Sai Kiet Niki Lau

Reforms in the local context: Sumiyoshi as a case study for the research about the implementation of the buraku-measurement policies between 1969 to 2002.

The hisabetsu burakumin (被差別部落民) are a social constructed minority based on ostracized groups during the feudal class system. They still experience discrimination and ostracization to this day due to the stigma they are associated with. An attempt to solve the buraku issue (buraku mondai 部落問題) was the Special Measurement Law for Dōwa Projects, short SML, (Dōwa taisaku jigyō tokubetsu sochi hō 同和対策事業特別措置法) between 1969 to 2002. Throughout the 33 years, designated areas called dōwa areas (dōwa chiku 同和地区) were improved in the fields of infrastructure, economy, welfare, education, human rights, and other measurements. A key component associated with the dōwa areas are the rinpōkan (隣保館) which were the local welfare institution and were responsible for projects for human rights or consultation and the workers who implemented the national policy.

My research focuses on the interpretation, translation, and realisation of the Dōwa law from the national to the local level. Based on the laws article 1, 5, and 6, the scope is divided into infrastructure, economy, education, human rights, and other measurements. Furthermore, emphasis on the people’s lives, their view towards the Dōwa law and on the rinpōkan will illustrate a better insight of what happened during the 33 years of the Dōwa law.