blue and 4 white, while Uruguay has 5 white and 4 blue. The upper left box - Canton - also has differing symbols. Greece a cross, Uruguay a sun.

These two flags unite the sun with the cross. Both nations are dominantly of the cross but their rivers of Christianity diverged at the turn of the first millennium, when the European Church split between Rome and Constantinople.

This grandest and first rip in the Christian Universe occurred simultaneously as the remnant wake of a distant sun in a 'galaxy far, far away' exploded - BECOMING A SUPERNOVA - in 1054. Since then Uruguay flows with the Pope of Rome while Greece follows the first patriarch of the Orthodox Church near Mt. Athos.

The sun is perhaps the most brilliant symbol in all the heavens, even if you were blind you can still feel the presence of this most luminous specter in the skies. It crosses the heavens with gentility and is never late nor too early. It's constant perfection is a metaphor for the grand cosmic creator and many civilizations for a time have worshiped this icon from Rome, Greece, Scandinavia, and along the ancient coasts of South America.

The cross is perhaps the most widespread icon of the world, on every continent and in nearly every nation a small community of Christians uses this symbol to invoke their spirit into the divine.

Around the world a union of Christianity and the perpetual cycle of the sun have collided into the creation of Christmas. Bitter for some, yet sweet for most this cosmic celebration of the sun with the birth of Christ has a spirit of its own, the Spirit of Christmas.

Recently both nations came into their modern age during the same time period. Uruguay's road to independence was molded by Spain, Brazil, and Argentina. Finally with British assistance Uruguay became an independent nation in 1827. Greece finally broke free from the Ottoman Empire in 1829, again with British help. Greek recognition as a nation formalized with the 1830 London Protocol, while in 1830 Uruguay had is first Constitution.

Their stripes and colours shimmer along similar lines. I ask you is it all just a coincidence or is something strange going on here?

Iran & Tajikistan

In the heart of Asia two Islamic & Persian speaking sisters have been at the center of it all. Tajikistan was for a brief moment in history a part of the Chinese Empire while Iran was once a part of the ancient Greek Empire under Alexander the Great.

Flag of IRAN

During the age of colonial empires, they sat at the Nexus between the two great Empires of Europe. The leader from the West, the United Kingdom adopted Iran and the leader from the East, Russia adopted Tajikistan.

During the Cold War they were initially polarized to opposite ends. Iran became a puppet for the United States while Tajikistan became a puppet of the Soviet Union. However the deep connection to Islam would allow them their space between these two technologically superior 'alien nations.'


Flag of TAJIKISTAN

Near the end of the Cold War, Iran would thaw itself out first. Resisting both the USSR and USA choosing the path of their native version of Islam.

Subsequently a tragic river of blood was spilled in the 1980 Iranian-Iraq war as Islamic Brother fought Islamic Brother. Likewise after the fall of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan entered a deadly phase of Civil War with Islam on Islam warfare.

Today both nations are relatively stable but yet resentful of the past history with the USA for Iran and the USSR for Tajikistan.

Iran and Tajikistan are Islamic Nations in between Eastern 'World of Middle Earth' (China) and Mediterranean World of Rome. They worship God in a similar format (Islam) and speak in a similar tone, Persian.

Switzerland & Turkey

Switzerland & Turkey are blood brothers of the Ancient Roman Empire, like Romulus and Remus. Long ago their lands had temples to the Gods - Jupiter, Venus, and Apollo.

Their paths would differ. Eventually much of Switzerland forsook the Holy Roman Empire. Turkey too would further forsake the Christian Roman Empires. As Switzerland would bury her Pagan Heritage for the rest of Eternity, so to would Turkey discard her Christian Roots till the End of Time.



Their beginning as national histories separate from their neighbors are synchronized to the same era. The first Swiss Cantons united in 1291 AD, while the Turkey became its own dominion in 1299 AD.

The Cross and Crescent are ancient symbols of the perpetual dichotomy of Western Civilization. Two great faiths were born out of the children of Abraham that allowed gentiles access to the God of Abraham - Islam and Christianity. Their cosmic contest for souls and power in the Mediterranean World cut it in two - guaranteeing neither 'spiritual operations systems' the Bible or Koran a monopoly.

Both Christianity and Islam originated from Asia. On the African Coast Islam rooted itself deepest while on the European Coast Christianity dominated the lands. But there is a balance, since there is a sizable Christian Population on Egypt likewise there is a large Islamic Population in South Eastern Europe.

The Swiss are different from their European brothers whence they became a neutral nation forsaking the spillage of blood since WWI, while Turkey too is different from here Islamic sisters as she followed the ways of Europe after WWI becoming a secular democracy. She also returned to the alphabet of Rome. Turkey discarded the holy script of Arabic in public usage to be more like her European Cousins to the west than her Islamic Brothers to the east.

Sad it was after the fall of Rome. Sadder even more after the Fall of Turkey's Ottoman Empire for Europe would witness the greatest and most tragic war between nations, the War of Endless Tears (1936-1945). Both Switzerland and Turkey were mostly neutral nations during this most tragic yet grandest and final war of European Warlords. Although Turkey respectfully joined the Allies three months before Hitler was defeated.

This war has many names sometimes it is called World War II (Winter 1941-1945) and by others it is called The Great Patriotic War (Summer 1941-1945) in the East.

Their flags strikingly mirror the red crescent and red cross flags, more so for Switzerland as she was the originator of this organization. Their fields of red are charged with a centered white symbol of their dominant faith. They are so near to Rome yet so far away.

Thailand & Coasta Rica, Freedomland & the Rich Coast

FLAG of COSTA RICA

Thailand used to be called Siam, which referred to only the people of Siamese ethnic however a name change to Thailand had a dual purpose. It was inclusive of all the other ethnics that were not Siamese and it was a proud notion that they were never ruled by the nations from the West. Literally translated Thai means 'Free,' thus Freedom-land.

FLAG of THAILAND

Thailand and Costa Rica are both tropical nations and were relatively centers of peace during the raging tempest of the Cold War. Central America & South East Asia were blazing with war, poverty, imperialism, Communist insurgencies, and all sorts of human induced tragedies. Somehow Thailand and Costa Rica made it out relatively unscathed unlike the killing fields of their neighbors Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Nicaragua, Panama, Columbia, El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Thailand & Costa Rica were lucky and played their cards correctly. Thailand walked the peaceful path of the Buddhist while Costa Rica walked with peaceful path with the Pope.

It is a union of the Golden Buddha with the Golden Cross.