Confrontation and Freedom
Denunciation Practices in Japan’s Buraku Liberation Movement
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 23311104 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Timothy D Amos (0000-0002-8484-2963, The University of Sydney, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Japan focus (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1557-4660 • E-ISSN: 1557-4660 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/apj.2026.10056 |
| OpenAlex | W7169754667 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 12 |
This paper analyzes the evolution of kyūdan (denunciation campaigns) in Japan’s Buraku liberation movement from the 1920s to the present. Initially a grassroots tactic of moral confrontation in the absence of legal remedies, kyūdan enabled Burakumin to challenge discriminatory acts, combat institutional complicity, and assert dignity. Over time, the practice shifted from targeting individuals to confronting state agencies and institutions, becoming central to mid-century struggles and helping secure political gains. Its expansion, however, generated conflict, controversy, and criticism. Since the 1990s, kyūdan has ceded prominence to legal strategies and international human rights advocacy, but continues to serve as a tactic to fight discrimination.
Denunciation · Grassroots · Human rights · Politics · Social movement · State (computer science) · Educational Robotics and Engineering · Japanese History and Culture · Political Theology and Sovereignty
| Highly cited | No |
|---|