Flag of Palau

Flag origins

Palau's flag has a light-blue field and one yellow disc. The disc represents the full moon, not the sun. Government explanations connect blue with the surrounding Pacific and the moon with favorable times for fishing, planting and harvesting. Blau Skebong's design won a 1979 competition, was adopted by law in 1980 and entered use on 1 January 1981. The 5:8 flag places the moon slightly toward the hoist to appear balanced when flying.

Flag story

A popular Japanese story claims that Palau modeled its flag on Japan's, sometimes adding that Japan is the sun and Palau the moon. Palau did experience Japanese administration, but in a recorded 2010 interview Skebong denied specifically taking the Japanese flag as his model. The resemblance alone does not establish that origin story.

Editorial notes and references

Edited by ABELHA WORKS. The English text translates the administrator-edited Japanese description. Legends should be distinguished from documented history. General reference links do not substantiate every statement in the text.

• Palau — general information on Wikipedia
• Japan MOFA: countries and regions (Japanese)

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