I. What is Braku Problem ?

　1　It is originated from the social system of feudal society

　The　Buraku　problem　originated　from　the　social system of feudal society．　It is an unresolved，in which some of the people whose rights have been historically and　regionally scorned， including　freedom　of occupation，residence and marriage，have been denied to them，forcing　them to　live　wretched　lives．In　the feudal era，the people were divided into the classes of aristocracd（landlords），plebeians（farmers，artisans and merchants），and humble people（executioners，people who deal with dead cows and horses，including tanners and others）．

　In　Western　European　societies，which　developed into　modem　societies　through　civil　revolutions，the social system of feudal society ended in principle and the people became free and equal citizens．

　The absolutist Tenno（Emperor）as sovereign still ruled Japan after it become a modern society，and no civil　rights（human　rights）were　guaranteed to　the Japanese people as SHINMIN．

　In　a　society　where　modern　civil　rights　were　not guaranteed，descendants of the humble　people（the people　of　discriminated　hamlets，i．e．Buraku）Were discriminated　against. Buraku　people　were　forced　to live　in　Wretched　residential　areas　and　their communication　with　the　neighboring　residents　was restricted．They were deprived of freedom of marriage，occupation，going to higher schools，and poor living was imposed to them．This is the basis of the Buraku question in the modern Japan，and is still unresolved today.

　2　It　is　neither　a　racial　nor　an　ethnic problem．

　The Buraku Liberation League　（=Kaido） misunderstands the Buraku problem and treats it as if it were an ethnic plrblem，and not a few Japanese and foreign people have such an understanding of it，But the Buraku problem is neither racial nor an ethnic，

　The Buraku problem in simple terms is a problem of　discrimination　depending　on　whether or　not　a person is a Buraku person，descended from the humble class　of　the　feudal　era， An　end　discrimination　is demanded，as now it scarcely matters in Japan whether a person is or is not a descendant of warriors（the highest class in the feudal era）．
　What is needed is to sweep away the out‐of－date，false，premodern tradition that　puts　one’s　ancestors’ rank　in　problem，and　to remove the barrier between the Buraku and the outside World．

　In Japan，there is discrimination against the Korean　people　living　in　Japan，　typical　of　the　ethnic discrimination　against　foreign　citizens，except those that have become nationalized in Japan，they are Korean people：On one hand，they should be respected as foreign citizens，and at the same　time it is necessary to create　a situation　in which they　can be proud of their own　nationality，although it，is　a most serious problem　to　apply　such　principles　because　the discrimination against them is very severe．

　A typical minority among the Japanese people is the Ainu race，as it which　should be called，The ethnic discrimination against them should be abolished，and their　human-rights　guaranteed，　including　the preservation　and　development　of　their　independent culture；first，as　Japanese　people，and　second　as　a minority　that　differs　from　the　Japanese　people，who form the majority in Japan．

　In　this　way， we　see　that there　are　two sides　to respect for human-rights in relation to ethnic problems．But viewing the essence the Buraku problem，we see that only the gumantee　of human rights as Japanese people is necessary for the Buraku people．

　In　the　light of the　universal principles governing human beings，we must make active efforts to correct discrimination．In this sense，it can be said that forms of discrimination have　much　in　common　with　each other． But　each　at　the　same　time　has　peculiarities．There　are　differences　in　means　and　goals is how discrimination will be corrected and what will take its place． Administrative and　educational　conduct　and activities　by　social　movements　which　neglect these differences are false and disadvantageous，The Buraku Liberation　League(=Kaido)　misunderstands　the essence　of the Buraku problem，separates the Buraku people from the general public，and　makes　it　difficult　to remove the barrier　resulting　from the social　system　of　feudal society．This prevents the Buraku problem from being resolved．

II. The Settlement of Buraku Problem

　１　What is the settlement of the Buraku　Problem ?

　The settlement of the Buraku probrlem， that is to be rid of the barrier between the Buraku and outside of the Buraku (reconciliation between the people) means: 1) Differences in the living environment, employment, education and other matters between the Buraku and neighbors are corrected; 2) A condition is created in society in which unscientific knowledge of the Buraku question and prejudiced remarks are not accepted; 3) In the course of struggling against discrimination of the Buraku, the historical backwardness in the Buraku people’s living and habits is overcome; 4) In society, free social communication is developed and reconciliation with solidarity is.

　2 　Perspective of Settlement

　Nowadays, the correction of differences between inside and outside of the Buraku is being promoted, closed societies of Buraku are becoming open, and social communication is developing. 　These brighten the perspective for the liberation of the Buraku. Discrimination against the Buraku is basically on the way out.

　From the standpoint of promoting national reconciliation, we will promote democratic education and enlightenment, so that human-rights are respected and so that democracy can become fixed as the ethic local societies. 　At the same time, we will further awaken the people inside and outside the Buraku, to create democratic societies. We are sure that we can overcome the discrimination against the Buraku by the end of this century if these movements are basically promoted.

III.　Shifts and Present Situation of Buraku Problem

　１ Situation Pre-War and Wartime

　The Meiji Restoration was the beginning of modern Japanese society. Because of the “Liberation Law for Humble People”, which was promulgated in 1871, the feudalistic humble rank legally disappeared. But the Buraku people were not liberated from their miserable conditions, based on discriminations against them: Under the absolutist Tenno (Emperor) system, the parasitic landlord-ownership system, and Japanese capitalism that had a specific structure linked with the two systems, political and material fundamentals that maintained and supported discriminations against the Buraku existed in the political, economic, and social systems. For example, under rule by large landowners in rural areas, tenants were forced to pay ground rent in kind almost as high as in feudal society, suffering from non-economic compulsion. In this situation, in a certain sense it is natural that only the Buraku people, existing at a lower level than tenants, were not liberated.

　In 1922, the Buraku residents aiming at liberation from discrimination, founded the All-Japan Levelers Association (Zenkoku Suiheisha),　putting forward a high ideal: “Warmth in human societies, light given to human beings.” The movement of Zenkoku Suiheisha, with the banner of democracy flying, spread all over the country. The settlement of the respective phenomena of discrimination was advanced by this movement, but the condition for a drastic settlement did not mature until after the World War II.

　2 Changes of Post-War Society

　Japan accepted the Potsdam Proclamation of the Allies in August, 1945, the beginning of the new post-war history.

　In 1946, the absolutist Tenno system was abrogated, and a new constitution based on people’s sovereignty was established.

　The new constitution lays down peaceful, democratic articles as its principles, including sovereignty vested in the people, the abandonment of war, protection of fundamental human rights,parliamentary democracy, and local autonomy.

　The constitution of Japan guarantees the people’s fundamental human rights as “permanent and inviolate”, and says expressly that “All people are equal under the law and there shaI1 be no discrimination in political, economic or social relations because of race, creed, sex, social status or family origin.” In addition, a series of democratic reforms were introduced, including farmland reform, dissolution of the big financial combines, the establishment of freedom to rally, association plus expression, equality of the sexes, and abolition of the patriarchal family system.

　That the semi-feudalistic landowner system, i.e., the parasitic landlord system, basically collapsed, meant that the political, and social foundation maintaining and supporting discrimination against the Buraku had basically collapsed.

　In this way supported by a new system based on the democratic constitution and the drastic advance of the people’s democratic awareness and movements, the perspective was favorable for the settlement of the Buraku problem.

　3 　Changes of the Buraku Post-War

　Discrimination against the Buraku has been drastically reduced and overcome in the past thirty years. This is firstly because the subjective conditions were developed: the generations given democratic education in the post-war period are increasing and democratic consciences and attitudes at the level of the people’s living have spread and taken root among the people.

　Secondly, the development in social productive capacity, on one hand, has ruined nature and the people’s living, threatening lives, but at the same time it has greatly helped to break down semi- feudalistic social relationships, which were undermined by post-war reforms: This created the objective condition for the solution of the Buraku problem.

　In addition, resolution of the Buraku problem depends largely on the Buraku people’s own efforts for improvement of living, the Buraku liberation movement, assimilation education and assimilation administration which reflect it, and broadly speaking, the “struggle to be free” (Constitution, Article 97).

　4 　Present Situation of Buraku

　The Buraku once stood in an economically, socially, and culturally inferior position. It is characteristic in the present situation of the Buraku that such a general inferior condition is being turned into a specific question of certain districts, ages, and ranks, because of various aspects, including the Buraku people’s own efforts, the advance of the Buraku liberation movement, the implementation of a project based on special measures: 20-year- project (some 10 million yen) for assimilation based on the special measures law since 1969. This is historical progress, improving conditions for the settlement of the Buraku problem. We should take account of the fact that the remaining differences in districts around the Buraku are not the result of feudalistic discrimination; they are linked deeply with the contradictions in modern society.

　Residential and living condition

　The Buraku were at one time so inferior in residential and living conditions as could be seen at a glance; houses were very small, dilapidated and overcrowded, and the people lived in unsanitary, unhealthy, and closed conditions, clearly different from the neighboring districts. As a project for assimilation, about 120,000 houses were reformed or built as public housing, and combined with a loan system for new-building or reform of houses, which covered 200,000 houses, the residential condition of the Buraku was greatly improved.

　Employment and living

　The overwhelmingly majority of the people in the buraku were once workers with precarious employment, such as petty farmers and daily laborers. Their types of occupations were part time. But now the types of occupations of the Buraku people are varied, and the employment situation is basically becoming similar to employment in other districts.

　Educational Condition

　Concerning educational conditions, there are now no unschooled children at the compulsory education level; such children used to be found in the Buraku. The proportion of entries of the Buraku people to high school and universities was only half that of the general public 20 years ago, but the difference is now much less: the difference in the proportion of entries to high schools is 7 percent, and in universities, 11 percent.

　Circumstances Surrounding Marriage

　Freedom of marriage is, in principle, based on “the mutual consent of both sexes”.

　Viewing seeing the promotion of social communication between inside, and :outside of the Buraku, with the focus on marriage, according to the result of “Research on the Actual Situation and Consciousness’”, cases of both husband and wife living in the Buraku are from the Buraku position 50.2 percent; cases of one of the couple from outside the Buraku stand at 34.1percent, and cases of both being from outside the Buraku stands at 9.4 percent.

　Viewed respectively by age, the proportion of couples both in their twenties and both from the Buraku is 9.4 percent, the lowest figure. In the higher age group, the higher proportion of the couples who are both from the Buraku should at 65.8 percent in their seventies. The proportion of couples, one of whom is from outside the Buraku is highest at 60.2 percent in their twenties, and the lowest, 15.8 percent, in their seventies. This research reveals that among these ten years younger, ten percent more marriages are between people from inside and outside the Buraku. The younger they are, the social exchanges between inside and outside of the Buraku on the phase of marriage are greater.

“Research on ‘Actual Situation and Consciousness”

　A 1989 survey　in 35 districts throughout the country by the All Japan Federation of Buraku Liberation Movement.

　Change of proportion of entries into high-ｓchools and universities

(Research by Education Ministry)

Proportion of marriages of two types

(Research by management and coordination agency, in Buraku districts, 1985)

(Excluding marriages of both from outside the Buraku)

Tanaka District, Kyoto City, in the 1950s, in the 1990s

　The Tanaka District population was 2,000 people of 518 families in 1956, the people being forced to live in overcrowded, confined, and very inferior living conditions. The overwhelming majority of occupations of householders there in those days were unstable, as unskilled workers; “skilled workers, manufacturing workers, and unskilled workers” (44.2 percent) and “unemployed” (28.2 percent). Compared with the average ratit) in Kyoto City of high school entries, which was 65.0 percent, that of the Tanaka District was only half of that, i.e. only 33.3 percent. But with the implementation of a project for the improvement of residential conditions based on the project for assimilation, the number of the people living in the district was 1,571 of 57 families in 1984. 555 families (97.3 percent) out of them came to live in modern municipal houses. 51.5 percent of those who had occupations were municipal workers with the City Office, employment rate had risen. The proportion of entries to high schools of the people at ages from 15 to 24 reached 72.8 percent (male), 80.2 percent (female), reducing the difference from the city average, which was 94.1 percent.

Changes in Living and Residential Condition Higashi-Sanjo District, Kyoto City,
from the 1950s, to the 1990s

　In the Higashi-Sanjo District, 1,800 people of 464. families lived these in those days of 1956. 47 percent of them lived in houses, each less than 16.5 meters squares, and 26 percent were one-room houses (in 1953). The occupations of householders were “skilled workers, manufacturing workers, unskilled workers” (51.3 percent) and “unemployed workers”: Unstable, unskilled workers accounted for 70.3 percent o1′ the tolal. The proportion of entries in high schools in the district was 19.3 percent, which was at a very low level, compared with the average of the city. But with the implementation of the assimilation project, the population of the district became 1,207 people of 425 families in 1984, lind 92.3 percent of them were living in modern municipal housing. Concerning employment, 45 percenl of those who had jobs were municipal workers. The proportion of entries in high schools at the ages from 15 to 24, reaching 73.2 perccnl (male) and 83.8 percent (female), nearer to the city average, which was 94.1 percent.

Kibi Town, Wakayama Prefecture, the first half of the 1970s to the latter hall’ of’ the 1970s

　The Buraku in Kibi Town were about 10 percent of the population of the whole town as of 1970, 74.1 percent ot’ the houses were inferior, and the average number of rooms per house in the Buraku was 35, while that of the town was 4.7.

　In addition, the houses were congested, there were some houses in which several families lived together. But with the implementation of the project for assimilation, public housing was built. Building their own new houses suitable to the rural area was also promoted helped by the low interest loan system. As a result, the residential condition improved greatly. In addition, street improvements, and construction of an assembly hall, a children’s hall, a health care center for mothers and children, a public work place for handicapped people and others, were carried out which changed the town beyond recognition.

　Kibi Town: As is clearly shown by the “Number of accepted cases of infringement of human rights” (cases accepted by the Civil Liberties Bureau of the Justice Ministry), related to the discriminations againsl the Buraku, it is characteristic that discrimination against the Buraku does not take place generally, as daily affairs, it being only I percent of all, and decreasing.