Japan Press Weekly

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2015 June 17 - 23 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Imposition of ‘Hinomaru’ and ‘Kimigayo’ on national universities is just the beginning of gov’t interference: scholar

The Education minister’s request to national universities to raise the “Hinomaru” flag and sing the “Kimigayo” song at entrance and graduation ceremonies will lead to further government control over university education, said Nihon University professor Hirota Teruyuki in an Akahata interview on June 17.

The request was made by Education Minister Shimomura Hakubun on the previous day at a meeting where presidents of state-run universities were gathering.

Hirota heads an academics’ group called the Academic Freedom Project which was established in the middle of April in protest against the education minister’s plan to make the request. The group at the end of the month issued a statement demanding that the plan be abandoned. According to Hirota, the statement has received support from more than 3,000 academics in just one month.

Following is an excerpt of his interview:

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo is using the Basic Law on Education, namely Article 2, as grounds for asking national universities to raise the “Hinomaru” flag and sing the “Kimigayo.” Article 2 of the law seeks to foster “love of the country and regions”.

“Hinomaru” and “Kimigayo” have been imposed on public schools by the government after it incorporated some provisions in line with Article 2 of the Basic Law on Education into the school education law of and drew up teaching guidelines which teach children the significance of and respect for the national flag and anthem.

The government this time used the education law and made the specific request that national universities enforce the raising of the national flag and singing of the national anthem at their ceremonies. To allow this move will lead to further government interference not only in ceremonies but also in university education itself.

The education minister said that he only “requested” universities to do so. For national universities depending on government subsidies, however, it is not a request, but a veiled threat.

If universities are brought under government control, they will be unable to maintain intellectual integrity and academic freedom associated with the social role of universities.

Past related articles:
> Abe gov’t intends to force Hinomaru & Kimigayo on national universities [April 12, 2015]
> Education Ministry revises guideline to force teachers to ensure that pupils sing ‘Kimigayo’ [March 30, 2008]