 More than 800 people support call for opposition to 'Hinomaru' and 'Kimigayo' compulsion on schools As of December 9, 859 public figures, teachers, and parents of students have expressed their support for an appeal in protest against the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's policy of forcing public schools to hoist the "Hinomaru" flag and sing "Kimigayo" at school ceremonies. Those who have expressed support for the appeal include writer Inoue Hisashi, critic Kato Shuichi, Miki Mutsuko, wife of former Prime Minister Miki Takeo, and Yamaguchi Akio, president of Iwanami Shoten Publishers. The appeal entitled, "Students' freedom of conscience must not be infringed on," was issued in October by Tokyo University Professor Komori Yoichi, journalist Saito Takao, and four other college professors. It demands that the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education stop forcing teachers, staff, and students to hoist "Hinomaru" and sing "Kimigayo" and threatening to punish them if they fail to fulfill the requirement. At a press conference on December 9, Komori said, "We are on the brink of preventing schools from being used to implement the aim of the state at the lowest level." Saito pointed out that the "Hinomaru and Kimigayo" compulsion is in line with the on-going move to adversely revise the Constitution in order to again turn Japan into a war-fighting nation. (end) |