Local News

The city of Nokata in Fukuoka Prefecture had listed on its website the local regulations for community centers and other public facilities in districts where many burakumin live. This information was placed on the city’s website in 2003 with other regulations as part of its efforts at public disclosure. The website also provided detailed information on the location of the facilities, however, which the Burakumin Liberation League claimed could identify those areas subject to discrimination. The city therefore removed this information. An investigation by the Nishinippon Shimbun revealed, however, that 21 local governments in Kyushu provided similar information on their websites, including nine in Fukuoka Prefecture, two in Oita Prefecture, five in Saga Prefecture, and five in Kumamoto Prefecture.