#0239 [Stories of National Flags] In Honor of the UK's National Day on May 22: The Union Jack and the 'Taihaku' Cherry Blossom

Hello! I'm Odawara, a flag ambassador from Kushiro!

May 22, 2025, is the UK's National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

The Union Jack is one of the most recognizable flags in the world, but did you know that it actually has a correct top and bottom?

Quiz: Which version of the Union Jack is correct?

Many of you might be thinking, 'Does a flag that looks symmetrical have a correct orientation?'

But in fact, it is an asymmetrical design.

The correctness is determined by how the white and red diagonal crosses overlap,
and the rule is: 'The side where the white band below the red diagonal line is wider is the bottom'—so the correct answer is B.

There is even a reported episode from 1975 when Queen Elizabeth II visited Japan, and the flag was flown upside down due to a hoisting error.

We must be careful!

A flag design layered with history

The current Union Jack is made by combining the following three flags:

• England (St. George's Cross)
• Scotland (St. Andrew's Cross)
• Ireland (St. Patrick's Cross)

The Union Jack visualizes the political structure of the 'United Kingdom' by layering these together.

Note that elements of the patron saint of Wales (St. David) are not included.

It's complex even though we're used to seeing it!

The 'Taihaku' cherry blossoms blooming in the British-style garden in Hanzomon

It's not just about the national flag.

When Prince William visited Japan in 2015, he planted a rare white cherry tree called 'Taihaku'.

There is a miraculous story of Japan-UK exchange behind this: British botanist Collingwood Ingram preserved and propagated the Taihaku cherry tree in the UK based on a painting of the tree, which was on the verge of extinction in Japan, and it was then re-imported back to Japan.
And now, those cherry blossoms are blooming in a British-style garden developed on the former site of the British Embassy housing, which was returned from the UK to Japan.

This garden is now open to the public and is a precious place that anyone can visit.

The bond between Japan and the UK continues not only through the national flag but also through flowers.

The 'Taihaku' blooming quietly under the Union Jack might be a symbol of that.

Peter Rabbit is coming to the UK Pavilion!

The UK will also have a large pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai.

The UK Pavilion has caused quite a stir, but I hear Peter Rabbit is coming today!

Reading the story of a nation through its flag

The familiar Union Jack.

But woven into it is the political integration of the United Kingdom and a history of diplomacy built through flowers.

Through the national flag, we can now touch not only the 'country itself' but also the stories of that nation.

When you look up at the Union Jack,
I would be happy if you could feel, even just a little, the history and hope behind it.

Thank you for reading this far!