Former Foreign Minister, Iwaya, recently voiced out his opinion regarding the necessity of a law penalizing flag desecration in Japan. Aligning with advocates of free speech, Iwaya argues that such legislation is not needed within the Japanese legal landscape. Exact timing and location of his statement remain unspecified, but this issue draws attention due to its implications on freedom of expression and national sentiments in the archipelago country.

The issue of flag desecration is a point of debate in Japan, involving both national sentiments and freedom of expression. Notwithstanding, many in Japan believe that harsh penalties for such acts can infringe upon citizens' rights to express dissent and would therefore not align with a democratic society. Others, however, argue for the respect of the national symbol as a matter of principle.

Contrastingly, in both the EU and US, laws on flag desecration are varied. The US Supreme Court has ruled that flag desecration is a form of constitutionally protected free speech, but some states have laws against it. In the EU, legislation differs among member states, with some having laws against desecration of national symbols, while others do not.