Jonathan Ellis [SMTP:[log in to unmask]] wrote:

>...  The section, by the way, is in the second act, and is sung to
>announce the entry of The Mikado (and his daughter-in-law-elect).
>The words, incidentally, mean nothing; they are Gilbertian attempts
>at Japanese, matched by Sullivan's attempt at Japanese music.

How disappointing.  I've heard for years that Sullivan got the tune from
the Japanese exhibition at the Crystal Palace and believed it to be
authentic.

Steve Schwartz