Paper short abstract:

This paper will show the specific action of community building of a Buraku community in Osaka city, focusing on the kind of role that public facilities and private sectors and cultural heritage.

Paper long abstract:

First enforced in 1969, the Law on special measures for Dowa Projects was abolished in March 2002 after 33 years in operation. The law led to numerous positive results for Buraku communities, such as improvements in community infrastructures. Discrimination against Buraku people, however, continues. For instance, internet slander is on the rise, property values remain low, there is interpersonal discrimination between community newcomers and its long-term residents, and the high school and college graduation rates are markedly lower than the national averages.

This paper will clarify the kinds of problems Buraku people in/around Buraku communities are facing since the abolishment of the Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects and how Buraku people in/around Buraku communities are living under these circumstances. In particular, it will focus on the specific action of community building of A Buraku community in Osaka city.

Firstly, this paper will briefly explain the history of A Buraku community focusing on community building, and then clarify the current problems in A community in terms of statistical data. After this, it will consider the kind of role that public facilities (Civic Center and Gymnasium) and private sectors (Welfare businesses, NGOs and NPOs) and cultural heritage, through things such as articles used in everyday life, paintings, and pictures, can play in A community. Consequently, it will show how Buraku people in/ around A community create relationships with neighboring non-Buraku residents to rebuild their community.