It is unclear whether both sides of the flag carried the same device. It does not show through the cloth in the photograph dated about 1916; notes from 1930 place the small device at the hoist and reverse the upside L with the hoist at left. The Yokohama Maritime Museum catalogue’s 1916 view places the hoist at right, an early Japanese practice; if both sides were identical, its small device would lie at the fly when viewed with the hoist at left. Alan Watt states that sources showing the design black are in error.
Alan Watt dates this new funnel to about the 1970s. Rosanoski considered a connection with the formation date given by Lloyds more likely, here printing that date as 1982. It is unclear whether the flag continued in use.
Hachiuma began as the shipping department of Hachiuma Co. in 1878, with Hachiuma Steamship founded on 7 January 1925. It joined Nippon Yusen Kaisha in 1964. Lloyds gives a 1981 formation date which Rosanoski could not explain from the company history. Operating interests included Galaxy Shipping in Singapore, formed in 1989, and Trans-Asia Shipping in Malaysia, established in 1974 according to the company but dated 1978 by Lloyds, which gives a 49% interest with the balance held in Malaysia. Pegasus Maritime was also listed as a subsidiary.
Japan: Hiogo-Ken, Nishinomiya and Kobe in successive sources.
Keep the explicit scope label independent; no alias or company identity is inferred.