At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Rising Sun flag, a symbol associated with Japanese imperialism, appeared at the men’s cycling event, sparking controversy and outrage.
On Saturday, during the men’s road cycling event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Rising Sun flag was displayed again, sparking controversy.
A Japanese fan at the base of Montmartre Hill in Paris displayed the Rising Sun flag to support their country’s athlete. This marks the second time the controversial flag has appeared at a cycling event, following its use during the men’s road race at the Tokyo Olympics.
In response, Professor Seo Kyung Duk of Sungshin Women’s University stated, “After the report from the JoongAng Ilbo, many netizens informed me about this, and I immediately sent a protest email to the IOC.”
In his complaint email, he explained, “The Rising Sun flag was prominently used by Japan during its invasions of various Asian countries, symbolizing Japanese militarism and imperialism.”
He further added that the reuse of the Rising Sun flag denies the history of Japan’s past invasions and serves as a reminder of the horrors of war for Asians.
He emphasized that the IOC must properly recognize the historical context of the Rising Sun Flag and take necessary actions to ensure that it does not appear again during the remaining period of the Paris Olympics.
Seo cited, in particular, FIFA’s immediate intervention when the Japanese cheer squad displayed the Rising Sun flag during the recent Qatar World Cup.