Summary

Traditional Hinomaru (red sun at centre of white background) flag of Japan, made by Setsutaro Hasegawa at his home at 21 Little Ryrie Street, Geelong, circa 1930s. This flag symbolises Setsutaro's ongoing connection to his homeland but perhaps a controversial one as an Australian citizen during World War II. It is not know if the flag has ever been flown and remained at the Hasegaway family home till 1971.

Although different in design from the Japanese military's Rising Sun design, both flags were used and raised by the Japanese military during many campaigns and became both symbols of patriotism and wartime attrocities and symbols of Imperial Japan. The Hinomaru has been the national flag of Japan since 1999.

Setsutaro migrated to Australia from Japan in 1897 at the age of 26, just four years before the introduction of the Immigration Restriction Act which severely limited migration to Australia from countries in Asia. He established a laundry business in Geelong and by 1911 he had married an Australian-born woman and had three children.

In 1941 Setsutaro was arrested as an enemy alien and sent to Tatura internment camp in northern Victoria. Released early in 1943 due to his age and poor health, unlike most Japanese interns he was not deported to Japan after the War. Setsutaro remained in Geelong for the rest of his life and died in 1952.

Physical Description

Off-white cotton hand-stitched flag with red fabric circle stitched into centre, one short edge hemmed for flagpole use with two blue, double strings at each end.

Significance

The Hasegawa collection enables the exploration of a number of important historical themes relating to migration, working life, and wartime internment in Victoria. Late nineteenth century and early to mid twentieth century Japanese migration and settlement experiences are little represented in the museum's collections and this collection of clothing, documents, personal items and photographs helps to redress.

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