Tokyo's board of education has ordered principals of public high schools to ensure that all students stand and sing "Kimigayo" during school ceremonies, sources said.
The order also applies to schools for deaf, blind and mentally disabled students.
The move stems from a March 11 graduation ceremony held at a metropolitan government-run high school for part-time students. Most of the students did not stand and sing "Kimigayo," which was made Japan's national anthem under a law enacted in 1999.
Since October 2003, the education board has made it mandatory for all school staff members to stand up and sing "Kimigayo" during school ceremonies.
The move has raised criticism because the song is seen as a symbol of Japan's military past.
The Tokyo metropolitan government, led by nationalistic Governor Shintaro Ishihara, took disciplinary measures against about 200 teachers and staff in 2004 and about 50 in 2005 because they refused to stand for "Kimigayo" or other related reasons.
For school officials whose instructions to students during the ceremonies were regarded as inadequate, the metropolitan government issued warnings.
But with the issuance of the directive, school officials will face reprimands if their students refuse to stand up and sing "Kimigayo." This could force the officials to take even tougher measures against students who do not want to stand and sing the song.
"Under their authority and responsibility, principals must thoroughly ensure all school personnel give appropriate instructions to all students based on official curriculum guidelines," a board official told principals Monday.
The board said it expects principals to immediately start applying the stricter instructions for graduation and enrollment ceremonies.
The board on Monday suspended a 56-year-old female teacher at a school in Chofu for disabled students for one month for refusing to stand during the singing of "Kimigayo" at a ceremony in January marking the school's 30th anniversary, officials said.
Board officials said they imposed the stricter penalty because it was the fourth time the teacher has been reprimanded for the same reason.(IHT/Asahi: March 15,2006)
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