Flag of Ryukyu

[1] Corroborating this was the discovery of a wooden coffin inscribed with a mitsudomoe and the year 1500 found in the Momojana tombs in Northern Okinawa.

[2][3] Around the time of the Invasion of Ryukyu by Satsuma Domain in 1609, historian Stephen Turnbull conjectured that the Hidari Gomon was prominently displayed on flags, banners, and soldiers' uniforms.

[4] After being defeated by Satsuma, Ryukyu was allowed to retain its status as an autonomous kingdom, maintaining its traditional tributary relationship to China.

[6] In 1797, a privately owned ship chartered by the kingdom was wrecked on its way to Satsuma and in the next year eventually drifted to Chōshi, a port in modern-day Chiba Prefecture.

The Americans believed that the new flag, which was based on the family crest of the Shō Dynasty which had ruled the Ryukyu Kingdom, would stir a Ryukyuan nationalistic spirit.

USCAR displayed the flag at the Ryukyu-American Friendship Centers, but was soon disappointed with the Okinawans' apathy toward the former royal family's symbol.

[11] Eventually USCAR made the Flag of the United States the naval ensign for ships from the Ryukyu Islands,[12] but many Okinawans opted for the Hinomaru in protest.

In 1967, a new naval ensign was approved for use by Okinawans by USCAR; it was the flag of Japan with a pennant that read "Ryukyus" and "琉球" (Chinese characters for "Ryukyu") above it.