SUP Week 14 Review: Inclusion of Urban Minorities in Japan

•  Foreign residents are increasing in Japan since 1948.
• While the population of Japanese citizens dropped by 500,000 in 2019, the country's foreign residents increased by 200,000[1].
• But, even though foreign workers staying in Japan already have a job in the country when they arrive, those who have stayed in Japan over a long term face a higher probability of losing their jobs than Japanese people due to their low adaptability to the Japanese labor market; thus they experience more difficulties, including unfamiliarity with Japanese employment practices and language barriers, than Japanese people when they look for a new job after becoming jobless[2].
• But, Korean with permanent residence right decrease.
• The most significant cause is the increase in the number of those becoming naturalized Japanese citizens. The first- and second-generation Zainichi Koreans had a strong attachment to Korea and hence a reluctance to naturalize; however, the third, fourth, and fifth generations have grown up with Japanese cultural and social arrangements, and find it easy to make pragmatic decisions about their nationality/citizenship. Also, it is the natural result both of an aging population and a declining birthrate which probably roughly approximate Japanese demographic trends[3].
• Japan also has a history of cholera.
• Before the arrival of cholera, Japan had almost no medical responses to the epidemic. People resorted to prayer, sticking protective charms on their doors and staying inside, or beating drums and ringing bells to drive the sickness away. Infectious disease is said to be the mother of public health, and Japan’s cholera epidemics rapidly raised awareness of the importance of hygiene[4].
• Actually, one of the highlights of this class is Korean settlement in (past) Japan that might be discriminated against. However, I didn't pay attention too much. Just for your information, the settlements were in Osaka (Ikuno Korean Town) and Kyoto (Higashikujo District, Matsunoki District, Hiyoshi District, Tode District).
• Buraku Discrimination which led to the Declaration and General Principle of the Suiheisha in 1922.
• Buraku people or Burakumin (min refers to people) are the largest discriminated-against population in Japan. They are not a racial or a national minority, but a caste-like minority among the ethnic Japanese. They are generally recognized as descendants of outcaste populations in the feudal days[5]. 
•  In 1922 they founded in Kyoto the National Levelers' Association (Zenkoku Suiheisha) whose main objective is to eradicate Buraku discrimination[6].