Everyone sees the Hinomaru as the radiant sun. Children, as we all know, love to paint or draw this symbol of life. The sun would seem to be an ideal emblem of humankind, yet it does not embellish the national flag of any other highly industrialised country. In fact, the reduction of such a complex symbol to a plain circle of expressive red is unique. When the sun does figure in a national flag; it is shown as a face or with a jagged perimeter. Moreover, national flags are often composed of geometric significance. By combining the abstract with the concrete, the Hinomaru has achieved not only the absolute in artistic refinement but also successfully retained the original and essential energies of mankind.