Japan Press Weekly

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2011 May 18 - 24 [EDUCATION]

Osaka citizens oppose move to impose ‘Kimigayo’ regulation at schools

Teachers and parents in Osaka on May 17 made representations to prefectural assembly members, calling on them to oppose a move to force teachers to stand up and sing the national anthem “Kimigayo” at school ceremonies.

The local party “Osaka Ishin-no Kai” (Osaka Restoration Group), which obtained more than half of the prefectural assembly seats in April, plans to submit to the assembly meeting starting on May 19 a bill to impose the requirement on teachers at public elementary and junior high schools in Osaka. If it is enacted, Osaka will be the first prefecture to implement a regulation of this kind.

Osaka Governor Hashimoto Toru, who leads the local party, said on May 16, “If public employees reject the national flag and anthem, they should resign.” He also stated that he will consider establishing a rule to dismiss teachers who do not fulfill the requirement.

Protestors criticized the planned bill for clearly violating the people’s sovereignty, respect of individuals, and freedom of thought and conscience that are guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution.

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Twelve organizations, including a pro-constitutional civil group and a lawyers’ association for freedom, on May 19 visited all groups of Osaka Prefectural assemblymen, calling on them to oppose the possible submission of a “Kimigayo” bill.

Petitioners argued that to force the singing of “Kimigayo” is not only violating the Constitution but also contradicting the Diet consensus at the time of discussion on a “Hinomaru” and “Kimigayo” bill in 1999 that it does not oblige anyone to stand and sing.

Japanese Communist Party member of the assembly, Miyahara Takeshi, in receiving their visit said, “When the ‘Kimigayo’ law was being discussed in the Diet, the lawmakers agreed that the law would respect the freedom of thought based on the Constitution. The JCP in Osaka will press that point.”