education

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Students and parents act against Tokyo's 'Hinomaru' 'Kimigayo' instructions

On February 23, students and parents from 31 public high schools in Tokyo made representations to Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education Chair Nakamura Masahiko demanding that it stop forcing schools to enforce the "Hinomaru" and "Kimigayo" instructions at graduation and entrance ceremonies and respect students' and teachers' autonomy.

A directive issued by the Tokyo Board of Education in October 2003 stated that teachers and staff will be punished if they fail to hoist the "Hinomaru" flag and sing the "Kimigayo" song at school ceremonies. On February 10 this year, it issued another notification ordering school principals to provide teachers and staff with thorough instructions to fulfill this requirement.

At a press conference in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, parents stated that they wanted to fulfill their responsibility as parents who are capable of expressing their opinions at a time when teachers and staff are punished for refusing to follow the instructions.

Morita Mariko, mother of a Toyama High School graduate, said, "The Board of Education's instruction amounts to threatening children that teachers will be punished if they do not stand up and sing 'Kimigayo.' The Board members should consider how much they are hurting children."

A Korean resident in Japan who is senior at an international high school said, "Our school has respected our autonomy irrespective of our nationalities. I cannot understand why it is forcing us to follow this instruction at the very end of our high school life."
- Akahata, February 24, 2006