The feudal class system that was maintained for 265 years through out the Tokugawa Era, was finally abolished when the Meiji Restoration took place. The collective names that were given to the discriminated-against classes were all abolished and official notification was given that they were all now common people. Whilst the feudal class system was legally dissoIved, prejudice and discrimination against the lower classes remained in social practices. Since then, the Buraku issue has become a problem to be tackled by all the people of Japan. The photograph is of the Meiji Government Emancipation Edict.

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