Kimigayo

"Kimigayo" (Kanji: 君が代, Hiragana: きみがよ, , meaning "His Imperial Majesty's Reign") is the national anthem of Japan.Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs  (MOFA),  Japan Fact Sheet, pp. 2-4; retrieved 2011-12-23. The anthem is based on a poem written by an unknown poet from Japan about one thousand years ago. The music was composed more recently, about two hundred years ago; however, it had to be rewritten shortly afterwards, because the original tune was unpopular.

Although popular for a long period and sung in situations where people from other countries would usually sing their country's national anthem, "Kimigayo" was only considered as Japan's official national anthem in 1999. The law that stated this also defined the Flag of Japan in a similar way.


The national anthem of Japan is one of the shortest national anthems in the world, containing only thirty-two syllables. Because it is so short, the anthem is normally played very slowly.

Lyrics
With Kanji charactersKana (Hiragana) onlyRōmajihttps://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/11NFlagAnthem.pdf National Flag and Anthem (PDF). Web Japan. Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2000. Retrieved 2009-12-11.Phonetic transcription (IPA)English translationPoetic English translationby Basil Hall ChamberlainKimigayo wa
Chiyo ni yachiyo ni
Sazare-ishi no
Iwao to narite
Koke no musu madeMay your reign
Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations,
Until the tiny pebbles
Grow into massive boulders
Lush with mossThousands of years of happy reign be thine;
Rule on, my lord,
Until what are pebbles now
By ages united to mighty rocks shall grow
Whose venerable sides the moss doth line.

References

Other websites 

 Listen to Kimi ga yo  (.ra format)

Category:Asian anthems
Category:National symbols of Japan
Category:1860s songs