Do you know that there were areas for discriminated people in Kyoto until pretty recently? These areas are called “Buraku” area, for example, “Sujin-area” in Higashikujou. Surprisingly, people in Buraku are divided from other people by Kyoto City. I state the situation of Sujin-area at that time.

“Sujin-area” is at the east of Kyoto station. In the Edo period, there are people called “Eta” or “Hinin” who play a role of socially undesirable characters. It is Sujin-area that they lived in. And then, Korean people who lost their home town by the fires of war are getting to live in Higashikujou. People who live in Kyoto were cautious of Korean people who started their living suddenly. The situation of Sujin-area at that time was so terrible. People in Sujin-area lived in shabby shacks, broken glasses and plastic bottles were thrown away, and crows ravaged garbage. Kyoto City considered living of Korean people was illegal, didn’t equip infrastructure (a water supply or electrical instruction) and dispose of garbage and human wastes for long time. So, they had no choice but to drink river water and flow human waste into Kamogawa.

Furthermore, children live in Buraku (whether Korean or not) were discriminated in education. The differences between children live in Buraku or other children caused the differences of employment similarly. As a result, it was caused a vicious circle that children were born in Buraku area cannot receive enough education and get jobs. In 1980s, school violence was serious problem. Children disturbed classes, broke facilities of school. However, teachers didn’t scold children and ask their parents to cooperate for normalization of school. On the contrary, schools tried to hide the terrible situation. It was because Kyoto City adopted special treatment for children live in Buraku that these problems happened. Teachers gave the special classes and projected special camps for children live in Buraku. So, children misunderstood that they get away with murder. It was the most important problem that Schools or teachers were under children thumb.

Now, the situation has been improved. However, it seems that the minds of discrimination against foreign residents still take root in people live in Kyoto. Kyoto still seems to be difficult place to stay for foreign residents in getting jobs, looking for houses and so on. Now, it is not administration or government but people that things make the mind of discrimination exist.

by Ayako Takagi