Japan

Founded in 1981 as part of the United Church of Christ of Japan's (Kyodan) mission, the Buraku Liberation Center was established to support those struggling with discrimination as buraku in Japanese society. This buraku discrimination is, in effect, discrimination by some Japanese of other Japanese on the basis of one's bloodline/lineage. Buraku persons are discriminated against because they are supposedly "defiled/polluted" by blood heritage and/or living in the areas known as buraku. One example is the discrimination of Japanese of Korean descent, whose families have lived for generations in Japan. This discrimination occurs especially in relation to marriage and employment. For instance, it is common practice for the families of a prospective engaged couple to exchange family records to determine whether or not buraku connections exist. The majority of this discrimination is carried out covertly, stretching from individual cases to national and local governmental situations of discrimination. Even though many of the buraku are in all professions, including lawyers, politicians, doctors, teachers and pastors, all are subject to derogatory remarks, negative phone calls, a "glass ceiling" in employment opportunities, and other abuse. Currently, there are around six million people living in the 6,000 buraku communities in Japan.

The Buraku Liberation Center organizes many programs to combat buraku discrimination, and provides educational scholarships for buraku people. It works to involve churches and broader commmunities in its movement, to increase knowledge and awareness of the buraku situation. In association with Kyodan congregations, the second Sunday in July has been set aside as a "Day to Pray for Buraku Liberation" in Kyodan worship services all across Japan. The Center also creates and distributes publications to churches throughout Japan, including 8,000 copies of "Kaiho e no Habataki" (Flight on the Wings to Liberation) and 2,000 copies of "Zenkoku Tsushin" (National Newsletter). Through exchanges with discriminated buraku communities, the Center seeks to take a fresh look at Christianity in Japan and to find ways to work for restoring the essential task of a mission of non-discrimination and justice promotion to the church.

Additionally, the Center has held nine National Conferences on Buraku Liberation with attendees from churches throughout Japan.  It also offers study courses on human rights for the educational programs of theological schools in Japan. Dramatizations of the buraku struggle are organized every two years and performed at the Kyodan General Assembly and in various churches. For the youth in Japan, the Buraku Liberation Youth Seminar is held every summer, helping young people learn about the realities of buraku discrimination while studying the Bible.

The Buraku Liberation Center is working for the enactment of a law to redress the infringement of human rights. Specifically, it calls on all Kyodan churches to join in the movement for a new trial to overturn the conviction of Ishikawa Kazuo from Sayama, an innocent victim of baraku discrimination. The Center works particularly in solidarity with the United Church of Christ, Christian Church (Disciples or Christ), and other North American denominations in their struggles against discrimination in many forms.
Funding is needed for the Buraku Liberation Center's essential activities, including the production of publications, education, and leadership training, including the National Conference in June, which celebrates its 10^th anniversary in 2006, as well as the Summer Buraku Liberation Youth Seminar.

Donations
To make an online gift to this project click  here and select Japan Buraku Liberation Center from the designation list. To make a gift by check to this project click  here.