How "Banzai" became a celebratory cheer

Today, and February 11th annually, is Banzai Three Cheers Day 万歳三唱の日 in Japan. The origin dates back to 1889, the day the Meiji Constitution was promulgated. During a special military review at the Aoyama parade grounds in Tokyo, people gathered to cheer Emperor Meiji as his carriage passed.

At that time, Japan did not have a traditional vocal cheer for the emperor, people simply bowed deeply. But students from the Imperial University (now the University of Tokyo) wanted something more expressive, similar to France’s “Vive la France” or Britain’s “God Save the King.” Professor Wadaaki Kenzō proposed the phrase “Banzai, Banzai, Banban-zai.” However, when the first loud “Banzai” was shouted, the emperor’s horse was startled and stopped. The second cheer became quieter, and the third “Banban-zai” was never shouted. 

The word "banzai", which literally means "ten thousand years" had long existed, but it only became a public cheer after this incident. It's similar in spirit and meaning to "long live the King." It became the standard way to celebrate major national events. However, by the early Showa period it had become strongly associated with imperial loyalty. Therefore, after the war its use declined. It still exists today but it has lost its political edge and returned to a more neutral, celebratory cheer.