August 15th, 2007
Armistice Day marks the day Japan surrendered to the United States bringing the end to WWII for Japan.
The Nippon Kan gardens has a tall flagpole where an American flag is flown every day of the year in recognition of the efforts of all of the American volunteers who built the Nippon Kan facility. Every day that is except one. On August 15th, Armistice Day, the Japanese flag is flown half mast. Today Japan and the United States enjoy a good relationship and both countries are doing well economically, but Armistice Day reminds us of the great loss on both sides in our mutual past. So for me privately, one day a year, I fly the Japanese flag half mast, on US ground over Nippon Kan.
Written by
Gaku Homma
Nippon Kan Kancho