Court rejects 'Kimigayo' suit by 172 teachers who refused to stand up

TOKYO —

The Tokyo District Court rejected on Thursday a damages suit filed by 172 Tokyo public school teachers, who claimed it is unconstitutional to punish them as they refused to stand up in front of the Hinomaru flag in singing the ‘‘Kimigayo’’ anthem at school ceremonies.

The order to do so ‘‘may go against the plaintiffs’ freedom of thought and conscience, but it is rational to ask the plaintiffs as public servants to engage in uniform activities at school ceremonies,’’ Presiding Judge Shigeru Nakanishi said, determining the court sees no unconstitutionality and illegality in the punishments on them.

Most of the plaintiffs have joined another lawsuit, in which the district court ruled in September 2006 that the metropolitan government and its education board cannot force teachers to sing ‘‘Kimigayo’’ in front of the Japanese flag or reprimand them for refusing to do so as such acts are infringements on freedom of thought guaranteed under the Constitution. The suits were filed after the local authorities issued a controversial notice in October 2003 demanding that public school employees stand and sing the national anthem in front of the Japanese flag during entrance and graduation ceremonies at schools.