The Tokyo metropolitan board of education has asked principals of metropolitan government-run schools to instruct teachers to make students stand and sing the Kimigayo anthem at school ceremonies, informed sources said Wednesday.

The request has stirred strong criticism, with a high school teachers' union in Tokyo saying it will violate students' freedom of thought and conscience. Responding to the request, principals at two high schools run by the Tokyo metropolitan government have issued an order to their teachers to follow it on the anniversary of their establishment on Oct 2. The teachers may be reprimanded if they refuse to obey.

http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=&id=313795

Hmm. I don't like the thought of arrogant and self-righteous education figureheads forcing schools to do things 'their' way. They've already done enough damage with the textbook controversy. Now, I think they're going to add more fuel to the fire with this incident.

Well, if singing a national anthem makes people more patriotic and 'loving' towards their country, then I don't see what the big problem is. However, this isn't a good time to nail in something this sensitive. Japan's neighbours are watching their domestic policies carefully. I won't be surprised if China or Korea will make an issue out of this and somehow try to make it seem as if this will somehow "revive" Japanese nationalism. I mean, Japan is dealing with so much tensions and controversies, it is insane to do anything more to upset both its own citizens and its neighbours.

Ogumo, are the people who run the Education Ministry mostly ultra-conservative, 70+ guys who typically balk at any prospect of serious reforms being made? And what do you think of this new "policy"?

[SIZE=7]Although it is a fact to have kidnaped Japanese people in order that North Korea may drag funds out of Japan, another dirty way deprives Japanese people of patriotism, and a hand is connected to the Japan Teacher's Union, and they are the "democracy" of lips, and the "pacifism" of lips. And the strange masochistic historical view has been brainwashed little by little with schools. Reason for opposite over the national anthem of their Japan Kimigayo Since the song which praises the Emperor since it is a meaning called the Emperor's world is contrary to the soul of sovereignty rests with the people of the Constitution of Japan, it is unconstitutionality, and making a student sing such a song at a graduation ceremony is is unconstitutionality. however, if the formation process of Kimigayo is analyzed, as it understands, the soul of the song of Kimigayo is not Emperor praise but soul which loves the homeland moreover -- even if it assumes that it is the language with which the Emperor is clearly written to be the symbol of a country in the Constitution of Japan, and　”Kimi"　of Kimigayo mean the Emperor temporarily , in addition, Emperor is a symbol of this country. A song in which people love my homeland as it is that singing at the event of a country or a school is bad to why is it troubled ? 　with an understanding This problem arises in the season of a graduation ceremony, so that a suicide comes out, after the principal of a certain school was troubled with the dilemma of the Japan Teacher's Union and administration. Although it thinks that a graduation ceremony should be a school event and should be the below principal staff of a school's posture [ make it the wonderful event which remains in a child's recollections usually ] .
A teacher of a certain elementary school suddenly get microphone in the midst of the graduation that it protested against a performance and chorus of Kimigayo . ceremony and blocked advance of the formula of a graduation ceremony . There is a national anthem from ancient times in every country. Moreover, education is accompanied by compulsion in a sense. It may be said that it enters from type while a reason has not been known, either. Teachers does not understand democracy that it is not democratic making it sing compulsorily is the actual condition of teachers' union. A country will be ruined if teachers are foolish. I want to say to teachers' union. You must not follow [ why the salary is got from the country, and ] the administration of a country, but if an educational place is moreover involved in scandal and you want to capsize a country, please move to the country which does not need to sing Kimigayo immediately now. Failing Japan at confusion should stop it being parasitic on Japan and getting a salary of Japan like a parasite. Although there is a company song also in a company, probably, it does not pass along me that it sings the song of Nissan since the song of Mazda Motor is disagreeable. If disagreeable to there, why doesn't it join Nissan from the start? Even if it thinks slightly ordinarily, foolish is not administration but teachers' union has also gone too far. Why does it adhere to Kimigayo to there? For Kimigayo, it not being the song which carries out worship praise of the Emperor is understanding, if it learns calmly. If it becomes so nervous, is it the sport which ? kendo is peacefully contrary in whether kendo is unconstitutionality, and praises military power use? Mock cavalry battle. If a strained meaning is given so Don't any sports become unconstitutionality? First of all, is it said that it is unconstitutionality to increase physical strength since it leads to reinforcement of the military strength? Do you know the words of the national anthem of France? Japanese Teachers, do you want to be Teacher in France ? So you will make trouble again there?

Oh, stop whining you

Everytime an issue like this is brought up, why do you always have to end it with a footnote that goes "Oh, I'm sure Korea and China are gonna b!tch and moan at us about it. Poor me. Waaaah"

Oh. So are you saying that you will be surprised if Chinese and Korean political figureheads try to lecture Tokyo about what they should or should not do for their domestic policy?

Yeah, and everytime and always?