The national anthem is the symbol of every country, which carries the spirit of the nation and the will of the country. When we hear the passionate melody of "March of the Volunteers", our hearts will surge with love for the motherland and reverence for history. However, the Japanese national anthem "Kimi-no-yo", although short, reveals no small ambition.
The origin of this national anthem is quite legendary. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan began to seek a path to modernization, influenced by the West. Against this backdrop, the British musician William Fenton wrote the national anthem for Japan, and the lyrics were written by the Japanese military figure Oyama Iwa.
After it was played in 1870, the Japanese felt that the song was not solemn enough, so they changed the melody and it is the current version until 1999, when Japan made it the national anthem. From the lyrics translated into Chinese, we can get a glimpse of the Japanese emperor's desire for long-term rule and global domination.
"Our emperor has been passed down for thousands of generations, all the way to eight thousand generations." Such lyrics undoubtedly show that the Japanese emperor wants his rule to last for 800,000 years. This quest for eternal power reflects the solidity of Japan's feudal rule and the budding militarism.
At the same time, the lyrics of the last two lines of the Japanese national anthem, "until the boulder becomes a boulder, until the boulder becomes moss", also seem to imply a process of expansion from small to large. This process is reflected not only in the expansion of the territory, but also in the penetration of its political, economic and cultural influence.
The worship of the emperor and the desire for power in the Japanese national anthem are also closely related to its historical background. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan rose rapidly and emerged from the crisis of becoming a colony with its strong military strength. However, it has also fueled its ambitions for external expansion. From its invasion of the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan to its war of aggression against China, and even its invasion of more than 30 Asian countries in the latter part of World War II, Japan's militarist acts have caused tremendous harm to Asia.
It is worth noting that although Japan's militarism after World War II was severely attacked and restrained by the international community, its ambitions for foreign expansion have not completely disappeared. In some political and military spheres, we can still see the shadow of Japan's attempts to expand its influence.
For example, under the nose of the United States, Japan has quietly built seven quasi-aircraft carriers and hoarded a large amount of nuclear materials, which is to ignore and break the provisions of the pacifist constitution. Therefore, many analysts believe that Japan still has the desire to dominate, and once the time is ripe, Japan will completely abandon pretending and show its fangs.
In stark contrast, China's national anthem, March of the Volunteers, is full of passion to resist aggression and defend the motherland. This song, which was born during the Anti-Japanese Period, still inspires every Chinese to remember history and forge ahead.
For Japan, its national anthem is not just a song, but a reflection of its history and ambitions. From the lyrics, we can feel the Japanese emperor's thirst for power and the shadow of militarism. As neighboring countries, we should be more vigilant against such ambitions and bear in mind the lessons of history.
Finally, back to the evaluation of the Japanese national anthem. Although the lyrics are short at only 28 words, the deep meaning behind them cannot be ignored. It is a reflection of Japan's ambitions. For us, it is only by understanding and being vigilant against this ambition that we can better defend peace and justice.