Come and join us for this screening with
Junko Kawarai who will answer your questions about the campaign after
the screening. Even if you have seen this film before, come and give
your support to the Tokyo teachers who refuse to stand up and sing the
homage to the emperor and consequently the subjugation of working
people in Japan. We have petitions in both English and Japanese, the
English text reading as follows:
"On
September 21, 2006, the Tokyo District Court, fully upholding the
plaintiffs’
argument, ruled that the teachers and school staff shall not have any
obligation to stand up, to sing Kimigayo or to play accompaniment of it
and
therefore they shall not be punishable for their refusal to obey
unlawful
orders. The reason why the Tokyo Board of Education lost the lawsuit
was that
its directive of October 23, 2003 and the its order to principals
constitute
“improper control” (breach of Article 10 of the Fundamental
Law on Education); its constraint of
education workers’ refusal to stand up violates Article 19 of the
Constitution
(freedom of thought and conscience); and therefore, the issuance of
work orders
by principals under said directive has grave and clear defects.
Explaining the
background, the ruling remarked, “possibility of their dismissal can
not be
denied, if they repeat their refusal; therefore the envisioned
disadvantage is
inadmissible.” Now, the threat of dismissal is looming over Ms Nezu and
Ms Kawarai..
Petition to the Tokyo
Metropolitan Board of Education
Stop Ms Nezu’s
Dismissal
and Ms
Kawarai’s
Punishment!
This spring,
the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of
Education took disciplinary action against Ms NEZU Kimiko and Ms
KAWARAI Junko—six-month
suspension and three-month respectively—for their refusal to stand up
and to
sing Kimigayo (glorification of the Emperor: “May His Majesty’s reign
continue
for a thousand, eight thousand generations”). However, they determined
to
repeat their refusal at next graduation ceremonies. After long and
careful
consideration, on the coercion of Hinomaru (“Rising Sun”, the war flag
used
during WWII and other aggressive wars) and Kimigayo, which deprive
their
students of right to know and right to self-determination; instill a
single,
uniform value; and teach the students to obey any orders and
instructions, they
realized that they can not and must not follow the order to stand up
and chant
Kimigayo.
The Metropolitan Board of
Education stated that the
maximum suspension was six months; next spring, Ms Nezu might be fired.
Therefore, we, undersigned, urge
the Tokyo
Metropolitan Board of Education:
Not to instruct the
relevant principals to issue any and no work order, including “ stand
up and
sing” order, concerning the school ceremonies, and
To follow the ruling of
the Tokyo District Court of September 21, 2006* and to stop dismissal
or any
other punishment against education workers."
If
you would like a copy of the petition, contact us through our forum or
contact:
The committee to Stop
the Firing of Nezu, Kawarai and Other Teachers
Tama & Islands Area Education Workers Union (Tama Kyoso)
1-1-6 Kita
Kunitachi-shi
Tokyo
186-0001
Japan
Come to the event and
"Bring a Friend and
an open Mind!"
