# In 1999, Japan Redesigned Its Flag Japan standardized its national flag in 1999 by centering the red disc and adjusting the proportions, a change so minor the old and new versions look nearly identical. Imgur user Steezyskreezy stacked the two flags under a caption about empty promises in February 2018, and the side-by-side turned into a reaction format for anything that claims to change but barely does. By 2020 Redditors were pairing it with No Need to Thank Me and It Ain't Much, But It's Honest Work to sell the gag. ## Origin Japan's Law Regarding the National Flag and National Anthem, enacted in 1999, locked the Hinomaru's proportions at 2:3 and placed the red disc in the center, replacing the slightly off-center 7:10 design used since 1870[4]. The red also got marginally brighter, which is the whole gag. Imgur user Steezyskreezy posted the earliest documented meme use on February 6th, 2018, stacking the two flags above the caption 'When I tell my girl I'll change for her,' a thread that drew only about 1,620 views and two comments over the following years[1]. - **Platform:** Imgur (source), Reddit (viral spread) - **Creator:** Steezyskreezy (earliest known poster) - **Date:** 2018 ## Overview Posts in this format place the pre-1999 and post-1999 Hinomaru one above the other, then layer a caption or a second meme on top to argue that whatever is being described has changed about as little as the two flags did[1]. The gag lives on a visual trick: viewers must squint to see the difference, so it fits software redesigns, car liveries, and romantic partners claiming to be new people[4]. Sh3dinja's September 2020 /r/memes post slotted the flags into an It Ain't Much, But It's Honest Work setup, with a farmer tipping his cap to the 1999 designer[3]. Other versions use the comparison to admit minimal effort while claiming credit for a total overhaul[2]. ## How to Use Place a comparison image, before/after screenshot, or bold declaration above the stacked flags. The top half typically reads as a dramatic change announcement, with the bottom half showing near-zero difference. Mixing the setup with another well-known template, such as No Need to Thank Me, is common[2]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is In 1999, Japan Redesigned Its Flag? It is a reaction and comparison meme that stacks the pre-1999 and post-1999 Hinomaru flags to mock changes that look identical to the original[4]. ### Where did In 1999, Japan Redesigned Its Flag come from? Imgur user Steezyskreezy posted the earliest known version on February 6th, 2018, paired with a caption about telling his girlfriend he would change[1]. ### What does In 1999, Japan Redesigned Its Flag mean? It calls out something as a cosmetic or meaningless revision, since the actual 1999 flag update was almost invisible to the naked eye[4]. ### How do you use In 1999, Japan Redesigned Its Flag? Users typically place the stacked flags under a caption or another meme template and point them at a product refresh, redesign, or personal promise that barely moved[3]. ### Is In 1999, Japan Redesigned Its Flag still popular? Yes. The format was still hitting /r/memes in late 2024 with jokes about Google's YouTube branding refresh[7]. ## References 1. [https://imgur.com/gallery/possibly-repost-i-laughed-WjfaN]() 2. [https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/fc17t9/can_i_copy_your_homework_sure_but_change_it_a/]() 3. [https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/iq2xq2/subtle_but_noticeable_change/]() 4. [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/in-1999-japan-redesigned-its-flag]() 5. [https://www.reddit.com/r/2meirl4meirl/comments/deke4u/2meirl4meirl/]() 6. [https://www.reddit.com/r/formuladank/comments/skaqt6/haass_2021_vs_2022_livery/]() 7. [https://www.reddit.com/r/memes/comments/1gae7d6/literally_1999/]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/in-1999-japan-redesigned-its-flag Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library