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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Actions to block adverse revision of education law held nationwide

Rallies and demonstrations against the adverse revision of the Fundamental Law of Education took place throughout Japan during the first weekend of June.

On June 4 in Sapporo City in Hokkaido Prefecture, more than 3,000 people including teachers and people of faith participated in a rally.

Hokkaido Peace Movement Forum Secretary General Kawaguchi Michihiko pointed out that with the aim of turning the education for the people into one for the state as well as imposing "patriotism" on children, the move to revise the Fundamental Law of Education shares the same aim as the adverse revision of the Constitution.

After adopting an appeal calling for a war-free Japan, participants staged a demonstration in downtown Sapporo City.

At a rally in Kyoto City with about 1,800 people participating, General Council of Trade Unions of Kyoto President Iwahashi Yuji stated, "Let us strive to foil the bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education that is tied to the attempt to revise the Constitution."

Japanese Communist Party Lower House member Kokuta Keiji and JCP Upper House member Inoue Satoshi attended the rally.

In Hiroshima City, about 200 protestors marched in demonstration, starting from the Atomic Bomb Dome.

On June 3 in Nara City, JCP Vice Chair Ishii Ikuko reported on the Diet discussions over the bill to revise the Fundamental Law of Education at a meeting organized by the JCP Nara Prefectural Committee. She told about 200 participants that through JCP Chair Shii Kazuo's revelation, an increasing number of Dietmembers have come to question the evaluation of students' "patriotism," creating a difficult atmosphere for Education Ministry officials to maintain their position.

In Yamagata City, the Teachers' Association to Defend Article 9 and the Fundamental Law of Education was founded at the call of local teachers and former principals.

About 100 people who participated in the founding meeting agreed on an action program to set up a branch at each workplace in order to develop the movement to defend Article 9 and the Fundamental Law of Education.

Similar actions took place in Mie, Okayama, and Yamaguchi prefectures.
- Akahata, June 4 and 5, 2006