The education ministry published a revised education curriculum guideline Friday for elementary and junior high schools that calls for promoting patriotism and for making children between the first and sixth grades sing the "Kimigayo" national anthem.
The ministry said it will fully implement the revised guideline in elementary schools in the 2011 school year that starts April 1 that year and in junior high schools a year later in the 2012 school year.
The revision to the education guideline is the first since the Fundamental Law of Education was revised in 2006 by the administration of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to instill patriotism in classrooms.