Japan Charges Man Over Anthem Protest

A retired teacher who urged parents not to stand for the Japanese national anthem at a school graduation ceremony this year was indicted yesterday in the latest spat between Tokyo's rebel teachers and the city's right-wing government over patriotism in schools.

Katsuhisa Fujita, 63, was charged with obstructing proceedings at Itabashi high school in March, prosecutors said in a statement.

Mr Fujita is the most high-profile target of attempts by the Tokyo metropolitan government, led by governor Shintaro Ishihara, to enforce a law passed in 1999 making the flag and anthem de facto symbols of the Japanese state.

The then prime minister, Keizo Obuchi, promised that people would not be punished for refusing to observe the symbols, but in October 2003 the Tokyo government issued a directive threatening to punish rebel teachers.

Mr Fujita is accused of urging about 300 parents to remain seated during the playing of Kimigayo at a graduation ceremony. He had attended the ceremony as a guest, having retired in April 2002.

"I ask for your understanding and if possible, I would like to ask to you to remain seated," he was quoted as saying.

According to witness reports, he ignored requests from the principal to leave the building and had to be dragged outside.

Mr Fujita, who taught social studies at the school for seven years, denies the charge, saying he had simply distributed copies of an article opposing the directive and talked to parents about the significance of the flag and anthem, which many Japanese regard as symbols of Japan's militaristic past.

"I never disrupted the ceremony, because I left before it started," Mr Fujita said. "The indictment is a warning to other teachers that they will be treated like criminals if they don't follow the orders."

He was indicted, but not arrested, after the school and the Tokyo board of education filed a complaint with the police.

"Even today, we find Mr Fujita's actions during the ceremony regrettable," the board of education said yesterday.

Officials insisted Mr Fujita had been indicted for disrupting the ceremony, not for his political views.