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The Burakumin: Japanese Outcasts


3%- (Somucho 20).
             Most of Japan's large companies have Burakumin files-a list that shows all of the Burakumin slums in their area. When companies renew applications for employment, they hire private investigators to look for Burakumin addresses. In turn, the Burakumin applicants are not called in for interviews. Most companies simply throw the application in the trash.
             Kiryu is home to the largest Burakumin ghettos; it has about ninety of them. There, numerous Burakumin live outside of the slums and meticulous methods are used to disguise their Burakumin backgrounds. Since Japanese firms keep records of Burakumin residences, the Burakumin will move frequently so they get lost in the system. They hope that their background will be hidden.
             For over one hundred years, sporadic uprisings have occurred. The first of these started in the early 1870's. It was very unorganized and only involved a few local people. In 1903 another movement took place. Instead of uprising, they organized a group, somewhat of a lobbyist group. This was for the most part unsuccessful. There have always been some politicians that support the Burakumin. Some of them come from Burakumin backgrounds and were able to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy. By 1920, political movements for the Burakumin had developed into a few ideological groups, partly because of the spread of Marxism. Some of the groups were communist, anarchists and revisionists.
             The progression of Japanese military power in the 1940's pushed these groups into obscurity fearing repercussions from the government. In 1947 numerous Burakumin were elected to the House of Representatives.
             After the war, the United States helped the Burakumin with land reforms. They helped out into place a program that allowed the Burakumin to purchase land they had farmed for years. Although Americans helped them for the most part, the Burakumin are anti-American.


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