30/08/2026
The Air Jordan 12 “Rising Sun” has one of the more interesting stories from the 2009 Jordan lineup 🇯🇵🌅
Early pairs came with Rising Sun flag graphics on the insoles, but Jordan Brand delayed the release after controversy surrounding the symbol.
The flag has strong ties to Japan’s imperial military history and remains deeply offensive in parts of Asia, especially Korea and China. Critics have also compared its historical meaning to Nazi-era symbols in Europe.
Jordan Brand eventually replaced the graphic insoles with plain white versions before the wider release. A few of the original pairs still made it out, making them much harder to find today.
The “Rising Sun” finally released on November 21, 2009 and has never returned since.
Would you like to see the Air Jordan 12 “Rising Sun” return? 🤔
