Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI)
Origin
The Buraku Liberation Research Institute (BLRI) was established in 1968 in cooperation with the Buraku Liberation League (BLL) and with the administrative assistance of Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City. In July 1998, it changed the name to the Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Research Institute (BLHRRI).
Aim
For the purposes of eliminating all forms of discrimination including Buraku discrimination and establishing human rights in society, the BLHRRI conducts research and investigation in the fields of history, society, economy, legislation, culture, education and civil movements, and publishes results of research works. It also develops curriculums and programs for human rights training and awareness-raising, and provides them in the forms of human rights courses, seminars, workshops, symposium, etc. It is a membership organization.
Organizational Structure
Investigation & Research Division
- Research Committees: 27 Committees covering areas of “awareness-raising,” “human rights,” “research/administration,” “education and community,” and “history and theory.” Achievements of research works of committees are published in our bi-monthly “Bulletin of Buraku Liberation.”
- Investigation and Research Projects: 13 projects including, “discrimination based on work and descent”; Reforms in Meiji Restoration and Buraku problem; Urban lower and Buraku problem; Reproduction project of “Former documents relating to Chori during Edo period“; “Osaka Buraku history” project; “History of the post-war Buraku liberation movement” project; Project concerning protection of personal information of employees and CSR; Research on human rights community development; Research on development of community education system; Research on the employment problem among youth; Career education and human rights; Study on awareness in human rights and Buraku problem; and the project on Japanese Constitution.
- Buraku Liberation and human rights education/awareness project
- Editing Committee on Buraku History of Osaka
Education and Training Division
The Division regularly organizes and offers the following human rights training programs to different sectors of society. Some programs are organized jointly with the business sector, local governments, religious sector and NGOs.
- Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Leadership Course: Launched in 1974. Three courses a year, 29 days per course, and 65 trainees for each course. As of 2006, about 4,200 people have completed the course since the beginning.
- Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Summer Course at Mt. Koya: Since 1970, the summer course has been organized every August at Mt. Koyasan. Every year, about 2,000 people attend. As a beginner course, it offers two plenary sessions and five different thematic lecture courses for three days. It has been organized 38 times as of 2007.
- Buraku Liberation Summer Course for Western Japan: Since 1976, it has been organized every July in different parts of the west Japan. It is usually attended by 4,000 people. As of 2007, it has been organized 32 times.
- Human Rights and Dowa Course for the Business Sector: To train human rights trainers mainly in the business sector, the course has been organized since 1980 in cooperation between state agencies, local governments and industrial organizations. As of 2007, it has been organized 28 times.
- Human Rights Training and Research Assembly: For exchanging human rights training experiences and developing research works, the assembly is organized nationwide every February. About 3,000 people get together to share their own experiences and opinions according to what they have learned in the plenary and workshops. Fieldwork is also organized to visit historical spots relating to human rights in a host place.
- Human Rights Training Tokyo Course: Since 1987, the Tokyo Course has been organized to train human rights training leaders in the business sector, local governments, religious organizations and mass-media. The course continues for 12 days. As of 2006, about 1,200 people have completed the course.
Library
As of 2007, about 90,000 books and publications concerning Buraku and human rights problems are possessed in the Library. These are open to the public and available for lending. The Library also provides consultation service for research work or learning. Library opens Monday through Saturday.
Publishing & Sales
- Monthly magazine "Human Rights"
- Bimonthly bulletin "Buraku Liberation Research"
- Year Book on Human Rights (annual report on human rights developments in Japan)
- Annual publication of “Discriminatory Incidents Occurred throughout the Country” (since 1981)
- Audio-visual materials: Educational video-films are produced
Latest film “Living together – We develop our own future” describing unspoken thoughts and feeling of minority people including Buraku people, Korean people, migrant workers, sexual minorities, etc.
* The above is available only in Japanese.
International Exchange Project
- Exchange programs with human rights researchers and human rights campaigners abroad including ethnic minority, indigenous people, people affected by “discrimination based on work and descent,” and religious minority.
- Publication of quarterly “Buraku Liberation News” in English (also available in this website).
- Mail-magazine of “SOS Torture” in Japanese to intervene human rights violations occurring different parts of the world. Information source is OMCT World Organization Against Torture.
- Monitoring the observation and reporting of the Japanese government of international human rights instruments ratified by itself.
- Publication and production of educational materials for Buraku problem, Buraku liberation movement, caste-based discrimination in India, and “Hyong-pyong Movement” of Korea for and by “Paek-jeong”.
“HARADA Tomohiko” Memorial Fund
The late HARADA Tomohiko was the first chairperson of BLHRRI. As a researcher, he has accomplished excellent works for the solution of Buraku problem. To encourage excellent researches that contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination, the HARADA Tomohiko Memorial Funds was established in 1985. Every year, researchers of Buraku history or other human rights issues are awarded grant for their research activities.
Board of Directors
| Chairperson | Nobuaki TERAKI (Mr) | Professor of |
| Vice Chairperson | Machiko OHNO (Ms) | Attorney at law |
| Directors | Kenzo TOMONAGA (Mr) | Chief Director of the BLHRRI |
| Takamichi UESUGI (Mr) | Professor of |
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| Hitoshi OKUDA (Mr) | Professor of |
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| Suehiro KITAGUCHI (Mr) | Secretary General of Buraku Liberation League |
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| Midori KUROKAWA (Ms) | Professor of |
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| Masahiko TANIGAWA (Mr) | Executive board member of Buraku Liberation League Osaka | |
| Kenichi NAKAGAWA (Mr) | Journalist | |
| Seiji NAKAMURA (Mr) | Head of Research Division of BLHRRI | |
| Michihiko NOGUCHI (Mr) | Professor of |
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| Akio NOMURA (Mr) | Chairperson of |
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| Yasumasa HIRASAWA (Mr) | Professor of |
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| Masanao MURAKAMI (Mr) | Professor of |
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| Auditors | Junichi NAKAMOTO (Mr) | President of |
| Shigeru MURAI (Mr) | Senior Director of |
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| Advisors | Masaaki UEDA (Mr) | Professor Emeritus of |
| Shigeyuki KUMISAKA (Mr) | President of Executive Committee of Central Headquarters of Buraku Liberation League | |
| Masanao MURAKAMI (Mr) | Professor of |
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| Shozo SUZUKI (Mr) | Professor Emeritus of |
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| Thoru MATSUOKA (Mr) | Chairperson of Buraku Liberation League |
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| Kinhide MUSHAKOJI (Mr) | Director of |
Address : 1-6-12 Kuboyoshi, Naniwaku, Osaka City, Japan 556-0028
Tel : +81-6-6568-0905 , Fax : +81-6- 6568-0714
URL : http://blhrri.org
E-mail : □□□□