"Shinano no Kuni" (信濃の国) is the prefectural song of Nagano Prefecture, Japan, created for educational purposes. Because of its popular appearance in public areas such as train stations and TV programs, more than half of adults who grew up in the prefecture can sing at least one of its stanzas. Sometimes the song is used to test one's patriotism to the region. The song was played during the opening ceremony of the 1998 Winter Olympics to accompany the Parade of Nations. Shinano no kuni is the Japanese name for the old Shinano Province, to which the current Nagano prefecture is contiguous.