A citizens' group opposed to the government's adoption of the Hinomaru as the national flag and "Kimigayo" as the anthem has posted two sarcastic alternatives in awkward English of the song on its Web site, ruffling the feathers of officials and conservative lawmakers.

The group "hopes the lyrics can become a small pillar for those who do not want to sing the song but are forced to sing it" at school ceremonies, the Web site says.

On Monday, the conservative daily Sankei Shimbun slammed the renditions as an attempt to subvert the national anthem.

The government officially adopted "Kimigayo" and the rising sun flag in 1999, despite widespread concern it would rekindle feelings of militarism. The song, unofficially titled "His Majesty's Reign," is based on an ancient poem that wishes long life for the Emperor.

Although the rhymes in the alternatives resemble the Japanese original, the content is completely different.

The English renditions are titled "Kiss Me" and "Kiss Me Girl" and urge people to remember Japan's wartime aggression, including the Nanjing Massacre and the "comfort women" -- those forced into sexual slavery for the Imperial Japanese Army.

The lyrics to one of the alternatives go:

Kiss me, girl, your old one.

Till you're near, it is years till you're near.

Sounds of the dead will she know?

She wants all told, now retained,

For cold caves know the moon's seeing the mad and dead.

No author was identified.

The Tokyo metropolitan board of education ordered public teachers and their students to sing "Kimigayo" at graduation and entrance ceremonies starting in October 2003 and punished more than 300 teachers who refused.

According to education ministry guidelines, schools must display the Hinomaru and have teachers and students sing the national anthem.

Government officials said they are unsure whether the sarcastic spinoffs are growing in popularity and urged people to stick to the original.

"(People) should sing the words to 'Kimigayo' that are approved by law," one ministry official said.

Despite the lyrics, Toru Kondo, a teacher of English at Kasai Minami High School in Edogawa Ward, Tokyo, who refuses to sing "Kimigayo," said he will shun the alternatives because the melody is the same as the original.

"I don't like the song ("Kimigayo") in its entirety -- both lyrics and melody, considering its link to Japan's wartime militarism, as well as the board of education's use of coercion to make teachers and students sing it at school ceremonies," he said.

Takashi Narushima, an education law professor at Niigata University, said it is only natural to parody "Kimigayo" when authorities are cramming it down the throats of teachers and students.

"It's passive resistance," he said. "People can decide to sing 'Kimigayo' or a parody or refuse to sing it."

Seishiro Sugihara, an education professor at Musashino University in Tokyo, meanwhile said the national anthem should be respected.