Wagakuni (Cherry, Plum, and Chrysanthemum)

"Wagakuni" (我が国), (English: Our Country), also known as "Myōmi no Kokka" (明水の国歌) (English: Myomi National Anthem), is the national anthem of the Republic of Japan. It is also one of the world's shortest national anthems in current use, with a length of 11 measures and 44 characters.

Originally composed as "Kimigayo" (君が代), the Imperial-era national anthem, "Wagakuni" adopted as the Republic national anthem in November 1930. "Wagakuni" uses the original melody for "Kimigayo", but replaced it old lyrics with the new one.

History
Following their victory in the Japanese Civil War, the Nationalist government set up a committee to formulated the new lyrics for old melody of "Kimigayo" in August 22, 1930. The Nationalist still retained the melody as the form of compromise between them and the ultra-nationalistic elements of the military.

The original proposal for lyrics contained the reference of Japanese ultra-nationalistic vision of Hakko Ichiu ("the Sun will bright in Eastern Sea") and the superiority of Japanese race ("We will leading the world liberation"). But, the proposal quickly faced the opposition from the Communist Party of Japan and the Christian People's Party.

The Committee then changed the lyrics to be less ultra-nationalistic. The lines "For our holy Fatherland" used instead "the Sun will bright in Eastern Sea" and "We will unified our march" used instead "We will leading the world liberation".

The final proposal then submitted to the National People's Conference in November 19, 1930 and officially adopted as the official lyrics for the old melody in November 25, 1930.

The anthem then renamed as "Dai-Nippon National Anthem" (大日本の国歌) by the Nationalist Government in November 26, 1930. This anthem even played in the ceremony of the establishment of the Republic in National Palace on February 16, 1931 to accompany the flag hoisting of Mizuho no hata, the national flag of the Republic.

During the World War II, the anti-fascist Provisional Government of Republic of Japan in Vladivostok adopted their own version of the anthem lyrics in January 17, 1944. Those action were the attempt to disassociate the anthem with the Fascist regime and as the part of claim of legitimacy over Japanese island authority.

After the fall of Fascism in Japan on August 1945, the anthem renamed as "Myōmi no Kokka" (明水の国歌) following the adoption of "Myōmi" as the Japan's new official name in 1946, although it still popularly referred as "Wagakuni". In May 1948, the Government of Japan formally adopted the Provisional Government version as the official lyrics of “Wagakuni”

Recent official version
“Hōtōshima” (豊稲島), composed by three kanji characters: 豊 “Abundant” + 稲 “Rice plants” + 島 “Islands”. Together, it can interpreted as “the island who rich with the rice plants”, the reference for Japan as an agricultural nation.

“Daiwa” (大和), is the On’yomi reading of character 大, means “great” and character 和, means “peace; harmony”. Together, "Daiwa" can be translated as “great peace” or “great harmony”. But, Kun’yomi reading of the characters is “Yamato”, the old name for Japan. So, “Daiwa” word can refers both to the entire islands of Japan and to the idea of world peace.