[1] At the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Cabinet of Japan sponsored several public competitions for lyrics to Aikoku Kōshinkyoku in September 1937.

Setoguchi was already a noted composer who had written the Gunkan kōshinkyoku, the official march of the Imperial Navy.

今幾度か 我が上に 試練の嵐 哮るとも 断乎と守れ その正義 進まん道は 一つのみ ああ悠遠の神代より とどろく歩調 受け継ぎて 大行進の 往く彼方 皇国常に 栄あれ Miyo Toukai no sora akete Kyokujitsu takaku kagaya ke ba Tenchi no seiki hatsuratsu to Kibou wa odoru Ōyashima Oo seirou no asagumo ni Sobiyuru Fuji no sugata koso Kin'ou muketsu yuruginaki Waga Nippon no hokori nare

Ima ikutabi ka waga ue ni Shiren no arashi takeru tomo Danko to mamore sono seigi Susuman michi wa hitotsu nomi Ā, yūen no Kamiyo yo ri Todoroku hochou uketsugite Daikoushin no yuku kanata Koukoku tsune ni sakae are Look at the bright eastern sky, The sun rises high; The true spirits of the sky and the earth fill all the hearts of Oyashima.

Spirit pure of heaven and earth fills the hearts of all, Hope abounding springs--O sweet Isles Imperial.

Yonder where the clouds of morn shed a radiant glow, Fuji Mountain, Nippon's pride, rears its crown of snow.

Let us make the world our home, call to fellow-men Everywhere on the four seas, let us build the tower of just peace--let our ideal bloom forth like a flower!

Though again and yet again trials we may meet, Over us may tempests roar, storms upon us beat, Resolute in heart and mind justice we defend.