Japan's national anthem

[Linalin]

Japan's national anthem is "Kimigayo" (The Emperor's Reign). At the beginning of Japan's modernization, during the Meiji period, there was no national anthem, but a British military band instructor by the name of John William Fenton brought to Japan's attention the importance of a national anthem. The words came from a tanka by an unknown author in the 10th century anthology, the 'Kokin-wakashu', but could also be found in an 11th century book called the 'Wakan roeishu'. The words were chosen by a man named Oyama Iwao from the present day Kagoshima Prefecture and the music was composed by Futon. The song premiered at a parade in 1870, but the melody was found unsuitable.

In 1880 a new melody was composed by an Imperial Court musician named Hiromori Hayashi. This version, which used the traditional gagaku scale, debuted on the Meiji Emporer's birthday in 1880 (November 3rd), and it was later harmonized by a German man named Franz Eckert to the Gregorian mode. It became the national anthem in 1888.

Although the Emporer lost all political power after World War II, people still sing the song at things like festivals and on national holidays despite objections to the song.

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Kimigayo wa
Chiyo ni yachiyo ni
Sazareishi no
Iwao to narite
Koke no musu made

May the reign of the Emperor continue for a thousand, nay, eight thousand generations and for the eternity that it takes for small pebbles to grow into a great rock and become covered with moss.

(translation from www.japanorama.com/kimigayo.html)