Tokyo governor says to appeal anthem ruling

TOKYO, Sep 22 (Reuters) Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, an outspoken Japanese nationalist, today said his metropolitan government would appeal a court ruling in favour of teachers objecting to being forced to sing the national anthem.

A Japanese court yesterday ruled in favour of high school teachers who refused to stand facing the national flag and sing the anthem at school events, saying the Tokyo metropolitan government's orders to do so infringed upon freedom of thought.

''Of course we will appeal,'' Ishihara told a news conference.

''There needs to be standard action to bring back order. I think showing respect to the national anthem and flag at events is one option,'' he said.

The surprise court ruling came as conservative lawmakers, including Shinzo Abe who is poised to become prime minister next week, seek to put more patriotism into classrooms in a bid to revive a Japanese sense of identity they see as lacking in modern society.

The Tokyo government and its school board in 2003 issued a directive requiring high school teachers to stand facing the Hinomaru flag and sing the Kimigayo anthem -- associated by some with wartime militarism -- or face punishment if they refused.

More than 400 teachers joined in the lawsuit, initially filed in 2004, saying that being forced to sing the anthem violated their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of thought.

Japanese Justice Minister Seiken Sugiura was quoted by Kyodo news agency as saying it was ''unbelievable'' that the lawsuit had been filed.

REUTERS DKA VV1544