More than 2.31 Million Signatures Submitted:

October 2nd National Action
against Wrongful Amendments to the Fundamental Law on Education

March 4, 2008

In response to the opening of the extraordinary session of the Diet on September 26 (the 165th session, planned to be in session until December 15), called to order under the newly established Abe administration, JTU organized "October 2nd National Action against Wrongful Amendments to the Fundamental Law on Education" in Tokyo.

JTU submitted some 2,315,208 signatures to the Diet, urging both Houses to set up research commissions on the Fundamental Law on Education respectively. Some 300 members of the Union, who had gather from all over the country, went separately to the office buildings for the parliamentarians of both Houses and requested them to be involved in open and careful deliberations through the research commissions, rather than adopting the governmental bill in a hasty manner.

Mr. Morikoshi, Chairperson of JTU, greeted on behalf of the organizer at the meeting and called for joint action both at the national and local level. He stated, "The Fundamental Law on Education would be amended immediately when the opposition parties fail to cooperate. We should inform the people of the dangerous nature of the Abe Cabinet, which is trying to force chauvinism by law". Mr. Nakamura, Secretary General of JTU, also pointed out an alarming trend, stating, "Although questions would be raised when there are attempts to amend the Criminal Code or the Civil Code, such voices are not heard very much when it comes to the Fundamental Law on Education". He indicated the commitment of JTU to propose all possible action to draw the attention of the public to the issue of the Fundamental Law on Education, calling for local initiatives all over the country.