日本国歌 (Nihon Kokka) – Japanese Anthem

13th April – 卯月

Each countries have its own national anthem, and so does Japan. Japanese national anthem is called 君が代 (Kimi ga yo) and it is known for the shortest anthem in the world. It consists of 32 words and only have about 45 seconds to finish up singing.

Kimigayo was written by unknown person in Heian era(794~1185), on Japanese poem. Then the music sound was added in 1880 and sang by Japanese. Surprisingly, the time when Kimigayo became the official Japanese anthem was just 21 years ago, in 1999.

Before the world war 2, this song was sung by people to wish for the peace in nation. Then during the war, it was sung to praise the emperor, therefore this song was prohibited to sing after the war by GHQ, the American organisation occupied Japan during that time. Some decades has passed, and now it became Japanese anthem, this song has long history.

The lyrics of this song is following:

君が代は　千代に八千代に　さざれ石の　巌となりて　苔のむすまで

Kimi ga yo ha Chiyo ni yachiyo ni Sazareishi no Iwao to narite Koke no musumade

There are several opinions toward the meaning of this lyrics, so I have picked 3 of the possible meanings of this song.

1.Wishing for the peace in the world

This world / long time like 1000 years and even 8000 years / just like the amount of time that the small stones gradually becomes a huge rock / and the rock gets moss growing – Hoping that this world may last peaceful for long long time.

2.Love song of men and women

Mentally and physically grown up men and women / over the time like 1000 years, 8000 years / cooperate together with strong bonds like the small stones gathering together and become one huge rock / and long time like moss growing on the rock.

3.Wishing for the emperor prosperity

This world where men and women support each other / long time like 1000 years and even 8000 years long / long like small pebbles becomes a huge rock / even the moss grows on the rock – may the world governed by emperor keep prosper that long.

The common things over those 3 hypothesis are, very long time, but differ what the object that they wish to last that long. one is Peace, other is bonds and emperor prosperity. Even another one I found was wishing for the long life for the people surrounding oneselves.

This song actually continues 2nd and 3rd melody, however those were added long after the poem was released, and it did not become popular among people. Therefore for the anthem we only have 1st part of the song as a complete anthem.

What is the anthem in your country? How does it sound?