Discrimination Against Burakumin

The ethnic group of Japan had several different hierarchal categories within their own race. The lowest social class was discriminated against. The subordinate group was referred to as the Burakumin or “Eta”. The Burakumin held low paying jobs such as street sweepers, leatherworkers, working with the dead, and community service. The Japanese who held a higher economic social status, or the dominate group, treated Burakumin with no respect or equality (Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, n/a). There are various motives or reasons why this inter-group arose. Differences in religious beliefs was an important reason. The majority of Japan supported the teachings of Shintoism. This religion advocated the importance of ritual cleanliness. Japanese people were strongly advised not to come in contact with blood and the dead. When Buddhism developed in later years, it supported the negative associations with the dead. The Japanese government fully supported the teachings of Buddhism, and noted all citizens who have jobs relating
The discrimination against the Burakumin supported by the government forced them into poor neighborhoods that were segregated from the rest of the population. The communities were not well kept and similar to ghettos. The segregation of neighborhoods strengthened the discrimination of the Burakumin. The Burakumin were forced to wear different clothes from the rest of the public. This helped others distinguish the Burakumin from the dominant, high economic status Japanese group. When the government put various restrictions on the Burakumin it severely limited their access to economic resources. The government collected most of their money, which left them very little to make a stable living. Once the government emancipated them it was still difficult to assimilate into society. They still made very little money with their careers and could not move to better neighborhoods (Everyculture,