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Court rules Osaka "Kimigayo" ordinance constitutional

OSAKA, Dec. 21 Kyodo - Yasutaka Okuno, an Osaka public school teacher, looks disappointed on Dec. 21, 2015, after the Osaka District Court rejected his claim that an Osaka ordinance forcing teachers to stand up while the national anthem "Kimigayo" is sung during school ceremonies is against the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of thought.

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Top court rules order to play national anthem constitutional

TOKYO, Japan - Supporters of a 53-year-old teacher who refused to play Japan's national anthem wage a protest outside the Supreme Court on Feb. 27 after the court ruled that it is constitutional for the principal of an elementary school in Hino, Tokyo to order the music teacher to play the piano to accompany the singing of the ''Kimigayo'' during the 1999 school admission ceremony. The protest banner says, ''Unfair ruling is unacceptable.''

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Teachers not obliged to sing nat'l anthem at school events

TOKYO, Japan - Plaintiffs and their supporters rejoice with banners in front of the Tokyo District Court on Sept. 21 after the court ruled that teachers and librarians are not obliged to sing the Kimigayo national anthem at school events despite Tokyo authorities' instruction to do so.

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Court says ordering teachers to sing 'Kimigayo' constitutional

FUKUOKA, Japan - The Fukuoka District Court ruled on April 26 that it is constitutional for the Kitakyushu city government to have ordered teachers to sing the ''Kimigayo'' national anthem, at school ceremonies. Photo shows plaintiffs entering the court before the ruling.

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Teachers sue education board over compulsory anthem singing

TOKYO, Japan - Teachers of schools run by the Tokyo metropolitan government walk Jan. 30 to the Tokyo District Court to file a lawsuit against the Tokyo education board, claiming it is unconstitutional to force them to stand and sing the ''Kimigayo'' anthem at school ceremonies.

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High court upholds punishment of teacher over anthem

FUKUOKA, Japan - Ryuichiro Inoue, a public elementary school teacher, speaks to reporters in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, on Nov. 26, after the Fukuoka High Court upheld the legality of a reprimand given to Inoue who refused to sing ''Kimigayo'' with pupils at a 1988 school ceremony. Inoue said he did not sing the anthem because the school had refused to allow the raising of a flag made by students based on Pablo Picasso's ''Guernica.'' The flag was intended as a symbol of peace. ''Kimigayo,'' or his majesty's reign, was not legally recognized as Japan's national anthem until earlier this year, but had long been regarded as the de facto anthem.

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Group demonstrates against Emperor's 10th anniversary

TOKYO, Japan - A citizen's group demonstrates in Tokyo on Nov. 12 against the day's ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's accession to the throne. Group members also protested over the Hinomaru (rising sun) and ''Kimigayo'' (his majesty's reign), which were given official status in August through legislation as Japan's national flag and national anthem.

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'Kimigayo' sung for 1st time at war memorial service

TOKYO, Japan - Some 6,500 people sing Japan's national anthem ''Kimigayo'' (his majesty's reign) for the first time at an annual war memorial service Aug. 15 at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan Hall. Last week a legislation recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem came into effect.

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S. Korean civic group protests at Japan's flag-anthem law

SEOUL, South Korea - A South Korean civic group, supporting women used as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, holds a rally in Seoul on Aug. 11 to protest a new Japanese law that gives legal status to the Hinomaru flag and ''Kimigayo'' anthem. The group said the new law will lead to a resurgence of militarism. The rally, joined by 50 people, also called on Japan to apologize to and compensate the former sex slaves.

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Man protests flag-anthem bill passage by burning flag

TOKYO, Japan - A man burns the Hinomaru flag on Aug. 9 in front of the Diet building to protest the Diet passage of a bill recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. The bill was supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners, the Liberal Party and New Komeito party. The law will go into force Aug. 13.

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Nonaka meets press with Hinomaru flag on side

TOKYO, Japan - Top government spokesman Hiromu Nonaka meets the press with the Hinomaru flag at his side at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 9, after the Diet passed into law earlier in the day a bill legally recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. The Hinomaru had never been placed there before.

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Flag-anthem bill enacted

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese parliament passes into law Aug. 9 a bill legally recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. Photo shows members of the House of Councillors voting on the bill, which was approved by 166-71 votes.

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'New' Hinomaru flags

TOKYO, Japan - Prominent Japanese graphic designer and satirist ''Mad'' Amano, 60, whose real name is Masayuki Amano, displays ''new versions'' of Japan's Hinomaru (rising sun) national flag, one with Chinese characters meaning ''full house'' (L) and another with the address of the Japanese government's home page (R), in Tokyo on Aug. 8. A controversial bill aimed at legally recognizing the Hinomaru and the ''Kimigayo'' (His Majesty's Reign) national anthem is being deliberated in the Diet, the nation's parliament. The bill is expected to be endorsed by the House of Councillors to become law on Aug. 9.

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Diet guards subdue person against flag-anthem bill

TOKYO, Japan - Parliament guards restrain a person in the public gallery July 22 who is shouting opposition to a bill to legally recognize the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem while members of the House of Representatives voted and approved the bill.

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Lower house approves flag-anthem bill

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the House of Representatives vote on a bill July 22 to legally recognize the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. The bill, approved by the house, was immediately sent to the House of Councillors, and is expected to be enacted before the current Diet session ends Aug. 13.

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Public hearing on flag-anthem bill held in Okinawa

NAHA, Japan - The House of Representatives Cabinet Committee holds a public hearing July 6 in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on a bill to legally recognize the Hinomaru (rising sun) and ''Kimigayo'' (his majesty's reign) as Japan's national flag and anthem. Okinawa was the center of intense fighting during World War II. The question of whether to recognize the flag and the song as national symbols is sensitive because of the close association of them with Japan's imperial system and past militarism.

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Court says ordering teachers to sing 'Kimigayo' constitutional

FUKUOKA, Japan - The Fukuoka District Court ruled on April 26 that it is constitutional for the Kitakyushu city government to have ordered teachers to sing the ''Kimigayo'' national anthem, at school ceremonies. Photo shows plaintiffs entering the court before the ruling. (Kyodo)

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Court rules Osaka "Kimigayo" ordinance constitutional

Yasutaka Okuno, an Osaka public school teacher, looks disappointed on Dec. 21, 2015, after the Osaka District Court rejected his claim that an Osaka ordinance forcing teachers to stand up while the national anthem "Kimigayo" is sung during school ceremonies is against the constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of thought. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Metropolitan government ordered to pay damages to ex-teachers

Former teachers at Tokyo metropolitan government-run high schools attend a press conference in Tokyo on May 25, 2015, after the Tokyo District Court ordered the local government to pay damages over its rejection of post-retirement re-employment following their refusal to stand up and sing the national anthem "Kimigayo" at school ceremonies. Some teachers argue that being ordered to stand and sing the anthem in front of the Hinomaru flag infringes on their freedom of thought and conscience. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Teachers not obliged to sing nat'l anthem at school events

TOKYO, Japan - Plaintiffs and their supporters rejoice with banners in front of the Tokyo District Court on Sept. 21 after the court ruled that teachers and librarians are not obliged to sing the Kimigayo national anthem at school events despite Tokyo authorities' instruction to do so. (Kyodo)

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Retired teacher found guilty in 'Kimigayo' case

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuhisa Fujita (C), a retired high school teacher, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on May 30 after he was found guilty of disturbing a graduation ceremony by urging parents to remain seated during the singing of Japan's ''Kimigayo'' anthem. (Kyodo)

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Retired teacher again found guilty in 'Kimigayo' case

TOKYO, Japan - Katsuhisa Fujita, 67, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on May 29 after the Tokyo High Court rejected his appeal and upheld a lower court ruling that found him guilty of disturbing a graduation ceremony by urging parents to remain seated during the singing of the ''Kimigayo'' anthem. (Kyodo)

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Top court rules order to play national anthem constitutional

TOKYO, Japan - Supporters of a 53-year-old teacher who refused to play Japan's national anthem wage a protest outside the Supreme Court on Feb. 27 after the court ruled that it is constitutional for the principal of an elementary school in Hino, Tokyo to order the music teacher to play the piano to accompany the singing of the ''Kimigayo'' during the 1999 school admission ceremony. The protest banner says, ''Unfair ruling is unacceptable.'' (Kyodo)

E

'New' Hinomaru flags

TOKYO, Japan - Prominent Japanese graphic designer and satirist ''Mad'' Amano, 60, whose real name is Masayuki Amano, displays ''new versions'' of Japan's Hinomaru (rising sun) national flag, one with Chinese characters meaning ''full house'' (L) and another with the address of the Japanese government's home page (R), in Tokyo on Aug. 8. A controversial bill aimed at legally recognizing the Hinomaru and the ''Kimigayo'' (His Majesty's Reign) national anthem is being deliberated in the Diet, the nation's parliament. The bill is expected to be endorsed by the House of Councillors to become law on Aug. 9.

E

'Kimigayo' sung for 1st time at war memorial service

TOKYO, Japan - Some 6,500 people sing Japan's national anthem ''Kimigayo'' (his majesty's reign) for the first time at an annual war memorial service Aug. 15 at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan Hall. Last week a legislation recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem came into effect.

E

Group demonstrates against Emperor's 10th anniversary

TOKYO, Japan - A citizen's group demonstrates in Tokyo on Nov. 12 against the day's ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of Emperor Akihito's accession to the throne. Group members also protested over the Hinomaru (rising sun) and ''Kimigayo'' (his majesty's reign), which were given official status in August through legislation as Japan's national flag and national anthem.

E

S. Korean civic group protests at Japan's flag-anthem law

SEOUL, South Korea - A South Korean civic group, supporting women used as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II, holds a rally in Seoul on Aug. 11 to protest a new Japanese law that gives legal status to the Hinomaru flag and ''Kimigayo'' anthem. The group said the new law will lead to a resurgence of militarism. The rally, joined by 50 people, also called on Japan to apologize to and compensate the former sex slaves.

E

Man protests flag-anthem bill passage by burning flag

TOKYO, Japan - A man burns the Hinomaru flag on Aug. 9 in front of the Diet building to protest the Diet passage of a bill recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. The bill was supported by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners, the Liberal Party and New Komeito party. The law will go into force Aug. 13.

E

Nonaka meets press with Hinomaru flag on side

TOKYO, Japan - Top government spokesman Hiromu Nonaka meets the press with the Hinomaru flag at his side at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on Aug. 9, after the Diet passed into law earlier in the day a bill legally recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. The Hinomaru had never been placed there before.

E

Flag-anthem bill enacted

TOKYO, Japan - The Japanese parliament passes into law Aug. 9 a bill legally recognizing the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. Photo shows members of the House of Councillors voting on the bill, which was approved by 166-71 votes.

E

Lower house approves flag-anthem bill

TOKYO, Japan - Members of the House of Representatives vote on a bill July 22 to legally recognize the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem. The bill, approved by the house, was immediately sent to the House of Councillors, and is expected to be enacted before the current Diet session ends Aug. 13.

E

Diet guards subdue person against flag-anthem bill

TOKYO, Japan - Parliament guards restrain a person in the public gallery July 22 who is shouting opposition to a bill to legally recognize the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem while members of the House of Representatives voted and approved the bill.

E

Diet guards subdue person against flag-anthem bill

TOKYO, Japan - Parliament guards restrain a person in the public gallery July 22 who is shouting opposition to a bill to legally recognize the Hinomaru as Japan's national flag and ''Kimigayo'' as the national anthem while members of the House of Representatives voted and approved the bill.

E

Public hearing on flag-anthem bill held in Okinawa

NAHA, Japan - The House of Representatives Cabinet Committee holds a public hearing July 6 in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, on a bill to legally recognize the Hinomaru (rising sun) and ''Kimigayo'' (his majesty's reign) as Japan's national flag and anthem. Okinawa was the center of intense fighting during World War II. The question of whether to recognize the flag and the song as national symbols is sensitive because of the close association of them with Japan's imperial system and past militarism.