Amnesty shows concern over forced 'Kimigayo'

Amnesty International Japan on June 9 issued a statement expressing deep concern about forcing teachers and students to sing "Kimigayo" at schools.

The statement came in the wake of remarks the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education made the previous day at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly to the effect that the board will urge all school directors to issue an official order for teachers to instruct students to stand up when singing "Kimigayo" at school events.

The Amnesty statement emphasizes that compulsory singing of "Kimigayo" in school ceremonies is increasing throughout Japan in violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

It criticizes that forcing children to sing "Kimigayo" is a serious abuse of human rights in violation of the "Convention on Rights of the Child".

Taking children of foreign nationality into account, the compulsion possibly runs afoul of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the statement points out.

It demands that the Japanese government and relevant authorities stop forcing schools to hoist the "Hinomaru" flag and sing "Kimigayo".

Amnesty International Japan had already adopted a declaration at its general assembly four years ago, pointing out that forcing schools to put up the "Hinomaru" flag and sing the "Kimigayo" anthem would violate the freedom of conscience. (end)