Art Teacher Disciplined 12 Times in 10 Years... Still, "I Will Not Stand, I Will Not Sing" - The Current State of the Hinomaru and Kimigayo [Post-War 80 Years Series: Confronting Negative History (16)] (47NEWS)
An art teacher disciplined 12 times for refusing to stand for the national flag and anthem discusses his unwavering stance against strict Tokyo Board of Education directives.Summary
An art teacher has been disciplined 12 times over ten years for refusing to stand during the raising of the national flag (Hinomaru) and the singing of the national anthem (Kimigayo) at school ceremonies. The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education demands 'standing and singing,' leading to 481 disciplinary actions against teachers who refuse. The teacher, described as calm, maintains his position, reflecting a persistent societal pressure against individual freedom dating back to pre-war times. The situation escalated significantly in 2003 under Governor Shintaro Ishihara with the '10.23 Directive,' which mandated standing and singing as a duty order, making non-compliance subject to punishment. This mandatory enforcement has drawn four recommendations from international bodies like the ILO and the UN Human Rights Committee, citing violations of Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (freedom of thought, conscience, and religion).
(Source：Yahoo!ニュース)