Japan Press Weekly

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2015 January 14 - 20 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Court revokes punishment on teachers for refusing to sing ‘Kimigayo’

The Tokyo District Court on January 16 ordered the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education to cancel salary reductions and suspensions imposed on teachers who refused to sing the national anthem “Kimigayo” at school ceremonies.

Plaintiffs are 50 teachers of public schools in Tokyo. They refused to stand up and sing the “Kimigayo” song at school ceremonies held in the period between 2007 and 2009. The Tokyo Metropolitan education commission imposed punishments for their disobedience, including suspensions, salary cuts, and reprimands. In March 2010, the 50 teachers filed a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court demanding that the board withdraw the punishments and pay them compensation for mental anguish.

Taking over the January 2012 Supreme Court ruling, the district court nullified the education authority’s decision on the pay cuts and suspensions as improper exercise of discretionary power, but dismissed the plaintiffs’ demand for the cancellation of reprimands and compensation.

The plaintiffs and their lawyers held a rally after the ruling. Kondo Toru, secretary general of the plaintiff’s group, said that the education board should apologize to the teachers. Pointing out that the court ruling stops short of ordering the cancellation of the reprimands, he expressed his intention to appeal to a higher court.


Past related articles
> Punishment of teachers over ‘Kimigayo’ constitutional: Supreme Court [June 7, 2011]
> Top court hands down an unfair ‘Kimigayo’ ruling [May 31, 2011]
> Top court nullifies teachers’ suspension and pay cut [January 17, 2012]
> Top court dismisses lawsuit opposing imposition of Kimigayo [February 10, 2012]
> Court recognizes salary cut penalty for rejecting ‘Kimigayo’ as excessive [April 20, 2012]
> Ex-teacher wins compensation in ‘Kimigayo’ lawsuit [November 8, 2012]