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

EDITORIAL: Don’t use kids as a political tool in pushing agenda over ‘Kimigayo’

（社説）君が代調査　子どもを政治に使うな

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

国歌を歌えるか。授業で習ったか。入学式や卒業式で歌っているか。小中学生にアンケートを取るよう、市長や市教育長に求める決議を沖縄県石垣市議会が可決した。
　たとえ無記名でも子どもたちに踏み絵を踏ませるような調査を行うべきではない。
　学習指導要領が定めるのは入学式や卒業式などで「君が代」を斉唱するよう「指導する」こと、歌えるように音楽の授業で「指導する」こと。つまり、児童生徒ではなく教員にあてた記述だ。
　阿部俊子文部科学相も「児童生徒の内心にまで立ち入って強制しようとする趣旨のものではない」と記者会見で説明した。１９９９年に国旗・国歌法が成立した時の首相談話にも、国民に新たに義務を課すものではないとある。天皇の名の下に行われた戦争の記憶と結びつく君が代に、複雑な思いを抱く人がいることをふまえたものだ。地上戦で多大な犠牲を強いられた沖縄ではなおさらだろう。
　答えたくなければ答えなくていい形式にすれば問題はない、とアンケート賛成派議員は考えているようだ。だが、筆跡や答え方で自分の気持ちを知られるかもしれない、といった不安を子どもに抱かせたら、自由意思で答えたことにならない。憲法がうたう思想信条の自由を学ぶべき学校で反対の例を体験学習させられる悪影響はいかばかりか。歌わない子が多い学校に重圧がかかる懸念も拭えない。
　そもそも、議会が教育委員会に要求してアンケートを取らせるのは、教育基本法が求める教育の政治的中立性や独立を侵す危険を内包する。
　内心の自由のような人権にかかわる事柄に、数の力を背に無頓着に手を突っ込む。そんな議員らの姿勢に危うさを覚える。２年前にも大阪府の吹田市教委が、市議の求めに応じて子どもたちが君が代の歌詞を暗記しているかを調査し、批判を浴びている。
　気になるのは「歌いたい子どもの意思や多様性も尊重されるべきだ」という石垣の賛成派市議たちの言い分だ。
　国歌と定められた君が代を歌うことを阻むものは学校にも社会にもない。スポーツの国際大会などで歌われるのを耳にする機会も多い。
　何ら圧迫を受けていない多数者の側が、あたかも自分たちが権利を抑圧された少数者であるかのような立ち位置から、「多様性」を口実に少数者をさらに追い込む。倒錯した論理と言うほかはない。歌う・歌わないに口を出さないのが「多様性の尊重」だろう。何より、子どもを政治の道具に使ってはならない。

(2025年10月15日)

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EDITORIAL: Don’t use kids as a political tool in pushing agenda over ‘Kimigayo’
（社説）君が代調査　子どもを政治に使うな