The National Anthem of Japan has world's shortest, oldest lyrics. The lyrics consist of 32 syllables made in a thousand years ago. This short anonymous lyrics were originally a traditional Japanese poem (tanka) covered in Kokin Wakashu early in the 10th century. It celebrates longevity of seniors, and some also interpret it as longevity of Emperor's reign.
The small pebble in lyrics ("sazare-ishi" in Japanese) refers to a special limestone called calcareous breccia. When the rain dissolves the limestone, it becomes sticky emulsion. This milk of lime penetrates down below and agglutinates the small pebble into a massive rock. The servant of Prince Koretaka, Fujiwara-no-asaomi Ishiizaemon, found the sazare-ishi at the base of Mt. Ibuki, and he presented the tanka for the auspicious discovery. His tanka was selected in Kokin Wakashu as an anonymous one, and he was later named Ishiizaemon for the credit of the tanka.
The music with element of Gagaku was composed by Hayashi Hiromori, arranged by a German musician Franz Eckert in 1880. Since the legendary crown prince and regent Shotoku Taishi (574-622) founded music families in 604, the Hayashi family has bequeathed the tradition of Gagaku. Not only the lyrics but also the music have their roots for more than a thousand years of history.
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Links
Kokin Wakashu - an anthology of 1,111 Japanese poems compiled and edited early in the 10th century. Gagaku - brief information about Gagaku.
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