Kimigayo
Videos
"Kimigayo" is the national anthem of Japan. The lyrics are from a waka poem written by an unnamed author in the Heian period (794–1185), and the current melody was chosen in 1880, 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.
Sazare-Ishi pebbles are believed to grow into boulders in some legends. A photo taken at Shimogamo Shrine in Kyōto.
Franz Eckert's notes, presented to the Meiji-Tennō in 1880 (cover design by Curt Netto)
The Act on National Flag and Anthem (Japan) as it appears in the Official Gazette on 15 August 1999
A photo taken on November 6, 2007, as "Kimigayo" was being played before a volleyball tournament in Ōsaka