What is Buraku Problem?

The Buraku problem is a social problem that originated with discrimination against the “eta” (extreme filth) and “hinin” (non-human) outcaste groups during the feudal Edo period. While this form of discrimination was legally abolished after the Meiji Restoration by the promulgation of the Emancipation Edict in 1871, along with the creation of other State policies, this legal prohibition did not translate into its actual elimination. In reality, the discrimination against these groups was simply restructured and reinforced as Japan rapidly modernized. The Meiji Government presented an apparently liberal slogan in order to gather national support and loyalty, but in practice it reinstituted modernization policies that were bound up with the obsolete feudal system and its ideology. The Government also exhibited increasing prejudice against minority groups in its assimilation policies concerning the Ainu and Okinawan people and oppressive colonialism policies in neighboring countries. With the introduction of the civil code, it established the patriarchal “family system” that reinforced the institutionalization of oppression against women. Through the implementation of these policies, the Meiji Government sustained its discriminatory attitude against Buraku people, who were now called “new ordinary people” or “special Buraku-min” and faced discrimination in marriage, hiring, employment, education and their social lives.

Japan underwent drastic change after its World War II defeat in 1945. While international society was renewed in the spirit of eternal peace and respect for human rights with the United Nations at its center, Japan enacted the Japanese Constitution, which stipulates that sovereign power is to rest with the people, that the Emperor is to be the symbol of the State, that fundamental human rights are to be respected and that the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation. For 20 post-war years, the Government failed to take any serious measures to eliminate Buraku discrimination.

The report prepared by the Dowa Measures Council in 1965 stated: “The Dowa problem is Japan’s most serious social problem since it constitutes discrimination against a specific group of the nation’s people based on the historically-developed social class structure. The people concerned are forced into an economically, socially and culturally inferior position, and face both grave violations of their basic human rights and complete ignorance of their civil rights and liberties, which are to be fully guaranteed to all Japan’s people as a principle mechanism of modern society.”

The 1996 proposals made by the Consultative Council on Regional Improvement Measures stipulate: “As a human rights problem that is specific to Japan, the Dowa problem is a serious and grave issue involving the violation of the fundamental human rights guaranteed under the Constitution. Fifty years after the end of the war and a quarter of a century since the implementation of improvement measures, the Dowa problem is finally progressing towards resolution thanks to the efforts and dedication of many people. However, it still regrettably remains as a significant challenge for our country. Furthermore, from the standpoint of Japan’s membership of the international community, it is our responsibility to resolve the Buraku problem and Japan’s other human rights problems without further delay.”

Buraku discrimination, partially due to the continuing poor performance of the economy, is still deeply-rooted in Japanese society. Since it is a serious social problem concerning fundamental human rights, a comprehensive solution is strongly required.