A Supreme Court ruling Monday that found severe discipline over the issue of the "Kimigayo" national anthem "unconstitutional" is expected to put a brake on authorities trying to impose excessive punishment over teachers' refusal to sing the anthem.
The Tokyo metropolitan government began meting out punishment to public school teachers and staffers who refused to comply with orders to stand up and sing the "Kimigayo," apparently out of concern that such an act would disrupt school events and make it difficult for teachers to maintain discipline.
The metropolitan government had seen recurrences of people refusing to rise and sing the anthem even after such actions became compulsory in 2003. (Yomiuri)
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