National Anthem Comparison
Japan vs South Korea
2
Shared themes
✓
Same mood
1002
1002 years apart
✓
Same continent
Comparison Analysis
Japan and South Korea, both Asia nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Japan's "Kimigayo" was written in 905, while South Korea's "Aegukga" dates to 1907.
Both anthems share themes of nature and resilience. Japan additionally explores monarchy, while South Korea also touches on love of homeland and god / faith.
Both anthems carry a solemn tone, creating a similar emotional register despite their geographic distance.
Japan's anthem predates South Korea's by 1002 years, having been written in 905 compared to 1907.
Shared themes
Japan
👑 Monarchy 🌿 Nature 💪 Resilience
South Korea
🌿 Nature ❤ Love of homeland 💪 Resilience ✝ God / Faith
Shared themes:
🌿 Nature 💪 Resilience
Metadata
| Japan | South Korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 905 | 1907 |
| Adopted | 1999 | 1948 |
| Lyricist | Unknown (Kokin Wakashū anthology) | Yun Chi-ho or Ahn Changho (debated) |
| Composer | Hiromori Hayashi | Ahn Eak-tai |
| Language | ja | ko |
| Region | East Asia | East Asia |
Lyrics Side by Side
Japan
君が代
Original
君が代は
千代に八千代に
さざれ石の
いわおとなりて
こけのむすまで
Translation
May your reign
Continue for a thousand, eight thousand generations,
Until the pebbles
Grow into boulders
Lush with moss.
South Korea
애국가
Original
동해물과 백두산이 마르고 닳도록
하느님이 보우하사 우리나라 만세.
[후렴]
무궁화 삼천리 화려강산
대한사람 대한으로 길이 보전하세.
남산 위에 저 소나무 철갑을 두른 듯
바람서리 불변함은 우리 기상일세.
[후렴]
가을 하늘 공활한데 높고 구름 없이
밝은 달은 우리 가슴 일편단심일세.
[후렴]
이 기상과 이 맘으로 충성을 다하여
괴로우나 즐거우나 나라 사랑하세.
[후렴]
Translation
Until the East Sea's waters are dried, and Baekdusan worn away,
God protect and preserve our nation, ten thousand years.
[Chorus]
Three thousand li of splendid rivers and mountains,
Filled with Rose of Sharon, great Koreans, let us forever preserve our great land.
As the pine atop Namsan stands firm, unchanged through wind and frost,
As if wrapped in armour, so is our resilient spirit.
[Chorus]
The autumn sky is void and vast, high and cloudless,
The bright moon is our heart, undivided and true.
[Chorus]
With this spirit and this mind, devoting all our loyalty,
In suffering or in joy, let us love our country.
[Chorus]
Interesting facts
Japan
- 1. The lyrics are over 1,000 years old, taken from the Kokin Wakashū poetry anthology compiled around 905; there the poem begins 'Waga kimi wa' ('my lord') rather than 'Kimi ga yo wa' ('your reign')
- 2. At just 11 measures of music, it takes roughly 50 seconds to perform, making it one of the world's shortest anthems
- 3. It was only formally designated as Japan's anthem in 1999, despite being used since the Meiji era
South Korea
- 1. Composer Ahn Eak-tai wrote the melody in 1935 while studying in the United States, and it was first performed at the end of that year at a Korean church in Chicago. He later settled in Spain and returned to Korea only in 1955, for the first time in 25 years.
- 2. The anthem references Mount Baekdu, which actually sits on the North Korean-Chinese border, meaning South Korea's anthem celebrates a mountain it has no territorial access to.
- 3. No South Korean law formally designates Aegukga as the national anthem: it holds that status by custom.
Listen
Japan
South Korea
