Photo/Illutration The Ishigaki city assembly passes a resolution calling for a survey about students singing “Kimigayo.” (Captured from the Ishigaki city assembly’s YouTube channel)

The Ishigaki city assembly in Okinawa Prefecture recently passed a resolution to ascertain whether children of elementary and junior high school age were taught the “Kimigayo” national anthem in class and sang it during school entrance and graduation ceremonies.

No study that forces children to divulge such personal matters should be permitted, even if responses are made anonymously.

Curriculum guidelines call only for guidance so students can sing “Kimigayo” at school entrance and graduation ceremonies after being taught in music class.

In short, the provisions are directed at teachers, not children.

Education minister Toshiko Abe said at a news conference that the guidelines were “not intended to intrude into the hearts of children and force them” to sing the national anthem.

A statement issued by the prime minister in 1999 to coincide with the passing of the national flag and national anthem law said the development did not mean a new obligation was being placed on the public.

That statement was issued because “Kimigayo” is associated with World War II, a conflict fought in the name of the emperor, which inevitably gives rise to complicated feelings.

That is especially true in Okinawa, where a quarter of the civilian population perished in the fighting.

The assembly members who supported the call for the Ishigaki mayor and education board to carry out the survey apparently feel no problem would arise if a means were found to allow the children to not respond.

But if children are made to feel anxious about having their feelings become known through their handwriting or how they reply, it would suggest they were not responding out of their free will.

The consequences would be immeasurable if children are being taught something that is directly at odds with freedom of thought laid out in the Constitution, which is what should be taught in schools.

Concerns will surely arise about whether undue pressure is applied on schools where many students do not sing the anthem.

For starters, having the assembly ask the board of education to conduct a questionnaire risks violating the political neutrality and independence of education that is called for in the Fundamental Law of Education.

We also harbor concerns about the stance of assembly members who use the power of numbers to stick their noses into a matter related to human rights, including freedom of conscience.

Two years ago, the Suita board of education in Osaka Prefecture, in responding to a request from city assembly members, carried out a study about whether students had memorized the lyrics of “Kimigayo.”

That move was heavily criticized.

Of concern is the argument by Ishigaki proponents that the will and diversity of students who want to sing the anthem should be respected.

There is nothing in schools or society that prevent singing “Kimigayo.”

There are many opportunities to hear it being sung; international sporting events, for example.

Those in the majority, who are under no pressure whatsoever, are adopting a position that almost makes them appear to be in the minority and whose rights are being oppressed.

Having that majority use diversity as an excuse will further force the minority into a corner.

As such, the logic is nothing short of twisted.

Respecting diversity means not voicing whether one sings or not.

Above all, children should not be used as a political tool.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 15

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