It is reported that teachers in 11 public schools in Tokyo conducted inappropriate sexual education. For example, a female public elementary school teacher in Machida City showed her students an animation video, which illustrates a girl who is sexually abused by her father. The Tokyo Board of Education is going to investigate the issue. Also, Mr. Takayuki Tsuchiya, one of the Tokyo Prefectural Assembly members (politician), is going to question about it on July 2nd.

The material is introduced in a magazine issued by Sei-Kyo-Kyo (The Private Association for the Study of Human sexuality and Gender Education). It illustrates that a girl is touched her body by her father when he is reading a book for her, and that her brother peeks in when she is taking a bath. The female teacher told the students to reject if they get sexual harassment (or assaults). At the elementary level class in a public school for handicapped children, a male teacher had the students sing a song, "Song of Body," which contains the names of male and female genitals. Also, at the secondary level class in the same school, sexual acts were taught, using dolls with "emphasis" on their male and female genitals

August 18th, 2003, "Sankeisho," in Sankei Newspaper, translated by Ofuji

Gender-free (Gender-bias free) education, a ridiculous attempt to abolish gender differences, never ends. The office of Minato-Ward in Tokyo delivered 8,000 sets of a publication of the "Danjo Kyodo Sankaku Policy" to all the workers. (Note: a policy that views individual women and men as equals in society and all decision making)

Among the illustrations included was a scene of children arriving with their mothers at a nursery school. The criticism was that the illustration of only mothers was stereotypical and the illustration was changed to one with fathers carrying their briefcases. Also, a picture of Adult's Day events showing only women wearing kimono was changed to one including men.

The other day in this column, I wrote about a change in the style of official correspondence used in Ota-Ward (a municipal). For example, they now write "The Change in Women and Men, as well as Society" (Note: in former times this would have read "men and women") and "Environments in Which Women and Men Can Work and Express Themselves as Individuals." Also, the All Japan Teachers' Union went so far as to suggest that one should write "A List of Female and Male Students," implying "female and male" is acceptable, but not the other way around.

Those people (Note: Those who are working for gender-bias free education) overemphasize the importance of bisexuals and homosexuals, considering and treating them the same as heterosexuals. (Note: He perhaps means that the people who are working for gender-bias free education are trying to teach about sexual minority issues as frequently and affirmingly as we teach about heterosexuality.) They specifically call the love between men and women as "heterosexual love." What phrased could deprive people, especially children of standards of normality and common sense.

I called it a "ridiculous attempt," but we can not take it lightly. An evil practice of gender-free education which omits the masculine and feminine could put the nation in danger because it would ignore Japanese tradition and culture. In the meantime, "natsurashisa" (which is an adjective of summer in Japanese) could be omitted as well.

Protest by The Gay and Lesbian Issues Section of "Sei-Kyo-Kyo,"
the Private Organization for the Study of Human Sexuality and Gender Education

August 22, 2003

Dear Sankei Newspaper Customer Service,

There are some unclear points on your column, "Sankeisho," on August 18th, 2003. We would appreciate if you could clarify them for us.

First, in your article, you translated the term, "gender-free," as an abolition of gender differences. Please explain the reason to us for this translation. Also, are there any municipal and other groups that have the same interpretation? If so, please let us know the name of those groups.

Second, you argued that "Those people (who are working for gender-bias free education) overemphasize the importance of bisexuals and homosexuals, considering and treating them the same as heterosexuals." Please give us concrete examples of how All Japan Teachers' Union are doing so. Also, what kind of criteria would you use for measuring "overemphasize"?

Third, in your column, you wrote, "Those people overemphasize the importance of bisexuals and homosexuals, considering and treating them the same as heterosexuals. They specifically call the love between men and women as 'heterosexual love.' What phrased could deprive people, especially children of standards of normality and common sense." Please clarify what you meant by "normality" and "common sense." What kind of criteria would you use for deciding what is "normal" and what is "common sense"?

Lastly, in your column, you argued, "Gender-free education which omits the masculine and feminine could put the nation in danger because it would ignore Japanese tradition and culture. In the meantime, Natsurashisa (which is an adjective of summer in Japanese) could be omitted as well." Please give us any cases that this kind of gender-free education has implemented. Second, please explain how gender-free education could put the nation in danger. What did you mean by putting nation in danger?

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you very much.