Rising Sun Flag
South Korea asked the IOC to ban the Japanese Rising Sun Flag from the 2020 Summer Olympics, because South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism claims the flag is a symbol of Japan's imperialist past and recalls "historic scars and pain" for people of Korea just as the swastika "reminds Europeans of the nightmare of World War II". Use of the flag in international sporting events such as the Olympic Games is quite controversial, as it was used for waging aggressive war against many countries in Pacific regions including the Attack on Pearl Harbor. However, the flag has been utilized since before World War II and it is still used by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and a variant by the Japan Self-Defense Forces. South Korea did not formally raise objections against the flag until 2011. According to the Associated Press, the IOC issued a statement in response to South Korea's request, saying, "sports stadiums should be free of any political demonstration. When concerns arise at games time we look at them on a case by case basis." Meanwhile, the South Korean team put up a provocative banner on the balcony of the Olympic village, reminiscent of the 16th century war between Japan and Korea. The Korean team removed the banner after the IOC warned it was a violation of the Olympic Charter. According to the South Korea's Olympic Committee, the IOC will apply the same rules if the Rising Sun Flag is raised. The South Korean team provided its own food service for the team, claiming that the food served in the Olympic village might be contaminated with radiation.