Rightwing Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa created a stir Tuesday by backing a plan to display the Hinomaru flag in the ministry's press briefing room.
Though officially Japan's national flag since 1999, the Sun Flag remains controversial due to its association with the nation's militarist past.
According to the Finance Ministry, because briefings are official functions, it is appropriate to display the flag. However, a ministry official was reluctant to admit to reporters that the idea originated with Nakagawa.