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Before we came to Japan, research about the nation brought to our attention a group within the Japanese society, toward whom God has given us a special love, and to whom we believe God has called us to focus extra effort to share the truth of His love, joy, and peace.
During Japan's feudal period, Japan had a caste system similar to India's, although much simpler.
This caste system divided the population into "Shi-Nou-Kou-Shou" -
or warriors, farmers, craftsmen, and merchants. Above these four caste groups was the imperial family. Below the four caste groups were the outcastes, people who were
considered unclean under Japan's unique blend of indigenous Shinto religion and
Buddhism. These Burakumin, meaning "people of the special community", included leather tanners, grave diggers, and anyone else whose job required them to handle dead animals or
people. They were not allowed to associate with "clean" people and had to live outside the regular towns in separate villages or ghetto areas, just like little leper colonies.
Despite the existence of some theories that claim that the Burakumin are of foreign origin,
research has consistently shown that the Burakumin are racially and linguistically fully Japanese.
Today, there are still reportedly as many as 6000 Buraku communities of
varying sizes (most being very small), primarily in the central and southwestern
areas of Japan. The total Burakumin population, living inside and outside
these communities, is said to be about 3 million people.
Officially, the caste system was abolished in 1871 and the outcastes were emancipated,
but family history in Japan is very important, so there is still a degree of educational, employment,
and social discrimination against the Burakumin.
The Japanese society as a whole does not talk about the subject, nor in
some cases even admit that a discrimination problem exists; as a result, social
reform and reconciliation are very slow.
The Burakumin also seem to be largely overlooked in the spread of the gospel.
There is a strong missionary presence in Japan, but the 1993
edition of Operation World handbook states of the Burakumin: "There
are very few Christians among them . . . There is no Christian mission
specifically seeking to reach them." In response to the Lord's leading,
we came to Japan with a burden to share the love of Christ with these people, as well as with all Japanese.
For more information about the Burakumin, try the following resources:
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