'Hinomaru' flag and song 'Kimigayo' overshadow public school graduation exercises

Graduation ceremonies take place in March at every school throughout the country. But, extraordinary scenes unworthy of the word 'congratulations' for the ceremony are seen at Tokyo metropolitan senior high schools and schools for handicapped students.

Public school graduation ceremonies are required to hoist the flag 'Hinomaru' that used to be the symbol of Japan's war of aggression, and teachers and students are forced to rise and sing the song 'Kimigayo' admiring the emperor's eternal rule contrary to the constitutional principle that sovereign power resides with the people.

In a ceremony at a high school in early March, a deputy-principal approached and urged the teachers who were sitting in protest to stand up. Then, the "Kimigayo" melody started in a tense atmosphere. The moment the melody ended, grim-faced men, apparantly officials of the Tokyo Board of Education, took note of the developments.

The principal had handed a written order to every teacher. Teachers had been told to sit in designated seats, so that "dissidents" could easily be identified.

Earlier this year, parents started a signature-collection drive demanding a "review of the board of education directive and guidelines for graduation and entrance ceremonies." The number of supporters of the drive has increased to 81 metropolitan schools and 5,774 signatures.

Public school teachers on January 30 filed a lawsuit with theTokyo Distirict Court demanding that teachers must not be punished for their refusal to sing the national anthem. (end)