内外旗章便覧 / National Flag Handbook of Japan and Foreign Counties

This book collects some flags arranged into five parts: Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. It introduces national flags and emblems, and naval and civil ensigns of Japan and other countries in color. Its date of production is unknown but assumed to be in the early Meiji era. In the Asia section, the tomoe crest, popularly known as hidarigumun, identifies the "flag of Ryukyu”. The kikukamonshō (a sixteen-petals, eightfold chrysanthemum crest) represents Japanese emperor's family, in this manner, the tomoe was the crest of the royal Shō family and was regarded as the emblem during the Ryukyu Kingdom. This crest on the flags of the tribute ships was often used to be the symbol of Ryukyu’s subordinate position to China and Yamato (Japan).