Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The Tokyo High Court has ruled in favor of 235 burakumin, a Japanese group who have faced discrimination since the Edo era, after lists of names were published on social media and a website by two editors of the Jigensha company.

The High Court confirmed the judgment of the District Court and ordered the publishing company Jigensha to pay the sum of 5.5 million yen ($38,164) to the 235 plaintiffs for publishing the names and addresses of burakumin.

Members of the burakumin community, who have faced significant discrimination since the Edo era (1603-1867), have asked to be treated as normal citizens under Articles 13 and 14 of the Japanese Constitution.

Some burakumin choose to hide their membership, but registers were established in the 19th century that could be consulted by non-burakumin Japanese to check on people’s ancestry.

Citizens who live in areas that have been populated by members of the burakumin community have seen their address and their civil status and that of their families published on social networks. Chinese were also stigmatized by the company.

In a press conference, two representatives of the Burakumin Liberation League, including secretary general NISHIJIMA Fujihiko, regretted that in 2023 such discrimination still exists.

Despite the judgment, the discriminating and stigmatizing publications remained on the publisher’s website.