Welcome to Our Home1

Building a Community in Sumiyoshi
Community development in Sumiyoshi can be divided into 5 stages.
First stage: Pre World War II (Sumiyoshi community building promoted by an initiative ofmunicipal and local governments: The Improvement Project for Rebuilding Buraku
Communities)
In 1918, 12 community members of the Sumiyoshi Buraku who had joined the Rice riot werefalsely arrested and convicted as ring leaders.
In 1922, a government initiative, called The Improvement Project for Rebuilding Buraku
Communities, was undertaken at 20 Buraku communities nationwide for oppressingMovement from Zenkoku Suiheishya (National Levelers Association which is Buraku min’sorganization). In Osaka, the improvement project was adopted only for the SumiyoshiCommunity. This project continued for the 11 years following 1922. Over that time, thirtythree wooden one-story houses were built, new roads were established, old roads werewidened, and a new park was built. Day care centers for youth and children were established.
However, the outbreak of WWII led to the project being abandoned only 60% complete inSumiyoshi.
It can be said that this is the first stage of community development in Sumiyoshi Buraku
Community. It was conducted on the initiative of municipal and city governments, with little
opportunity for residents to participate. Therefore, improvement of the infrastructure inSumiyoshi Buraku was limited.
Second Stage: From Participation in the Osaka City Committee to Promote Dowa Projects
to the establishment of the Law for Special Measures for Dowa Projects
In 1953(Showa 28), community residents discussed repair work for the community bath(“Seinen U”). Sumiyoshi Buraku worked with the Osaka City Committee to Promote Dowa
Projects. Six community leaders established the Sumiyoshi Branch of the Buraku Liberation
League. This reformation of Sumiyoshi Buraku had a positive effect on community
development, and this was the dawn of second stage of community development.
In 1959 (Showa 34) a Municipal Housing Unit was built at the most harsh place in theSumiyoshi Buraku community, an area called “Kitaki,” and the following year Sumiyoshi
Settlement House was founded as a center to house various projects for the Sumiyoshi
Buraku. In 1961（Showa 36）Sumiyoshi Settlement House Foundation was established tomanage the settlement house. The foundation adopted a distinctive self-management

2method. Typically at that time, when the municipal government built settlement facility,employed the staff, and managed projects and budget for those projects. However, in theSumiyoshi case, the municipal government built the settlement facility, employed the staff,
and supported the finances, but the projects and the staff were managed by a board ofcommunity members. This board was called the Sumiyoshi Settlement House Foundation.
This idea originally came from the first president of the Sumiyoshi Settlement House
Foundation, the late Toshio Sumida, who argued that “it is better to select a person who isfamiliar with local condition, and to conduct a project suitable for the community”. This selfmanagement produced good results that enabled board members and staff in the foundation
to meet with local residents and support their self-reliance. As a result, local residents formed
several types of unions to demand their needs to the municipal government. Over time, thisled to the improvement of infrastructure such as establishment of house units and children
care center, allowing many local residents to go to high school and some of them to become
public servants, though mainly in ‘3D’ (dirty, dangerous, difficult) jobs.
The Second Stage of community development in Sumiyoshi was thus characterized byresident participation and an improvement of living environment and educational andemployment matters.
Third Stage: From the establishment of the Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects until
its abolishment
In 1969, the Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects was passed and national andmunicipal governments produced concrete measures to solve Buraku problems, such as
improving infrastructure in Buraku communities. There were three primary features of thethird stage of community development. First, local people participated in the plan for building
community. In 1970, a sub-commission in Sumiyoshi Buraku community was charged withdeveloping a general plan for community development, and this sub-commission had many
workshops with local residents. In 1972, local people investigated and clarified the actual
conditions of the community. This investigation raised local peoples’ awareness of and desire
to eliminate Buraku discrimination and empowered them to promote community developmenton their own. Second, this stage also featured the involvement of specialists. Experts suchas University professors and architects were attracted by the Sumiyoshi autonomous
community development and embodied the picture of the concrete idea of the local residents
to develop community into the Master plan. The third feature was the adoption of the Six
Principles of Community Development (see table 1).

3

In 1973 April, Sumiyoshi established a committee to plan for the next decade of communitydevelopment. This committee drafted the six principles as the foundation of theirdevelopment vision. As a result of the actions of this committee, numerous public facilities –such as the Human Rights and Cultural Center, Youth Care Center, Welfare Center, andChildcare center – were established in the center of the community, and 20 municipal
housing units were built around these facilities. The community was dramatically reformed tosupport its residents. In the same time period, Sumiyoshi Buraku community members also
worked to improve the employment situation of residents, and many local residents wereemployed as licensed cooks, home-care workers, childcare workers, and teachers.
Table 1 – Six Principles of Community Development
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

To build a community where residents can reside permanently
To build a community for all residents
To build a community that values human relationships
To build a community that protects residents’ healthTo build a community where children, the elderly, and those with disabilities can livewith equal dignity and in healthTo build a community that also support residents from neighbouring communities

Fourth Stage: The abolishment of the Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects until theestablishment of the preparatory meeting for the new committee of community development
In March of 2002, the Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects was abolished. However,discrimination against Buraku people continues: internet slander is on the rise, property
values are still low, there is interpersonal discrimination between newcomers and long term
residents, and the high school and college graduation rates in Sumiyoshi are markedly below
the national average. Moreover, due to the municipal economic crisis, the local governmenthas been slashing funds that support Buraku projects. In Osaka City, the municipal
government has consolidated its various public facilities into one, and closed the remainder.
In Sumiyoshi’s case, the Human Rights Center (renamed in 2010 to The Center for CivicSociety in North Sumiyoshi) was integrated into the larger city facilities and the youth center
was closed. The Sumiyoshi Settlement House Foundation was in charge of managing thecenter under the appointed body system in Osaka city government.
Sumiyoshi residents are attempting to make the best of these decreased resources. They
are not only utilizing policies and measures from the national and municipal governments,
but also cooperating with private sector organizations (enterprise, NGOs and NPOs),neighbors, and specialists. For example, while the Youth Center gymnasium was slated tobe closed, residents from Sumiyoshi and surrounding neighborhoods circulated a petition to4

demand the reopening of the gym under the cooperative management of the variousresidents. They presented this petition to members of the Osaka educational committee andmembers of the municipal assembly. In response, the gymnasium was reopened undercooperative management. Another example is the 1999 establishment of a social welfare
collective and the opening of a new facility called Nagomi (Vision) that houses projects forpeople with disabilities and the elderly from Sumiyoshi and neighboring communities.
Fifth stage: Toward new community development
Presently, community development in Sumiyoshi continues to struggle under everdecreasing government support. Young people are again facing very unstable work
conditions and have limited chances for higher education or to secure employment.
Residential profiling of Sumiyoshi residents also continues to occur. These worsening
circumstances underscore the need for a strategy to bolster community development. In
2011 the Sumiyoshi Settlement House Foundation applied for status as a public interest
incorporated foundation within Osaka prefecture. This status was granted in 2012.
In 2011, the foundation celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sumiyoshi Settlement House
Foundation and the 100th birthday of the late Mr. Toshio Sumida. As part of this celebration,
they highlighted historical accomplishments and their relevance for the current situation inSumiyoshi. Following this celebration, the foundation organized the first preparatory meetingfor a new committee for community development bringing together all of the mainorganizations in the wider Sumiyoshi ward.
Learning from past success, the Sumiyoshi Buraku community continues to value resident
and specialist participation, conducts surveys of the actual living conditions of the community,
and affirms the principles of community development. As we move forward, we envisioncommunity development as a critical tool in dismantling discrimination against Buraku people
and securing respect for all. Our primary goals moving forward are: 1. Building a communitythat provides a secure and supportive environment for children, the elderly, and those withdisabilities; 2. Building a community that empowers people to continue in school and thatprovides greater employment stability; 3. Building a community that provides not just forresidents of Sumiyoshi but of surrounding communities as well; and 4. Building a community
in which all of these people are empowered to participate in community activities.
On this path, Sumiyoshi community residents are simultaneously working with national andmunicipal governments and also with private sector organizations, their neighbors, andspecialists.

5

On March 31st in 2016, Osaka City Government closed the Center for the Civic Society. Thebuilding had been appointed the shelter for neighboring residents who were facing to thedisaster. But it didn’t have earthquake-proof construction.
Local residents were worrying about it since it was established.
When Osaka City decided to close the all Civic Centers in Dowa Communities, the Sumiyoshi
Settlement house Foundation started to prepare for the new building. At last new building ofRimpo Project Promotion Center “Kotobuki” was constructed by it’s own resources and a lotof donation. On April 1st , 2016 the new center opened.

6

History of Sumiyoshi
Date

Event

First stage of Community Development in the Sumiyoshi Buraku (Period ofImprovement Policy for Rebuilding Sumiyoshi Community)
1919

Construction of Seinen yu (Community Bath)1923

Period of Improvement Policy for Rebuilding Sumiyoshi Communitycommenced and finished in 1933

1934

Construction of Youth Center

1938

Construction of child day-care center

Second Stage: until enactment of the law on special measures for Dowa projects
1953

Sumiyoshi Buraku joined Osaka City Committee of promotion for Dowaproject

1954

Reconstruction of Seinen Yu (Community Bath)1955

Construction of employment center

1956

Establishment of the Sumiyoshi Branch of the Buraku Liberation League

1959

Construction of first two municipal housing units in Sumiyoshi

1960

Completion of Sumiyoshi Settlement House

1961

Formation of Sumiyoshi Settlement House Foundation

1962

Construction of New Community Bath (Kotobuki Yu)
Construction of third municipal housing unit

1964

Construction of Shiktsu number number 1 Municipal Housing Unit inSumiyoshi

1965

Establishment of 3rd floor of Sumiyoshi Settlement House
The Dowa Policy Council Report published1967

Constructionoffourthmunicipal

housingunit

inSumiyoshi

Completion of Nursery school
1968

Construction of first three municipal housing units in Misaki

Third Stage: until abolishment of the law on special measures for Dowa projects
1969

Enactment of the law on special measures for Dowa projects

7

1970

Construction of fourth and fifth municipal housing units in Misaki
Construction of Misaki Nursery school

1973

Establishment of the sub-commission for a decade of community
development
Construction of Day Care Center for Elderly People

1975

Construction of the sixth and seventh municipal housing units in Sumiyoshi

1976

Construction of temporary Co-op next to the Sumiyoshi Higashi railway station
RenovationofKotobukiyu(CommunityBath)Construction of temporary day care center for handicapped people
1977

Construction of new building for the Sumiyoshi Buraku Liberation Center
Construction of an annex gymnasium for Youth Center

1978

Construction
ConstructionofofYouthNurserySchoolCenterforinfants

Construction of Municipal Housing Units number10 and 15
1979

Constructionof first twomunicipal

housing units in Uezumiyoshi

Construction of Municipal Housing Unit number14 in Sumiyoshi

1980

Construction of Nursery School for Toddlers

1981

Construction of municipal housing units number9, 11, 16 in Sumiyoshi

1982

Construction of municipal housing unit number 2 in Uezumiyoshi
Completion of a full co-op next to the Sumiyoshi Higashi railway station

1983

Construction of municipal housing unit number13 in Sumiyoshi

1984

Construction of municipal housing unit number 8 in Sumiyoshi1986

Sumiyoshi

GeneralWelfare

Sumiyoshi Medicare Center
1987

Construction of municipal housing unit number12 in Sumiyoshi

8Center1988

Completion of Kaminoki Underground passage

1994

Construction of municipal housing unit number 17 in Sumiyoshi

1996

Open of Rapor Sumiyoshi next to the Sumiyoshi Higashi Station

1999

Establishment of a social welfare cooperative, Life Support Committee

2000

Sumiyoshi Buraku Liberation Center changes name to Sumiyoshi Human
Rights and Culture Center

2001

Establishment of 100 yen shop Rapor Sumiyoshi next to Sumiyoshi Higashi
StationFourth Stage: after abolishment of the law on special measures for Dowa projects2002

Sumiyoshi, Osaka City Committee of Promotion for Dowa Projects changes
name to Sumiyoshi Human Rights Committee

2003

Reconstruction of Sumiyoshi General Welfare Center

2004

Establishment of regional self support promotion center NAGOMI2006

Closed Youth Center

2007

Establishment of Multifunctional Long-Term Care in a Small Group Home,Kizuna

2008

Completion of construction of New number 1 Municipal Housing Unit

2010

Closed Youth Center gymnasium annex
Sumiyoshi Human Rights and Culture Center changes name to Center for
Civic Society in North Sumiyoshi.

Fifth stage: Toward the new community building
2011

Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Sumiyoshi Settlement
House Foundation and the 100th Birthday of the late Mr. Toshio SumidaFirst preparatory meeting for the committee of the new Sumiyosh icommunity development

2012

Sumiyoshi Settlement House Foundation changes name to Sumiyoshi
Settlement House Promotion Association2016

Closed Center for Civic Society in North Sumiyoshi on March 31st.
Open of Sumiyoshi Rimpo Project Promotion Center “Kotobuki”, the entirely
private sector organization on April 1st.

9

Personal memory before the Community Development in
Sumiyoshi
Communal water tap
water for coking, washing was drawn from communal water tap or wellinto the tin can. We often used the water for drinking but looking back, thewater must have been too dirty to drink.
Woman (born in 1946)
We also have a good memory of the communal water tap. When wewashed, we talked about day-to-day things such as which neighbors werestarving so we could understand each others situations and share thedifficulties.
Women (born in 1932)

Communal Toilet
I was born and lived in the most poorest part of this community (the farnorth part) . Around 20 households used one communal toilet and in themorning there was long line. In the winter, It was too cold to go out to thetoilet so some households used a wooden keg as an alternative toilet
In the wet season, sewage overflowed from the toilet and it smelledhorrible. Under these terrible sanitary conditions, people suffered eye andstomach infections. Some people even died.
Woman (born in 1946)

Construction of gas and water lines
I was very happy when the new municipal housing units were built.
Especially I was surprised by running water and gas. It seemed to me like I
had moved from hell to heaven.
Before the construction of gas pipes, We often went to the river to pickup firewood. Because we were very poor, we couldn’t afford to buy
firewood from the shop. Some of the residents didn’t know how to use gas
so they didn’t use it until they were later instructed.
Woman (born in 1946)

Until 1973, there were around 550 house holds in Sumiyoshi Buraku
and 60 shops such as a fo, foot-wear ware shop, barbershop, mom-andpop candy shops, rice shop and a variety of places to get food. Most
common among them wererequire shop. Among them, Okonomi yaki
(savory pancake with various ingredients) shop, Udon noodle shop ,and Oden (stewed ingredients) shop were the most numbered.
According to the interviews with from elderly people, there were 7
Okonomi yaki shops () and Udon noodle shops ()respectively.
These food shops didn’t have any noticeable sign so we had to findthem by listening for them atrough the rump in the night or by smell
without rump, smell or voices from customers.
I think that these shops both brought some money to their owners
and a sense of mutual aid amidst the tough conditions in which welivedcould bring not only some amount of money for the owners, butalso reciprocal help under the poor condition in the community.
man（born in 1951）

10

New Sumiyoshi Community
PresentOld

Old
Woodenhouses become
reinforcedrodhouseslivingenvironment
fullofgreenery

Passageways
providingsecurity
forlocal residents

Constructionof water andgas
pipe
lines

11

In Feb 1977, the Annex Gym for
the Youth Center was established.
The concept of the Gym was“Healthyand Sporty life for people
Main Facilities
in the community”. The Gym has
been used not only for theyouth
sport festival but by manyneighbors. Thegym was closed in Mar 2010, but local residents andneighbors took action to reopen it under cooperativemanagement.

In Apr 1978, the Youth Center
was established for the Buraku
Liberation Children Associationand their protector groups. In Apr
1999, due to the revision of themunicipal ordinance the center
took on the various types ofprojects for the citizen. In 2010, due to the integration
policy to integrate three facilities, that is, the human rights
and culture center, youth center and welfare center intoone, the youth center was closed.

12In Jun 1960, the Sumiyoshi
Rimpokan was established at theplace NAGOMI now exists. Fromthe beginning, the Rimpokan wasmanaged by a distinct method,in which government provides
support for the facility andemployee salary, and the community manages it.
The center conducted many projects to improve daily lifeand culture and eliminate Buraku discrimination. In 1970,
with the revision of a municipal ordinance, the name waschanged to ‘Sumiyoshi Liberation Center’. In Feb 1977,
the building was moved to its current location. In Apr2000, another revision of the ordinance changed the nameto ‘Human Rights and Cultural Center’. Since Apr 2002,
the appointed body system allowed Osaka City HumanRights Association management and in Apr 2010, due tothe integration policy, the name was again changed to ‘theCenter for the Civic Society’ and the appointed bodysystem appointed Sumiyoshi Rimpokan Foundation tomanage. In 2012 Apr, the Foundation become the publicfoundation.

In Apr 1978, a nursery school
forinfants was established. The
Sumiyoshi Committee for building aNurser y School inspected many
Nursery Schools inother prefectures and the school has an
infant safe ‘Worm Floor” and accepts
infants from birth to two years old. In 2003, Child Care
Center was established as the annex with the school.

In 1986, the Sumiyoshi
General Welfare Center wasestablished to compliment city
run facilities such as the‘Elderly Welfare Center’ and‘Meeting place for Hand cappedpeople’. In 2006
and 2012 both ordinance facilities were abolished
due to the abolished of the ordinances but the Life
Support Social Welfare Cooperation managed
projects for elderly and handicapped people andHart Free Yasuragi Medical Cooperation managed
Sumiyoshi Medicare center.

In Apr 1980, the Nursery
School for Toddlers ages 3-5 wasestablished. The school has
accepted local and neighboring
toddlers and has promoted
Human Rights Nursery Education
for them since 1999.
Since 2004, the school has maintained a special project forchildren recovering from illness and the project has beenused by toddlers in the neighboring nursery schools.

345In Feb 1919, Temple Gardners andBukkyo Youth Circle built a
communal Bath, ‘Seinen Yu’. In1954, the community joined theOsaka City Committee to promote
Dowa projects and the committee
gave the financial
support to renovate the bath. In Apr 1962, the bath wasrebuilt and the name was changed to ‘Kotobuki Yu’. Thebath has been managed by local residents since Dec 2010.

68The Regional self-support
promotion center NAGOMI
was founded as a 24 hour
regional care center for elderly
people from the local andneighboring communities tolive safely in 2004. The centerhas a Special elderly nursing home and Day Care
Service and in 2010, a General Support Service atthe north part of the Sumiyoshi was established. Inaddition, Meals on Wheels and 100 yen café wereestablished. The center is located where Sumiyoshi
Rimpokan was established. The Life Support Social
Welfare Cooperation managed the center.

127