The government has finally put the Hinomaru flag and the "Kimigayo" anthem on the statute book. This has hardly put the matter to rest, however. By rushing the flag-and-anthem bill through the Diet Monday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party chose to ignore the feelings of a large segment of the public who don't feel comfortable with the whole idea.

There is nothing wrong, or unusual for that matter, with giving legal recognition to a national flag or anthem by an act of Parliament. Many countries do that; some even put them in their constitution. By the same token, many countries, especially those with long histories, are equally happy with a national flag and anthem that few know at what particular point in history become the national symbols. More often than not, universal acceptance of nation al symbols -- whether language, flag or anthem -- is a matter of tradition and custom.

That the Hinomaru and "Kimigayo" have become national symbols -- and are equal in status to all national flags and anthems in the family of nations -- was never in dispute. When Japan was admitted to the United Nations in 1956, it was the Hinomaru that was hoisted at the U.N. headquarters, along with the flags of all fellow U.N. members. When Japanese athletes win gold medals at the Olympics, the "Kimigayo" is played and everyone stands as a symbol of respect.