TOKYO, June 18 -- "I have had tenure at this university for more than a decade and not once have I or will I stand for the national anthem and honor the national flag during reception or graduation ceremonies and the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe trying to force his nationalistic ideology on educators and students will be resisted," Miyuki Hasegawa, a psychology professor at Tokyo's largest state-funded university told Xinhua requesting to use a pseudonym.

Hasegawa's ardent stand against such ceremonies are far from a minority view in Japan, with more and more teachers at state- backed schools and universities remaining in their seats when the familiar drone of Japan's national anthem "Kimigayo" begins to play; with many of those who do stand only mouthing the words or singing just not to make waves, suggested Hasegawa.

Hasegawa herself has been reprimanded by her university on numerous occasions and has been accused of being un-Japanese, unpatriotic and not proud of her country, has had her nationality questioned and even her respect of new and graduating students doubted.

"I guess you could say that twice a year after these ceremonies I 'get my hands slapped' by the powers that be here, but that hasn 't translated into an official punishment yet, although about five or so years ago I was threatened by the university's board and senior administrators that they would take the case further under Japanese law, although eventually nothing came of it," Hasegawa recalled.

While education minister Hakubun Shimomura on Tuesday leant on state-run universities to implore their educators to raise the national flag, known as Hinomaru in Japan, and sing Japan's anthem at entrance and graduation ceremonies, both of which were legally designated in 1999, in a move by the government to foster what it describes as more patriotism and national pride in its institutions, critics of the move believe that the current government is harboring more sinister intentions.