kimigayo

Kimigayo is the national anthem of Japan. The lyrics come from a waka poem in the Kokin Wakashu, a classical anthology compiled during the Heian period. The poem expresses the wish for the emperor’s reign to endure: “君が代は千代に八千代に / さざれ石の岩となりて / 苔の生すまで.” These lines emphasize longevity of the sovereign’s rule and the permanence of the state.

The current melody was composed in the 19th century for the Imperial Japanese government and was adopted as the national anthem in 1880. The composer is not definitively known; some sources attribute the arrangement to Hiromori Hayashi, a court musician, though authorship remains disputed in various accounts.

Postwar status: After World War II, Japan’s 1947 constitution positioned the Emperor as a largely symbolic figure within a constitutional framework. In 1999, the Act on National Flag and National Anthem designated kimigayo as a national symbol of the State and of the Japanese people, while clarifying that its use is not a religious act. The anthem is performed at official ceremonies, schools, sporting events, and other public occasions.

Controversies and use: The royal imagery and state-symbol connotations of kimigayo have sparked discussion and occasional legal challenges, particularly regarding mandatory singing in schools. Supporters view it as a cultural and historical emblem; critics emphasize concerns about the separation of church and state and potential coercion in public education.

See also: National symbols of Japan; Hinomaru; Kokin Wakashu.