Tokyo teachers demand nullification of punishment over 'Hinomaru' and 'Kimigayo' issue

Seventy-five senior high school teachers on April 5 filed appeals with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's personnel commission against their punishment for the refusal to stand and sing the national anthem at graduation exercises at metropolitan high schools last month. A total of 176 teachers were reprimanded for the same reason.

At a press conference later in the day, some 50 teachers published a statement saying: "The graduation exercises, which were supposed to celebrate the start of students' new life, have become the occasion for the authorities to impose their unreasonable demand. The board has infringed upon the 'freedom of thought and conscience' of students as well as teachers."

The teachers plan to launch on April 17 an "Association of the Punished Teachers Calling for Unjustifiable Actions over 'Hinomaru' and 'Kimigayo' to be Retracted."

Their lawyer said, "The number of the punished teachers may soon exceed 200 since the board is expected to take similar actions today against primary and junior high school teachers. We are expecting that more teachers will appeal against the punishment."

A woman teacher who joined the action said, "I can never educate my students without freedom of thought and learning. Most of my fellow teachers, including those with different views on 'Hinomaru' and 'Kimigayo', are openly opposed to the latest action of the board." (end)