Editing Kimigayo (section)

=== Postwar Japan (1945–present) ===
==== 1945 to 1999 ====
During the [[Occupation of Japan|Allied occupation of Japan]] (led mainly by the [[United States]]), there were no directives by the [[Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers]] to restrict the use of "Kimigayo" by the [[Government of Japan|Japanese government]]. This was different from the regulations issued that restricted the use of the ''[[Flag of Japan|Hinomaru]]'' flag.{{sfn|Goodman|Neary|1996|p=81}} Along with the encouragement to use "Kimigayo" in the schools to promote defence education and [[patriotism]], the national broadcaster [[NHK]] began to use the song to announce the start and ending of its programming.{{sfn|Goodman|Neary|1996|p=82}}

==== Since 1999 ====
[[File:国旗及び国歌に関する法律.jpg|thumb|alt=A page with Asian characters and a black-and-white version of the Japanese flag left above|The ''Act on National Flag and Anthem (Japan)'' as it appears in the Official Gazette on 15 August 1999]]
The "[[Act on National Flag and Anthem]]" was passed on 13 August 1999, choosing both the ''Hinomaru'' and "Kimigayo" as Japan's national symbols. The passage of the law stemmed from a suicide of a school principal in Hiroshima who could not resolve a dispute between his school board and his teachers over the use of the ''Hinomaru'' and "Kimigayo".{{sfn|Aspinall|2001|p=126}}

[[Prime Minister of Japan|Prime Minister]] [[Keizō Obuchi]], President of the [[Liberal Democratic Party (Japan)|Liberal Democratic Party]] (LDP) decided to draft legislation to make the ''Hinomaru'' and "Kimigayo" official symbols of Japan in 2000. His [[Chief Cabinet Secretary]], [[Hiromu Nonaka]], wanted the legislation to be completed by the 10th anniversary of the coronation of [[Akihito]] as Emperor.{{sfn|Itoh|2003|pp=209–210}} This is not the first time legislation was considered for establishing both symbols as official. In 1974, with the backdrop of the [[1971 Okinawa Reversion Agreement|1972 return of Okinawa Prefecture]] to Japan from the U.S. and the [[1973 oil crisis]], Prime Minister [[Kakuei Tanaka]] hinted at a law being passed legalizing both symbols.{{sfn|Goodman|Neary|1996|pp=82–83}}

The main supporters of the bill were governing parties, the LDP and the [[Komeito]] (CGP), while the opposition included the [[Social Democratic Party (Japan)|Social Democratic Party]] (SDPJ) and [[Japanese Communist Party|Communist Party]] (JCP), who cited the connotations both symbols had with the war era. The JCP was further opposed for not allowing the issue to be decided by the public. Meanwhile, the [[Democratic Party of Japan]] (DPJ) could not develop party consensus on it. President of the DPJ and future prime minister, [[Naoto Kan]] stated that the DPJ must support the bill because the party already recognized both symbols as the symbols of Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpj.or.jp/news/?num=11044 |title=国旗国歌法制化についての民主党の考え方 |access-date=17 January 2010 |date=21 July 1999 |publisher=Democratic Party of Japan |trans-title=The DPJ Asks For A Talk About the Flag and Anthem Law |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728091749/http://www.dpj.or.jp/news/?num=11044 |archive-date=28 July 2011 }}</ref> Deputy Secretary General and future prime minister [[Yukio Hatoyama]] thought that this bill would cause further divisions among society and the public schools.{{sfn|Itoh|2003|pp=209–210}}

Before the vote, there were calls for the bills to be separated at the [[National Diet]]. [[Waseda University]] professor Norihiro Kato stated that "Kimigayo" is a separate issue more complex than the ''Hinomaru'' flag.{{sfn|Calichman|2005|p=211}} Attempts to designate only the ''Hinomaru'' as the national flag by the DPJ and other parties during the vote of the bill were rejected by the Diet.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dpj.or.jp/news/?num=8506 |title=国旗・国歌法案、衆院で可決 民主党は自主投票 |access-date=18 January 2010 |trans-title=Flag and Anthem Law Passed by the House, DPJ Free Vote|date=22 July 1999 |publisher=Democratic Party of Japan |language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728091823/http://www.dpj.or.jp/news/?num=8506 |archive-date=28 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The House of Representatives passed the bill on 22 July 1999, by a 403 to 86 vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/SENTAKU/syugiin/145/0001/14507220001047c.html|title=第１４５回国会 本会議 第４７号|access-date=17 January 2010|date=22 July 1999|publisher=National Diet Library|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714043020/http://kokkai.ndl.go.jp/SENTAKU/syugiin/145/0001/14507220001047c.html |archive-date=14 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The legislation was sent to the House of Councilors on 28 July and was passed on 9 August. It was enacted into law on 13 August.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shugiin.go.jp/itdb_gian.nsf/html/gian/keika/1CE3AB6.htm|title=議案審議経過情報: 国旗及び国歌に関する法律案 |access-date=17 January 2010|date=13 August 1999|publisher=House of Representatives|language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323180056/http://www.shugiin.go.jp/itdb_gian.nsf/html/gian/keika/1CE3AB6.htm |archive-date=23 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>