BLHRRI's English publications
The Literacy Work and Discrimination in Japan
Buraku Literacy Movement
According to the General Affairs Bureau, as of March 1987 there are 4,603 Buraku districts with a total population of 1,166,733. These figures, however, only represent those areas classified as Dowa districts. Actual figures may amount to as many as 6,000 Buraku districts with over 3 million Burakumin (Buraku people). ・・・・・・
As of 1990, about 15,000 people are studying in about 600 literacy classes nationwide. Most literacy students are women and literacy instructors include teachers of primary and junior-high schools, the staff of community liberation halls and young members of the Buraku Liberation League. Most literacy classes are held regularly in the evening once a week. ・・・ <omitted>
<Excerpt from the Literacy Works>
Buraku Kids
By A. Murakami
One day, when summer had gone and the autumn wind was starting to bite, my school teacher came to my house. I was a second-year high school student at the time and the teacher told my mother about students who wanted to go on to a high school. He told her that I had academic talent and that I should go to a high school if possible. Also, he proposed a way to help us financially.
Of course, I wanted to move on to a high school, but I could not help worrying about our family situation. My father hawked goods for a greengrocer but he could not work everyday because he was ill, so I just had to help support the family.
I took on many side jobs. In winter my hands got chapped and torn using starch in one of my jobs. Also, I had to baby-sit and do many other things, so my mind was far from study.
When I moved up to the senior class, I had very ambivalent feelings about going to school. I had a strong tendency just to give up going to school, but I knew that I should hang on. As a result my academic rating fell very low. We had to report our marks in front of the teachers, one by one. The teachers just could not understand my mixed feelings of vexation and resignation.. Gradually, more and more, I came to hate school. ・・・ <omitted>
Edited by BLHRRI, and published by BLL and IMADR-Japan Committee in 1990
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