First Tokyo, then goes the rest of the nation

[cstaylor]

Pack your bags folks:
Teachers refusing to raise flag, sing national anthem to be punished

Under the new rules, the education board will order public schools to raise the Hinomaru "at the front of assembly halls for a ceremony" and to have the leader of the ceremony urge participants to stand up and sing 'Kimigayo" with musical accompaniment.

Teachers who do not comply "will be punished" under the new rules, whereas the old rules had stipulated that they "may be punished."

[Caustic Saint]

Militarism scares aside, does this mean they'd punish gaijin teachers for not singing it?

[cstaylor]

Militarism scares aside...

That's the only reason I wouldn't sing it (and that's probably why the teachers won't either).

[Caustic Saint]

Militarism scares aside...

That's the only reason I wouldn't sing it (and that's probably why the teachers won't either).

Well, I put that as the "aside" since I knew more people would focus on that - and rightly so. I couldn't tell from the article if they meant only J-teachers or all teachers.

[kamome]

I once worked at a J-high school where only half of the teachers would stand for the national anthem. It was weird--maybe the only time I've seen Japanese people actually demonstrate regret or remorse for WWII. Of course, we're talking about teachers here. The social studies teachers in particular were quite liberal and even tried to unionize the other teachers. On the other side of the spectrum would be the gym teachers and sports coaches. They were like soldiers wearing synthetic track suits instead of military uniforms, and they definitely would stand for the kimigayo.

[Big Booger]

I can tell you what I do sometimes.. hehehe

Everyday the kiddies stand and bow.. (I call it the Kiritsu shuffle) well I think it is the most militaristic way to run a class, especially in an English class, so every time they stand and bow, I do the heil Hitler salute.



I get a lot of stares but I really don't think they see the point. The teachers definitely do and after a few times of my heil hitler and sometimes little march like a German soldier, on the Teacher's box (the little box that is elevated under the chalkboard) we usually don't have to do it again.

[Taro Toporific]

I once worked at a J-high school where only half of the teachers would stand for the national anthem...

In Kochi City, Shikoku Island I had to judge HS debates. They would play "Kimigayo" at the start of the Saturday's events and everyone would ignore it. I thought it was odd and asked the teachers who said they did the same all week. Kochi is a dead-end, rustbelt, ex-shipbuilding city with 20-40% unemployment (real not govn't stats) with plenty of Left sentiment. At other HS debates I judged in farming parts of Shikoku, it was as you said, "only half of the teachers would stand for the national anthem. "

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

I hope the Japanese teachers are not forced to do such a silly thing. I cant stand the whole ideology of flags been nationalistic symbols. The amount of blood on so many flags of countries it diabolical. The teachers should be allowed to make a conscientious choice not to raise the flag if they wish.

How many stupid arguements(and deaths) have been caused over flags. I know that they represent the country and its idologies. But what if you dont agree with all of the idologies. What does the flag represent to people in other countries. e.g. Ireland / UK , Japan / China , U.S / and numerous list of countries they have attacked.

[Steve Bildermann]

[kamome]

[AssKissinger]

I can tell you what I do sometimes.. hehehe

Everyday the kiddies stand and bow.. (I call it the Kiritsu shuffle) well I think it is the most militaristic way to run a class, especially in an English class, so every time they stand and bow, I do the heil Hitler salute.



I get a lot of stares but I really don't think they see the point. The teachers definitely do and after a few times of my heil hitler and sometimes little march like a German soldier, on the Teacher's box (the little box that is elevated under the chalkboard) we usually don't have to do it again.

Holy shit! Sounds like your classes are even wackier than mine.

[Big Booger]

I can tell you what I do sometimes.. hehehe

Everyday the kiddies stand and bow.. (I call it the Kiritsu shuffle) well I think it is the most militaristic way to run a class, especially in an English class, so every time they stand and bow, I do the heil Hitler salute.



I get a lot of stares but I really don't think they see the point. The teachers definitely do and after a few times of my heil hitler and sometimes little march like a German soldier, on the Teacher's box (the little box that is elevated under the chalkboard) we usually don't have to do it again.

Holy shit! Sounds like your classes are even wackier than mine.

If it wasn't wacky, I just couldn't go to work and do it day after day.

[Taro Toporific]

Pack your bags folks:
Teachers refusing to raise flag, sing national anthem to be punished

JUST A SHORT ONE LINE NEWS ITEM FROM KYODO PRESS:

May 30 (18 :55) City education board checked 'loudness' of schools' 'Kimigayo' singing - FUKUOKA http://home.kyodo.co.jp/all/news.jsp?news=japan&an=

[AssKissinger]

[Taro Toporific]

<mumble, mumble><mumble, mumble>
<mumble, mumble><mumble, mumble>...
Until pebbles
Grow into boulders,
Covered in moss

Although they forgot to mention concrete and gargage crows in Kimigayo, it's fitting for Japan to have national anthem about farkquing moss growing. :P

[AssKissinger]

<mumble, mumble><mumble, mumble>
<mumble, mumble><mumble, mumble>...
Until pebbles
Grow into boulders,
Covered in moss

Although they forgot to mention concrete and gargage crows in Kimigayo, it's fitting for Japan to have national anthem about farkquing moss growing. :P

Not exactly the Rolling Stones are they?