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Buraku Problem Q&A

Many journalists, researchers and students from abroad come to visit us at the BLHRRI. Although they come from different parts of the world, they come to us to learn more about Buraku problems and ask for much information. Among the many questions asked us, we picked out those most frequently asked in these occasions, and will try to answer them as a new series of"Q&A"in this news letter. We hope this will be a help in understanding Buraku problems.
    Q What is Literacy school?

    A It is of particular note that a significant number of Buraku people, being unable to go to school due to the poverty caused by discrimination, have remained illiterate.

    According to the Buraku survey conducted in1982, in the Osaka area 7.4% of those surveyed had not finished their primary education or had never been to school. In comparison with a nation-wide survey conducted in 1980, the average was 0.3%. It was almost more than 24 times the national average.

    In regard to literacy, 8.2% were completely illiterate or hardly illiterate. These figures tell us that the Buraku people's right to education has been seriously deprived. Under these circumstances a voluntary literacy movement started out of Fukuoka Prefecture in1963 and it spread to the coal -mining areas in Fukuoka Prefecture.

    At first, people began to learn Hiragana (Japanese phonetic letters)and Katakana in a private home, using a wooden apple box as a writing desk. This dedicated effort ignited the fire of literacy movement and developed literacy classes which are held in two-thirds of the community liberation halls nationwide.

    Most literacy students are women and literacy instructors are teachers from primary and junior-high schools in the neighborhood, the staff of the community liberation halls young members of the Buraku Liberation League and others.

    Most literacy classes are held regularly in the evening once a week. The literacy class is the place where Buraku people acquire the resilience of their right of literacy which was deprived by discrimination. And at the same time it is the place where Buraku people promote their own self-awareness of Buraku liberation.

    The literacy movement has been developed not only for the Buraku people but also for Koreans in Japan and for people who are studying at night school. The United Nations designated 1990 as "International Literacy year" and called for action. Throughout the world various literacy movements have been actively developed within people's liberation movements or in the process of nation building after independence.

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