皇こう国こく

noun

the Japanese Empire; Imperial Japan

Dated, poetic term for Japan as an empire under the emperor, used especially in pre-1945 contexts. Often carries nationalistic or literary overtones.

• 戦せん前ぜんの教きょう科か書しょには「皇こう国こくのために」という言こと葉ばがよく出でてきた。

  In prewar textbooks, the phrase 'for the sake of the Empire' often appeared.