Houseflags of Japanese shipping companies

These flags are based upon a booklet called Fune to Hata (Ships and Flags) published by the Nihon Maru Memorial Foundation in 1994 following an exhibit at the Yokahama Maritime Museum by the same name and during the same year. Photocopies of the flags were provided by Nozomi Kariyasu for these images.

The photocopies show actual flags, not artistic images. Several different sizes are shown. The flags, particularly from 1916, are weathered and torn, but allow for some degree in accuracy in representation.
Phil Nelson, 04 February 2002

The flag is shown in reverse hoist.

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Tatsuma-Kisen. Spelling varies with sources but Tatsuuma Kisen K.K. appears to be the correct version. The company originated from Tatsuuma Shoji which was formed in the 19th Century with the shipping division becoming independent in 1909 adopting this particular title in 1916 and then in 1947 it was re-organised as Shinnihon Kisen K.K. According to another source the image is correctly portrayed and is not "reverse hoist" i.e. the small symbol is in the upper fly. This source also shows a small variation in the design of the internal part of the major emblem with the 2nd of the 2 smaller horizontal lines not being connected to the vertical line in the hoist i.e. it becomes "T" like being connected to the lower segment by the other vertical line and then the 3rd of the vertical lines in the fly meets the top horizontal line of the lower part of the design so that it becomes continuous. This flag, without the small symbol in the upper fly, was that of the parent company Tatsuuma Shoji.
Neale Rosanoski, 5 March 2003