Court rejects claims by Yokohama teachers over 'Kimigayo'

Friday 17th July, 07:15 AM JST

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30061015 at 02:04 AM JST - 18th July

May the reign of the Emperor continue for a thousand, nay, eight thousand generations and for the eternity that it takes for small pebbles to grow into a great rock and become covered with moss.

Really great words; but while the song originally was not the hostage of Japan's war machine, Kimigayo became everything that symbolized the emperor worship used to justify the viral militaristic adventurism of WW2. To a lost generation whose duty it was to venerate the emperor’s deity with everything from the Nanking massacre and Pearl Harbor, to the mindless kamikaze attacks which ended with two atomic bombings, I can understand the profound sense of distrust these teachers have in rubber stamping this song as a ritual on command for the consumption of the vapid masses of young people who have absolutely no knowledge of what I just said.

When it came to The Emperor, there was no room for objection, only rigid compliance. Conscientious objectors of the time from all political flavors and religions were simply thrown in prison. The loss of conscience is the first step to totalitarianism. A new national anthem should be created which would not invoke the ghosts of war.
Fadamor at 03:06 AM JST - 18th July

As a product of the "thou shalt stand and recite the Pledge of Alliegance every morning before class" era in America, I don't feel I have been horribly brainwashed by it. If the teachers in Japan feel that opposed to the practice of singing their national anthem, then simply make sure their students understand their concerns... AFTER they have completed the required singing, of course. That way they have met the requirements of the rules while also allowing the students their opportunity for free thought.

P.S. to BeaverCleaver The American anthem isn't violent. Those bombs and rockets were simply a means (from the flash) to determine the flag was still flying. I also might point out that those bombs and rockets are being directed AT the U.S. (by the British), not BY the U.S.
virgo at 03:54 AM JST - 18th July

the pledge of alliegence is crap
OssanAmerica at 04:19 AM JST - 18th July

Kimigayo is, quite simply, the greatest song ever written, after the >Star Spangled Banner.

No, Clapton's Layla is. Although I admit the chances of it ever becoming a national anthem are pretty slim.

the pledge of alliegence is crap

It's allegiance. And I disagree completely with your view, with the possible exception of the "under God" portion.
sharky1 at 09:58 AM JST - 18th July

Teachers could drive their point home with a unified nation-wide strike.
smithinjapan at 06:55 PM JST - 18th July

Ossan: "OK, perhaps I am a product of that. Reciting the Pledge and singing the Anthem are perhaps the earlierst things I recall of early grade school. But as I said, I have yet too discover any harm from it."

Cleo touched on most of your points better than I would have, so I won't bother much. I'm glad you don't see any harm under what you recited day in and out, but there are likely people who DO see the harm in it, even if it's something as 'harmless' as them not wanting to say it but having to because it's a rule. Bottom line is, if you don't want to do it, you shouldn't have to.

One thing I will repeat that Cleo touched on, because I believe it is the most important point of this whole issue and beyond, is that FORCED patriotism is not patriotism at all. You instill patriotism through guidance and passing on virtues, and through good example. You don't simply pass someone a script and tell them if they don't stand up and read it aloud they'll fail/be fined. If anything, this case is evidence to the CONTRARY of building patriotism -- it's a reactionary response to being forced to believe in something they do not, and they are challenging the state for it.

Regardless, the ruling is no surprise.
Simon_Foston at 10:00 PM JST - 18th July

The only time I ever heard "God Save the Queen" played at my school was when Princess Anne visited. We never had anything like the Pledge of Allegiance either. Therefore any patriotism I have I consider to be genuine, and not forced upon me.
OssanAmerica at 12:21 AM JST - 19th July

smith...Cleo can speak for herself. And at least when she writes something she's actually saying something.
amerijap at 06:01 AM JST - 19th July

I can imagine the Japanese Supreme Court judges are holding a political partisanship. It's obvious they are leaning toward the right.
smithinjapan at 05:05 PM JST - 19th July

Ossan: "smith...Cleo can speak for herself. And at least when she writes something she's actually saying something."

Unlike yourself. I'm fully aware Cleo can speak for herself, which is why I didn't rehash much of what she said. I'm also aware that this is yet another example of you being unable to defend yourself and so cannot reply with anything worthwhile except to attack the poster and not the post, and try to deflect.

As I said, you cannot instill patriotism by force, and these people are being forced. I'm sorry that fact goes against your opinion, and that you have to sulk and lash out, but that would be a little something called 'your problem', and not mine. If you want to actually discuss what patriotism means or how it should be brought about, let's all discuss it. Until then, I suspect you'll just keep agreeing with Cleo's comments while falling back on the, "... but in my case" that follows as you contradict yourself. Then of course, the temper tantrum when someone else points out the same thing.

Again, Cleo can speak for herself, as I said, but nowhere does that mean she is the only person who believes patriotism cannot be forced. Also again, you're inability to accept it and having to continually back-peddle on your 'arguments' is not my problem.
OssanAmerica at 12:47 AM JST - 21st July

The evidence speaks for itself. I rest my case.
smithinjapan at 03:23 AM JST - 21st July

Ossan: "The evidence speaks for itself. I rest my case."

Well, you're bang on about that, you're just wrong in what speaks to itself. For example, you probably weren't thinking that the comment you would post was 'evidence' that you cannot defend your comments, and your 'resting your case' is nothing more than admitting your ignorance as such.

Good on you for admitting it, at least. Meanwhile, we'll see you on here again defending the Japanese government in a lawsuit which says you cannot 'instill' patriotism by force. Maybe next time some people will have forgotten what you said on this post and you can just pretend to leave out your former arguments so that you don't always have to agree with Cleo and myself while trying to hang on to your own contrary points.

Sweet dreams!
ChrisBiggins at 03:28 AM JST - 21st July

OssanAmerica; You poor dear, lost the argument yet again. The Kimigayo is a sign og the evil caused by Japan over Asia and to its own people and allied forces.

What kind of silly billy would make a comment likje your last one, how terribly terribly childish.
EUgirl at 12:29 PM JST - 21st July

I don't understand the fuss over anthems and flags. There are more important things these teachers could be fighting for.

I heard of a case of a European expat family on a 2-year stay in the USA, to get in trouble, as their kids refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance at school. The teacher contacted the parents, who said "why would these kids have to say it, after all they are not U.S. citizens". The teacher said that everybody in America has to say Pledge of Allegiance, no matter what nationality they are.
cleo at 12:43 PM JST - 21st July

The Kimigayo is a sign og the evil caused by Japan

I don't think it matters what it's a sign or symbol of. If people don't want to sing it, it's wrong to try and force them to - misguided at best, evil at worst.

Not sure what EUgirl is trying to say - that because in the Land of the Free non-citizens are forced, just for show, to recite pledges they obviously don't believe in, that people in other countries shouldn't feel too bad when their own government tries to force them to 'be patriotic'? I'm not sure if foreigners (or even Americans) are forced to say the pledge of allegiance, but 'other places are bad too, so don't complain' was never much of an argument.