Back Kimi ga Yo Afrikaans نشيد اليابان الوطني Arabic نشيد اليابان الوطنى ARZ কিমিগায়' Assamese Kimi ga yo AST Yaponiya himni Azerbaijani Japuonėjes gimnos BAT-SMG Kimigayo BCL Гімн Японіі Byelorussian Кімі Га Ё BE-X-OLD
| English: His Imperial Majesty's Reign | |
|---|---|
| 君が代 | |
 | |
National anthem of  Japan | |
| Adopted | 1869 (originally) 1999 (officially) |
| Audio sample | |
Played by the U.S. Navy Band | |
"Kimigayo" (Kanji: 君が代, Hiragana: きみがよ, say: kee-mee-GAH-yoh, meaning "His Imperial Majesty's Reign") is the national anthem of Japan.[1] 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.
- ↑ Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Japan Fact Sheet, pp. 2-4; retrieved 2011-12-23.
- ↑ Hood, Christopher (2001). Japanese Education Reform: Nakasone's Legacy, p. 166; English translation of Kimi ga Yo: "May your reign Continue for a thousand, Eight thousand generations, Until the pebbles Grow into boulders Lush with moss"