Buraku Problem Q&A
Many journalists, researchers and students from abroad come to visit us at the BLHRRI. Although they come from different parts of the world, they come to us to learn more about Buraku problems and ask for much information. Among the many questions asked us, we picked out those most frequently asked in these occasions, and will try to answer them as a new series of"Q&A"in this news letter. We hope this will be a help in understanding Buraku problems.
Q What kind of organization is it?
A The Buraku Liberation League (BLL) is a grass roots organization formed by Buraku people to work toward their liberation and to fight against discrimination. Currently, the BLL has 200,000 members and 2,200 branches throughout 39 prefectures in Japan. BLL's antecedent, the National Leveler's Association (Suiheisha), was established in 1922. Before its establishment, Japanese society did not recognize discrimination against Buraku people as a 'social vice 'and efforts were made to 'correct'the way Buraku people wore their clothing and the way they talked.
Confronting the social attitude toward Buraku people, Suiheisha claimed that discrimination against the Buraku was a social problem, and demanded emotional and Suiheisha then developed a policy that sought a through impeachment of all social norms that led to discrimination against Buraku people. It adopted its founding declaration, as well as the first human right declaration in Japan, which closes with the statement, "Be warm-hearted to All!, May Light Be upon All Humankind!" As a result of its impeachment campaign against discrimination, people gradually restrained from making discriminatory remarks in public.
Suiheisha helped to end of the practice of overt and public discrimination in schools and the military. For example it denounced the guilty verdict of a man who refused to state that he was a Buraku person when he proposed to a woman for marriage. The Suiheisha held that the case in Takamatsu prefecture in 1933 was a clear example of discrimination, and turned the trial into a nationwide campaign demanding the cancellation of the verdict. It succeeded in convince the court to overturn the verdict.
The Suiheisha also developed a campaign that demanded the construction of improved housing and community facilities for Buraku people. This effort achieved significant results with the opening of new community centers and public bath houses. In spite of the achievement, a strong oppression was imposed on the campaign with the starts of World WarK, resulting in the Suiheisha being forced to dissolve. Its leadership, however, did not file official dissolution papers, but decided to allow a natural breakup.