Flag of Shimane

What the flag looks like

Four yellow katakana マ (ma) curled into rings and joined in a clover-like cloud, on a dark red field.

What it means

Four マ read as "shi-ma", since shi means four: a pun on Shimane. The cloud-shaped ring stands for unity and growth.

How to remember it

Shimane's yellow clover on dark red is four マ (ma): four is "shi", so it reads "shi-ma" for Shimane.

Fun facts

• Izumo Taisha is one of Japan's oldest and most important Shinto shrines.
• The Iwami Ginzan silver mine once produced a large share of the world's silver.

Shimane at a glance

Type

Prefecture (ken)

Island

Honshū

Capital

Matsue

Region

Chūgoku

Population

629,460

Area

6,708 km²

Languages

Japanese

Currency

Japanese yen (¥)

Flag adopted

1968