The Japanese National Anthem

Do you want to embarass a Japanese – ask them to sing their national anthem. It is indeed a real sleeper.  It is old – no problem with that – but it is also outdated.

Its title is Kimigayo.

The words can be translate something like –

May you reign for a 1000 happy years

Rule on lord/friend/lover till the pebbles by age grow

and unite to great rocks

with moss all over its strong sides.

Doesn’t that give you goose bumps?

Problem is – it became somewhat of a nationalistic and militaristic anthem and the lord came to represent the emperor during the wars – Sino-Japanese, Russo-Japanese, Manchurian Incident, and Pacific War.

Emperor Showa (the war was lost under his reign) nearly lasted a 1000 years – actually it was just over 60 years.

Every year around graduation time in Japan – there are voices that say Japan should change its anthem – and the flag, too! because they remind them (the Japanese) and the world of a very bad time in Japan’s history.

But, it never changes. But perhaps it should.

What do you think?