Voice of Japan via Tweeting Daily

本日は、建国記念の日 旗日です。February 11, 2012-Japan Celebrates National Foundation Day (Kenkoku kinen-no-hi)

 

February 11, 2012-Japan Celebrates National Foundation Day (建国記念の日Kenkoku kinen-no-hi)

 

The year 2012 is the 24th year of Heisei (平成２４年) since Japan's Imperial Household Agency made an official announcement of the Demise of The Emperor Hirohito on January 7, 1989, and The Crown Prince Akihito succeeded to become the 125th Emperor of Japan. Japan celebrates the 2,672nd anniversary of its founding.

  

 Ki mi ga yo- National Anthem of Japan

 

Official 君が代は 千代に八千代に さざれ石の いわおとなりて こけの生すまで

Hiragana きみがよは ちよにやちよに さざれいしの いわおとなりて こけのむすまで

Romanized Letters Kimigayo wa Chiyo ni yachiyo ni Sazare-ishi no Iwao to narite Koke no musu made

 

English May your reign Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations, Until the pebbles Grow into boulders Lush with moss

Poetic English by English Professor Basil Hall Chamberlain Thousands of years of happy reign be thine; Rule on, my lord, till what are pebbles now By ages united to mighty rocks shall grow Whose venerable sides the moss doth line.

 Japan's national anthem is said to be the oldest known and existing national anthem in the world.

 

Kigen wa 2,600 nen-A song for celebrating the 2,600th (1940) Anniversay of Japan's Founding.

 

This footage shows the actual celebration of the 2,600th Anniversay of Japan's Founding

 

紀元節は、『日本書紀』が伝える神武天皇の即位日として定めた祭日。1873年（明治6年）に、2月11日と定められた。1947年（昭和22年）、片山哲内閣により、祝日の法案に紀元節が「建国の日」として盛り込まれていたが、連合国軍最高司令官総司令部により削除さた。　

佐藤栄作内閣は、建国記念の日となる日を定める政令（昭和41年政令第376号）を定めて、「建国記念の日」を2月11日とした。同政令は即日施行され、翌1967年（昭和42年）の2月11日に実施された。こうして、紀元節の祭日であった2月11日は、「建国記念の日」として祝日となった。

以上紀元節の情報は、ウイキペディアより　因みに、この紀元節（建国記念の日）は、旗日ですので国旗のご用意を。

A Song of Today: 同期の桜 Cheery Blossoms in the Same Year (Douki no Sakura) #UN

 

 

1. You and I are cheery blossoms, blooming at the same military academy in the same year. We are determined to die like cheery blossoms fall off cherry trees. We will courageously die for our nation.
2. You and I are cheery blossoms, blooming at the same military academy in the same year. Although we are not related to one another by blood, we cannot help but care for one another.
3. You and I are cheery blossoms, blooming at the same air base in the same year. At sunset, looking up the southern sky, we do not see our  squadron leader plane coming home yet.
4. You and I are cheery blossoms, blooming in the same year. We may fall off apart from one another. We will still meet again, blooming on cherry trees at Yasukuni Shrine in the spring

(The above is an translation by Ted Yokohama. All rights reserved)

1.  You and I are cherry blossoms in the same year, blooming in the yard of the same military academy. We are determined to die like cheery blossoms fall off cherry trees. We will courageously die for our nation.
2. You and I are cherry blossoms in the same year, blooming in the yard of the same military academy. Although we are not related to one another by blood, we cannot help but care for one another.
3. You and I are cheery blossoms in the same year, blooming in the yard of the same air base.  At sunset, looking up the southern sky, we do not see our squadron leader plane coming home yet.
4. You and I are cheery blossoms blooming in the same year. We may fall off apart from one another. We will meet again,  blooming on cherry trees at Yasukuni Shrine in the spring.

(The above is an translation by Ted Yokohama. All rights reserved)

A Song of Today: A Mother of Kudan (where Yasukuni Shrine is situated at)

 

 

First sold in 1939

Composed by Mr. Hachiro Noshiro 

Lyrics written by Mr. Akihito Ishimatu

 

Walking patiently on foot for hours, not knowing the way to Yasukuni Shrine from Ueno station to Kudan,

Relying on my cane, I have come all the way to see you "My son!".

Torri Gate seems thrusting in the sky,

I just can't help crying over happiness, knowing you are enshrined here as "a god"  at such a magnificent shrine.

Putting my hands together and kneeling down, I pray for you with Buddha's words on the spur of the moment instead of worshiping you.

All of a sudden realizing what I'm doing, I get confused and panicky over it. Oh! My son! Please forgive me for being a country bumpkin.

 (The above is an translation by Ted Yokohama. All rights reserved)