Kimigayo 君が代 Explained: Lyrics and Meaning of Japan’s National Anthem
Learn About Kimigayo: The Oldest National Anthem in the World
Japan’s national anthem, Kimigayo 君が代 きみがよ , is one of the oldest and shortest national anthems in the world. Its lyrics encapsulate history, culture, and symbolism, and deeply express Japan’s values and identity.
Despite its short length, the anthem has a long history and has been the subject of controversy due to its historical background and differing interpretations.
This article will explain the source, lyrics and meaning of Kimigayo.
National Anthem of Japan || Words of The Song
National Anthem of Japan || Kimi-ga-yo-wa
National Anthem of Japan || Chiyo-ni-yachiyo-ni
National Anthem of Japan || Sazare-ishi-no Iwao-to-narite
National Anthem of Japan || Koke-no-musu-made
National Anthem of Japan || Points of Controversy
National Anthem of Japan || FAQs
National Anthem of Japan || Words of The Song
First, let’s take a look at the lyrics.
君が代は
きみがよはKimigayo-wa
千代に八千代に
ちよにやちよにChiyo-ni-yachiyo-ni
さざれ石の
さざれいしのSazare-ishi-no
巌となりて
いわお となりて
Iwao-to-narite
苔のむすまで
こけのむすまでKoke-no-musu-made
These lyrics were first written in the Kokin Waka Shu (古今和歌集 こきんわかしゅう ), the first imperial anthology of waka poetry in the early 10th century. The author is unknown.
The following is a quote from the English translation by Basil Hall Chamberlain, a British scholar of Japanese studies:
Thousands of years of happy reign be thine;
Rule on, my lord, till what are pebbles now
By age united to mighty rocks shall grow
Whose venerable sides the moss doth line.
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National Anthem of Japan Meaning || Kimi-ga-yo-wa
The overall meaning of the lyrics can be seen in the translation above, so let’s look at them in detail, line by line.
In the first line, 君が代は きみがよは contains a term 君 きみ . In Japanese, kimi is a word for reigner and a second person pronoun.
So many have argued over the interpretation of the word kimi. The character 君 represent a person issuing a decree and governing the people. In the 10th century, however, this waka was sung in celebratory ceremonies, and kimi did not necessarily mean emperor.
代 よ yo means to change by turn and therefore means reign or a specific period of time. So kimi-ga-yo can be interpreted as Your Majesty’s (emperor’s) reign and simply your era.
Until the Edo period, the idea that it meant you between ordinary people was common, but in the reign centering on the emperor after the Meiji period, kimiwas considered to mean the emperor in particular.
National Anthem of Japan || Chiyo-ni-yachiyo-ni
千代 ちよ chiyo means 1,000 years or a very long time.
八千代 やちよ is 8,000 years or even more long time than chiyo. 八 はち is read ya here. In Japanese, 8 is used to represent a very large number, as in eight million gods (八百万の神 やおよろずのかみ , yaoyorozu-no-kami).
Chiyo is sometimes used for a girl’s name. Origami made of Japanese paper is called chiyogami.
National Anthem of Japan || Sazare-ishi-no Iwao-to-narite
さざれ石 さざれいし – sazare-ishi is pebbles. さざれ means very small, tiny and this term is only used in this song. In modern Japanese, sazare-ishi is almost a proper noun which indicates the stone in Kimigayo.
Iwao 巌 いわお means rocks. In modern Japanese, Iwa 岩 いわ is used instead of iwao.
A small stone is 石 いし ishi
a big rock is called 岩 いわ iwa
An even larger, huge rocks are called 巌 いわお iwao
In response to chiyo-ni-yachiyo-ni, the line refers to a long period of time in which small pebbles accumulate to form a huge rock.
Scientifically speaking, sazare-ishi is made up of small pieces of stone that have been buried by calcium carbonate and transformed into one large block of stone.
The pebbles are solidified by rainwater dissolving the limestone and causing the calcareous material to condense into a concrete-like structure.
These rocks can be found throughout Japan, and many are decorated with sacred straw ropes and have become objects of worship and tourist attractions.
National Anthem of Japan || Koke-no-musu-made
Koke 苔 こけ means moss. It means until so much time has passed that a large rock formed over a long period is covered with moss. In Japanese, when moss grows, it is called Koke-ga-musu 苔が生す こけがむす .
It symbolizes strength, durability, and persistence, using imagery from the natural world in which a small stone becomes a large, mossy rock. The short, poetic expression reflects Japan’s cultural values of harmony with nature.
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National Anthem of Japan || Points of Controversy
Kimigayo occupies a proud place in Japan, but it has been the subject of controversy, especially after World War II.
Because of the anthem’s association with imperialist-era Japan, it was sometimes seen as a symbol of the country’s former militarism and imperialism during the postwar era of the Peace Constitution.
After the defeat in 1945, Japan made a fresh start as a peaceful nation under a new constitution, but in the process, Kimigayo was sometimes criticized as a song symbolizing pre-war militarism.
In particular, the issue of singing the national anthem in schools was the subject of heated debate, with some teachers and students refusing to sing “Kimigayo.”
In 1999, the Japanese government enacted a law legally recognizing Kimigayo as the official national anthem, but the debate still continues as to whether the song reflects modern democratic Japan or continues to have the character of a relic of imperialism.
Today, many Japanese interpret Kimigayo in a more neutral or positive sense.
More and more people focus on its poetic beauty and its message of longevity and stability. While the historical association with the emperor is undeniable, the anthem is seen as a prayer for peace and prosperity for Japan as a whole.
For the younger generation in particular, the sense of being tied to the pre-war historical background has faded, and Kimigayo is often perceived simply as the national anthem. It is sung with pride at sporting events and national celebrations, and has become a symbol of today’s peaceful and prosperous Japan.
As Japan continues to evolve as a nation, the meaning of Kimigayo continues to change. It continues to be a powerful symbol, not only as an anthem to the emperor, but also as a prayer for the prosperity of the nation as a whole.
Does your national anthem have any of its own controversies like the Japanese one? Let us know in the comments section!
National Anthem of Japan || FAQs
What is the national anthem of Japan?
The national anthem of Japan is called Kimigayo (君が代 きみがよ ).
Who wrote the lyrics?
The lyrics of Kimigayo were taken from an old Japanese poem, but the author is unknown
What is Kimigayo about?
The song sings of long-lasting prosperity, likening it to the time it takes for a pebble to become a rock and moss to grow.
When were the lyrics created?
The waka poem on which the lyrics are based is said to have been established in the 10th century.
Why is Kimigayo controversial?
After the defeat in 1945, Kimigayo was sometimes criticized as a song symbolizing prewar militarism.
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