Editing Kimigayo (section)

=== Empire of Japan (1868–1945) ===
[[File:Shimogamo-Sazareishi-M1641.jpg|thumb|''Sazare-Ishi'' pebbles are believed to grow into boulders in some legends. A photo taken at [[Kamo Shrine|''Shimogamo'' Shrine]] in [[Kyoto|Kyōto]].]]

The lyrics first appeared in the {{lang|ja-latn|[[Kokin Wakashū]]}}, a poetry anthology published in ca.920, as an anonymous poem. The poem was included in many anthologies, and was used in a later period as a celebration song of a long life by people of all social statures. Unlike the form used for the current national anthem, the poem originally began with "''Waga Kimi wa''" ('my lord') instead of "''Kimiga Yo wa''" ('my lord's reign').{{sfn|Goodman|Neary|1996|p=78}} The first lyrics were changed during the Kamakura period, while the rest of the lyrics stayed the same. Because the lyrics were sung on informal occasions, such as birthdays, there was no sheet music for it until the 19th century.<ref name="JPRI79" />

In 1869, [[John William Fenton]], a visiting British military band leader, realized that there was no national anthem in Japan, and suggested to [[Ōyama Iwao|Iwao Ōyama]], an officer of the [[Satsuma Clan]], that one be created. Ōyama agreed, and selected the lyrics.<ref name="Scotsman">{{cite web|author=Aura Sabadus |date=14 March 2006|title=Japan searches for Scot who modernised nation|publisher=Johnston Press Digital Publishing |url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=379822006 |access-date=10 December 2007|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121216103557/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=379822006 |url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2012|work=The Scotsman}}</ref> The lyrics may have been chosen for their similarity to the [[God Save the Queen|British national anthem]], due to Fenton's influence.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web |author=Colin Joyce |date=30 August 2005 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/08/30/wjapan30.xml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216065311/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2005%2F08%2F30%2Fwjapan30.xml|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2007|title=Briton who gave Japan its anthem |work=telegraph.co.uk|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited|access-date=10 December 2007}}</ref> After selecting the anthem's lyrics, Ōyama then asked Fenton to create the melody. After being given just two<ref>{{cite book|last=Boyd|first=Richard|author2=Tak-Wing Ngo|title=State Making in Asia|publisher=Routledge|year=2006|page=40|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WF-ucX4oywIC&q=kimigayo&pg=PA40|isbn=978-0-415-34611-5|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=29 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229221403/https://books.google.com/books?id=WF-ucX4oywIC&q=kimigayo&pg=PA40|url-status=live}}</ref> to three weeks to compose the melody, and only a few days to rehearse, Fenton debuted the anthem before the Japanese Emperor in 1870.<ref name="Telegraph" /> This was the first version of "Kimigayo". This was discarded because the melody "lacked solemnity", according to the Japanese government,<ref name="MOFA">{{cite web|url=http://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/11NFlagAnthem.pdf|title=National Flag and Anthem|work=Web Japan|publisher=Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs|year=2000|access-date=11 December 2009|archive-date=15 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615104013/http://web-japan.org/factsheet/en/pdf/11NFlagAnthem.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> although others believe it is because the melody was actually "unsingable" for the Japanese.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GeasCAAAQBAJ|title=Republic or Death! Travels in Search of National Anthems|last=Marshall|first=Alex|publisher=Windmill Books|year=2016|isbn=978-0-09-959223-5|location=London|page=104|quote=Fenton's effort was overhauled in 1880 because it turned out to be completely unsingable if you were Japanese – 'Japanese is not a tonal language, but it has its highs and lows, and he got it completely wrong, 'Professor Kazuo Fukushima, the director of Japan's Music Historiography Research Institute, told me – but after the rework it grew in prominence, especially as Japan's ruling elite tried to create a modern country...|access-date=18 October 2020|archive-date=29 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229221456/https://books.google.com/books?id=GeasCAAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref> However, this version is still performed annually at the ''Myōkōji'' temple in [[Yokohama]], where Fenton served as a military band leader. ''Myōkōji'' serves as a memorial to him.<ref name="Scotsman" />

[[File:Curt-Netto-Japanese-National-Hymn-Coverdesign-1880.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Franz Eckert]]'s notes, presented to the Meiji-Tennō in 1880 (cover design by [[Curt Netto]])]]
In 1880, the [[Ministry of the Imperial Household]] (current [[Imperial Household Agency]]) adopted a new melody composed by Yoshiisa Oku and Akimori Hayashi. The composer is often listed as [[Hiromori Hayashi]], who was their supervisor and Akimori's father. Akimori was also one of Fenton's pupils.<ref name="Telegraph" /> Although the melody is based on a traditional mode of Japanese court music, it is composed in a mixed style influenced by Western hymns, and uses some elements of the Fenton arrangement.<ref name="Gottschewski">Hermann Gottschewski: "''Hoiku shōka'' and the melody of the Japanese national anthem ''Kimi ga yo''", in: ''Journal of the Society for Research in Asiatic Music'' (東洋音楽研究), No. 68 (2003), pp. 1–17. Published by [http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/tog/ The society for Research in Asiatic Music] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211083829/http://wwwsoc.nii.ac.jp/tog/|date=11 February 2009}}</ref> The German musician [[Franz Eckert]] applied the melody with Western style harmony, creating the second and current version of "Kimigayo". The government formally adopted "Kimigayo" as the national anthem in 1888 and had copies of the music and lyrics sent overseas for diplomatic ceremonies.<ref name="State Making in Asia">{{cite book|last1=Boyd|first1=Richard|last2=Ngo|first2=Tak-Wing|title=State Making in Asia|publisher=Routledge|year=2006|page=36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r8IDxzZ4SQIC&q=kimigayo&pg=PA36|access-date=14 October 2010|isbn=978-0-415-34611-5|archive-date=29 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229221403/https://books.google.com/books?id=r8IDxzZ4SQIC&q=kimigayo&pg=PA36#v=snippet&q=kimigayo&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> By 1893, "Kimigayo" was included in public school ceremonies due to the efforts of the then [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)|Ministry of Education]].<ref name="JPRI79" />

[[File:Kimigayo-Anthem-Japan-Sheet-Music-1888.png|thumb|Kimigayo sheet music, 1888]]
Kōzō Yoshimoto ({{lang|ja|吉本光蔵}}, 1863–1907) [<nowiki/>[[:ja:吉本光藏|ja]]] composed the Kimigayo March ({{lang|ja|君が代行進曲}}) [<nowiki/>[[:ja:君が代行進曲|ja]]] based on the anthem and another composition called ''Defense of the Japanese Empire'' ({{lang|ja|皇国の守り}}) by [[Isawa Shūji]].<!-- https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/君が代行進曲 states that Yoshimoto used 皇国の守. Although this is very likely, I could not find a proof that 皇国の守 was composed before 君が代行進曲 or that 君が代行進曲 borrowed the theme from 皇国の守 (and not vice versa). However, I could verify that the 君が代行進曲 clearly uses both melodies. --> The march is still performed by the [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]] band.<ref>{{Citation |title=Kimigayo March - Japanese Navy Band | date=27 May 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pldWsWV320 |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230210222545/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pldWsWV320&gl=US&hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the turn of the 20th century, "Kimigayo" was beginning to be closely associated with the idea of honouring the [[Emperor of Japan|Emperor]]. It was also associated as a part of Japanese education. However, opinions expressed in an Osaka paper in 1904 calls "Kimigayo" a song for the [[Imperial House of Japan|imperial family]] and not the state as a whole.{{sfn|Goodman|Neary|1996|p=79}} [[Uchimura Kanzo]], a Christian leader in Japan, stated at the turn of the 20th century that "Kimigayo" is not the anthem of Japan by saying the song's purpose is to praise the emperor. According to Kanzo, a national anthem should express the feelings of the people, and not of the divine emperor.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Shields|first1=James J. Jr.|title=Japanese Schooling: Patterns of Socialization, Equality, and Political Control|publisher=Penn State University Press|year=1989|page=241|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ssHlZQvhOA4C&q=kimigayo+Kakuei&pg=PA241|access-date=14 October 2010|isbn=978-0-271-02340-3|archive-date=29 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229221422/https://books.google.com/books?id=ssHlZQvhOA4C&q=kimigayo+Kakuei&pg=PA241#v=snippet&q=kimigayo%20Kakuei&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref> The Japanese were not familiar with "Kimigayo" as the anthem until there was a surge of celebrations after victories in the [[First Sino-Japanese War|First Sino-Japanese]] and [[Russo-Japanese War]]s. Previously, papers were critical of fellow Japanese who could not sing "Kimigayo" properly at ceremonies overseas.<ref name="State Making in Asia" />

During [[World War II]], the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese Empire]] ordered that schoolchildren, both from its homeland and [[Japanese colonial empire|its colonies]], were to sing the "Kimigayo" anthem and salute Emperor [[Hirohito]] every morning.