Japan Press Weekly

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2015 June 24 - 30 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

City sued for arbitrary refusal to publish ‘haiku’ on Article 9

A woman living in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, on June 25 filed with the Saitama District Court a lawsuit against the city over the city’s arbitrary refusal to run her haiku about Article 9 of the Constitution in a municipal newsletter.

The plaintiff is a 74-year-old woman who enjoys writing haiku, Japanese traditional poems, at a haiku club using a city-owned community center for haiku activities.

The center’s newsletter has been carrying club members’ works since 2010 according to the choices made by the club. The city, however, rejected the plaintiff’s haiku which depicts a demonstration in support of Article 9, citing that public opinion is deeply divided on this issue.

The plaintiff states that the city’s rejection of her haiku violates the Constitution that guarantees the freedom of expression under Article 21 and the right to education under Article 26, as well as the Fundamental Law of Education that prohibits public authorities’ unwarranted interference in education.

The plaintiff also argues that this unfair control over and interference in people’s activities at a public facility could shake the very foundation of democracy.

At a press conference held after the filing, the woman said that recent developments in politics made her feel fear that Japan is going the wrong way. That is why she decided to bring the issue into court, she added.

Past related articles:
> Joint efforts needed to defend cultural activities [November 3, 2014]