Niigata
prefectureshiraganagreenwhite
The flag of Niigata features a white mon emblem on a green field. The emblem is a stylised rendering that combines circular and flowing elements, representing the hiragana に (ni), the first syllable of Niigata. The design suggests the flowing waters of the Shinano River and the rice paddies that define the prefecture's landscape. The green background symbolises the lush rice fields of Japan's top rice-producing region.
Niigata is Japan's top rice-producing prefecture and the birthplace of Koshihikari, considered the finest rice variety in the country.
Adopted: 1963
