Unliberated "Buraku" and
suicide
S. Nishimoto |
This
is a report of a study made of suicide in areas of the Buraku, a
minority group discriminated against in Japan. (In the Tokugawa period
this group was referred to by the derogatory term `Eta'. Today they
are referred to as `Buraku' or `Mikaihoburaku'). The study was limited
to Kyoto Prefecture including Kyoto City. The study first of all
revealed that the suicide rate in Buraku areas is approximately 1/2
that of the rate in general areas. The principal reason for this
low rate seems to be due to the strong sense of mutual assistance
found among the people of this group. In considering the suicide
rate of only the youth in Buraku areas however, the rate is riot
quite so low and the cause of suicide seems to have some connection
with the problem of discrimination and prejudice. This study also
revealed that, almost without exception, the young suicide cases
within the Buraku areas were superior in scholastic achievement or
had high intelligence quotients.
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