flag waving; flagman; starter (in sports); instigator; leader
Refers to a person who waves a flag to signal or direct, such as a starter in athletics or a traffic guide. Also used figuratively for someone who leads or instigates a movement.
We started at the signal of the flagman at the sports day.
He served as the instigator of the reform movement.
Compound of 旗 (hata, 'flag') and 振り (furi, 'waving'), from the verb 振る (furu, 'to wave').