Teachers criticize Tokyo governor for pressuring them to sing 'Kimigayo'

Tokyo's public school teachers' union on March 17 condemned the Tokyo governor and the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education chair for their remarks forcing teachers to sing "Kimigayo" at school ceremonies, using threats of penalties for non-compliance to the order.

In a published statement, the Tokyo Teachers and Staffs Union pointed out that such remarks are intended to pressure teachers to violate students' freedom of conscience as well as the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education.

In the Metropolitan Assembly on March 16, the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Chair Yokoyama Yokichi stated that if many students do not sing "Kimigayo", it may be because "their teachers lack the ability to teach or have given them arbitrary instructions." He added that teachers who fail to "instruct students properly" will have to face punishment.

Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro at the same meeting said, "The instruction of the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education is to ensure that school education is appropriate."

Last November, the board of education ordered metropolitan schools to hoist the "Hinomaru" flag and sing "Kimigayo" at school ceremonies, making teachers who do not follow its instruction punishable. (end)