I was stationed in Japan with the US military between 2002-2005 and every evening at 5 PM, the Japanese and American national anthems would play on speakers across our base, signaling the end of the work day.

We were required to stop what we were doing and listen quietly and respectfully for both anthems. If we were outside, we'd have to stand at parade rest and face the nearest country flags we could see, or face toward the music if there were no flags visible nearby. When the American national anthem played, we had to snap to attention and salute for the entire song.

The Japanese national anthem is probably not my favorite ever national anthem, but I heard it every day for over 3 years and the hauntingly beautiful anthem has forever planted itself in my brain. It's so calm and smooth compared to the almost militaristic march of the American anthem.