Burakumin: Descendants of caste considered 'tainted' face new discrimination in Japan 'Why is this happening to us? Why are we different?' ...

The reason was unstated but well understood: Aoki is a descendant of Japan's former burakumin outcast class, a distinction that has brought his family a lifetime of ridicule, discrimination and abuse.

No country has closed the achievement gap for minorities — perhaps because these groups internalize the message that they shouldn’t bother to aim higher.

Despite the numbers, the issue is something of a taboo in Japan: Mention the word "burakumin" in conversation and the response you often get is a polite silence.

At the bottom of the hierarchy were a class called the burakumin, ethnically identical to other Japanese but forced to live in isolation because they did jobs associated with death, such as ...

The Sign of the Cross Is More Powerful Than You Imagine, Says St. Bernadette Not everyone leaves Lourdes cured — but nobody leaves empty-handed.

Like many in the abattoir because of his profession, Miyazaki is associated with the Burakumin, Japan's "untouchable" class. Burakumin, meaning "hamlet people", dates back to the feudal era.

But more than a century after Japan’s caste system was abolished, in 1871, burakumin still face the injustice of bigotry -- scuttled engagements, the taunts of strangers, rejected job applications.

But more than a century after Japan’s caste system was abolished, in 1871, burakumin still face the injustice of bigotry — scuttled marriage engagements, the taunts of strangers, rejected job ...

Like many in the abattoir because of his profession, Miyazaki is associated with the Burakumin, Japan's "untouchable" class. Burakumin, meaning "hamlet people", dates back to the feudal era.