Translation of the song Japanese National Anthem - 君が代 artist National Anthems & Patriotic Songs

君が代は

May the reign of the Emperor

千代に八千代に

continue for a thousand, nay, eight thousand generations

細石の

and for the eternity that it takes

巌となりて

for small pebbles to grow into a great rock

苔の生すまで

and become covered with moss.