Patriotic March

Japanese: 《愛国行進曲》 - あいこくこうしんきょく

…In the face of pressing social conditions, people often express their own feelings through the melodies of existing songs. The lyrics of the popular “Patriotic March” during World War II, “All subjects, together, our great mission to serve the Emperor’s majesty,” were changed to “All subjects, together, drink water and scream.” This suggests that people who felt that their lives and spirits were being oppressed by those in authority were venting their frustrations by changing the lyrics to make authority nonsensical. Also, “January 1st,” a song celebrating the Shihohai ceremony held at the Imperial Palace on New Year’s Day, was sung in elementary schools during New Year’s Day ceremonies from around the Meiji period. …

From [Setoguchi Fujiyoshi]

…From 1908 to 1917, he gave regular performances with his military band at the Hibiya Park Open-Air Concert Hall, and in 1911, he led the military band to perform in various parts of Europe at the coronation of the King of England. In his later years, he composed the Patriotic March (1937). [Shinobu Oe] …

*Some of the terminology that refers to "Patriotic March" is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…社会状況が迫しているなかで，みずからの気持ちをすでにある歌の旋律に託して歌われることが多い。　第2次大戦中にはやった《愛国行進曲》の歌詞〈臣民われら皆共に　御稜威（みいつ）に副（そ）わん大使命〉が，〈臣民我等皆共に　水を飲んで大悲鳴〉と変えて歌われたが，権威ある者に生活，精神を圧迫されていると感じた人びとが，権威をナンセンスなものにしてしまう替歌によって，うさを晴らしていたことがうかがえる。また，元旦に宮中で行われる四方拝を祝う歌《一月一日》は，明治のころから小学校で元旦の式のときに歌うことにされていた。…