Japan Press Weekly

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2011 May 25 - 31 [EDUCATION]

500 lawyers oppose imposing of Osaka’s ‘Kimigayo’ regulation at schools

In protest against the move of the Osaka governor’s political party to impose an ordinance forcing public school teachers to stand up and sing “Kimigayo” (may the Emperor’s reign be forever) at school events, people are raising their voices in protest.

A local party, the One Osaka (Osaka Ishin-no Kai), which is headed by Governor Hashimoto Toru and which has a majority in the prefectural assembly, submitted to the assembly a bill to create an ordinance imposing a “Kimigayo” regulation at schools.

The Japan Lawyers Association for Freedom Osaka Branch on May 27 published an appeal calling for a retraction of the bill. 500 lawyers from across Japan expressed their support for the appeal.

The appeal states, “Obliging public school teachers to stand up and sing ‘Kimigayo’ violates the freedom of thought and conscience guaranteed by Article 19 of the Constitution.” It criticized Hashimoto for “trampling on democracy,” stating that he intends to use his party’s majority force in the assembly to pass the bill without taking heed to public opinion.

The Japan Federation of Bar Association (JFBA) on May 26 issued a statement under the name of the president calling on the Osaka assembly not to adopt the bill.

In the statement, the JFBA points out, “It is unprecedented that a municipal leader mandates teachers at public schools to stand up and sing ‘Kimigayo’ by establishing an ordinance,” and asserts that the enactment of such an ordinance would be a breach of the Constitution.

Seven groups including a trade union and a pro-constitutional citizens’ group in Osaka on May 26 jointly published an appeal opposing the bill.