Japan Press Weekly

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2015 January 21 - 27 [SOCIAL ISSUES]

Osaka Mayor Hashimoto’s political belief survey unconstitutional: court

The Osaka District Court ruled on January 21 the Osaka City government’s survey on the ideology and beliefs of city workers to be unconstitutional, ordering the city to pay plaintiffs about 400,000 yen in compensation.

Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto Toru, a well-known right-wing politician, conducted a questionnaire survey on city employees in February 2012. It questioned the workers whether they were union members, whether they have been engaged in any actions supporting specific politicians, and even asking for the names of persons they invited to any political meetings.

The mayor threatened disciplinary punishment if they failed to respond it, saying that the survey is an “administrative order”.

Five unions representing city workers filed a lawsuit with the district court, claiming that the municipal authorities’ survey goes against the Japanese Constitution.

The court decision states that questioning whether workers join unions or not infringes upon the constitutional right to organize, and that asking whether they have supported any politicians constitutes a violation of the right to privacy.

At a press conference after the ruling, union representatives said that Hashimoto should take this judgment seriously. On the same day, the mayor expressed his intent to appeal the ruling to a higher court.


Past related article:
> Osaka city workers sue city for mental anguish brought about by survey [July 31, 2012]