Kimigayo

"Kimigayo"
English: His Imperial Majesty's Reign
君 (きみ) が代 (よ)
	Score of "Kimigayo"
	National anthem of Japan
Lyrics	waka poem, Heian period (794–1185)
Music	Original version:; John William Fenton, 1869; Current version:; Yoshiisa Oku and Akimori Hayashi; (arranged by Franz Eckert); , 1880
Adopted	1869 (original music); 1870 (lyrics); 3 November 1880 (current music);
Readopted	13 August 1999 (law)
Audio sample
	U.S. Navy Band instrumental version file; help;

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1930 orchestral and choral vocal recording

Performed by the Toyama Army School Military Band

MIDI version of Fenton's original (melody only)

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"Kimigayo" (君が代) is the national anthem of Japan. The lyrics are from a waka poem written by an unnamed author in the Heian period (794–1185),^[1] and the current melody was chosen in 1880,^[2] replacing an unpopular melody composed by John William Fenton in 1869. While the title "Kimigayo" is usually translated as "His Imperial Majesty's Reign", no official translation of the title or lyrics have been established in law.^[3]

From 1888 to 1945, "Kimigayo" served as the national anthem of the Empire of Japan. When the Empire was dissolved following its surrender at the end of World War II, the new state of Japan succeeded it in 1947. This successor state was a parliamentary democracy, constitutional monarchy and the polity therefore changed from a system based on imperial sovereignty to one based on popular sovereignty. However, the Allied occupation forces (mainly U.S. military) allowed Hirohito, Emperor Shōwa to retain the throne and "Kimigayo" remained the de facto national anthem for preservation of Japanese monarchy. The passage of the Act on National Flag and Anthem in 1999 recognised it as the official national and imperial anthem.

^ "Japan – Kimigayo". NationalAnthems.me. Archived from the original on 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2011-11-28.
^ "Facts About National Anthems". www.national-anthems.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2023-03-23. The music of the Dutch anthem Wilhelmus was composed in 1568.
^ "Elementary schools face new mandate: Patriotism, 'Kimigayo'". The Japan Times Online. Kyodo News. 2008-03-29. Archived from the original on 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2011-08-20.

[1] "Japan – Kimigayo". NationalAnthems.me. Archived from the original on 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2011-11-28.

[2] "Facts About National Anthems". www.national-anthems.org. Archived from the original on 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2023-03-23. The music of the Dutch anthem Wilhelmus was composed in 1568.

[3] "Elementary schools face new mandate: Patriotism, 'Kimigayo'". The Japan Times Online. Kyodo News. 2008-03-29. Archived from the original on 2015-05-03. Retrieved 2011-08-20.

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