FY 2019
fromSakai City

Sakai City Human Rights Education
Promotion Council Newsletter

41

Vol.

Kokoro-no-Hibiki

What are SDGs?

Sustainable Development Goals
SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are global goals for 2016-2030, adopted at the United
Nations General Assembly in September 2015. SDGs consist of 17 goals and 169 targets toofTable snt
Conterealize a sustainable society, and declare that no one in the world should be left behind.

P. 1
P. 2
P. 3
P. 4
P. 5
P. 6
P. 7∙8P. 9∙10P. 11

What Is the Sakai City Human Rights Education Promotion Council (HREPC)?
Introduction of Member Organizations
What Are SDGs?
Contributed Article SHIMADA Taeko
Introduction of the Committees
Introduction to Activities of the Special Committees
Programs and Activities Undertaken by the HREPC

The Sakai City Human Rights Education
Promotion Council (HREPC) has been
making dedicated efforts to raise publicawareness of human rights by organizing
various events, including those highlighted
in this issue, mainly in Sakai City. The
HREPC will implement various programs
also in FY 2020, and so we look forward to
your active participation.

40th Essay Contest “My Human Rights Message” – Award-winning Entries –HREPC official website

DVDs and Books on Human Rights

http://www.jinkenkyo.jp

Editor and Publisher (Published in February 2020)

Sakai City Human Rights
Education Promotion Council

Human Rights Promotion Division, Sakai City Government
3-1 Minamikawara-machi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
URL http://www.jinkenkyo.jp

What Is the Sakai City Human Rights Education Promotion Council (HREPC)?
The Sakai City Human Rights Education Promotion Council is a civic organization established in July 1979, with the aim of creating a bright, comfortable society, free from all forms of discrimination, including buraku discrimination. With anextensive membership comprised of civil groups, businesses and religious
corporations, HREPC carries out various activities to educate the public onhuman rights and contribute to a peaceful and prosperous society where thehuman rights of all people are respected.

The HREPC’s symbol represents people holding hands, praying
for promotion of human rights and world peace.

KANAMARU Naohiro
Chair

Organization Chart / Directors of the Council
Chair:

Osaka Prefectural Human
Rights Education
Promotion Council

KANAMARU Naohiro

Sakai City Human Rights
Education Promotion Council(Business Members Committee of the Council)

Vice Chair: KUBO Teruo

Steering Committee

Vice Chair: YAMAGUCHI Noriko

Board of Directors

Sakai City
Sakai City Board of Education(Federation of Sakai City Residents’ Associations)(Sakai City Women’s Association)

Vice Chair: KOBAYASHI Rieko(Sakai City PTA Federation)

Vice Chair: SHIRAMOTO Tadashi(Sakai City Association of Childcare Organizations)

Vice Chair: KASAI Yutaka(Sakai City Association of Principalsof Municipal Schools)

Vice Chair: TAKEDA Shin’ichi(Sakai Branch, Osaka Prefectural Federationof the Buraku Liberation League)

Vice Chair: YOSHIMURA Seiji(Religious Groups Committee of the Council)

Osaka Corporate
Human Rights Council

Sakai Public Employment
Security Office

Sakai Labor Standards
Inspection OfficeTreasurer: KOYAMA Toshimi(Sakai City Women’s Group for Social
Rehabilitation)

Sakai City Employment
Support Association

Representatives
CouncilSpecialCommittees

Standing
Executive
Committee

MemberOrganizations

Community
Human Rights
Promotion
Committee

Business
Members
Committee

Religious
GroupsCommittee

International
Youth Sakai

Sakai Liaison
Committee for
the Universal
Declaration of
Human Rights

Osaka Council of Religious
Leaders Engaged
in Dowa Issues

Treasurer: OGURA Mitsuko(District Committee of the Sakai City Human Rights Commissioners’ Association)

Member Organizations

The HREPC has a membership of 29 organizations.

• Sakai City Education Association• Sakai City Support Group for Foreign
Residents’ Education• Sakai City Women’s Association• Sakai City Liaison Council of Instructors for
Youth• Sakai City PTA Federation• NPO Sakai Federation of Private
Educational and Childcare Institutions• Sakai City Association of Principals ofMunicipal Schools• Sakai District Committee of Administrative
Counselors• Osaka Prefectural Association of Vocational
Schools• Semboku Sumai Center, West Japan
Branch, UR Community Inc.

1

• Sakai City Women’s Group for Social
Rehabilitation• Federation of Sakai City Residents’
Associations• Sakai City Federation of Private
Kindergartens• Sakai City Human Rights Education andResearch Society• Sakai City Association of Childcare
Organizations• Sakai City Federation of Child Welfare
Commissioners• Sakai City Federation of Senior Residents’
Clubs• Sakai City Liaison Council of Probation
Officers• Sakai Branch, Osaka Prefectural
Headquarters of Liberal Dowa Association• Sakai Branch, Osaka Prefectural
Federation of the Buraku Liberation League• Sakai City Association for Sound Growth ofChildren• Sakai City Social Education Committee• NPO Sakai Federation of Disabled People’s
Organizations• Sakai City Agricultural Cooperative• Sakai City Welfare Association forSingle-Mother Families and Widows• Sakai Chamber of Commerce and Industry• District Committee of the Sakai City Human
Rights Commissioners’ Association• Sakai City Council of Social Welfare• Principals’ Association of Osaka Prefectural
Schools in the 8th District

Introduction of Member Organizations

Federation of Sakai City Residents’ Associations
The Federation of Sakai City Residents’ Associations(FSCRA) traces its origin to a municipal organization
named the Sakai City New Life Movement Association thatwas founded in 1956 following the report of the Social
Education Council submitted in March 1955. The organization steadily conducted its activities, and was later
renamed the Federation of Sakai City Residents’
Associations on September 1, 1976. The current structureof the FSCRA was established with the joining of theFederation of Mihara Ward Residents’ Associations in May
2007 after Sakai City became an ordinance-designatedcity.
The FSCRA has launched various community activities, which are led by respective community residents’associations and aim to: prevent crime; enhance security;
raise awareness of human rights; support families withchildren; ensure healthy development of the youth; care forthe elderly; and promote intergenerational exchanges.
Through these activities, the FSCRA hopes to foster close
personal relationships among local residents and contribute to creating communities where residents of all ages canlive safe and comfortable lives with a sense of belonging.

In recent years, natural disasters such as typhoons,heavy rains and earthquakes have caused serious damage
in various parts of Japan, and the Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake is predicted to occur in the near future. We
therefore believe it is essential to reinforce the community
bonds and enhance the disaster response capability locallyso that residents can collaborate in an emergency.
To do so, it is necessary to foster relationships of trust
among local residents through various community activities. The constituents of a community – residents, childassociations, PTAs and schools – should be united underthe motto “We protect our community on our own.”
At the FSCRA, we remain committed to creating asafe and comfortable living environment to ensure thesound growth of children, who will be leaders in the future,and to enable all residents to continue to live healthy andhappy lives in their respective communities.
We believe the positive participation of residents in the
FSCRA’s activities is essential to expand community
networks and increase local prosperity.
We look forward to your support and cooperation.

Sakai City PTA Federation
The Sakai City PTA Federation is a voluntary organizationconsisting of parent-teacher associations (PTAs) of Sakai
municipal schools and their equivalent entities. It is also asocial education organization of a public nature established to ensure the sound development of PTAs in Sakai
City.
Although the PTA movement was started in the
United States, there were groups of parents, guardiansand supporters in Japan even before the war, which
worked mainly to alleviate the financial and labor burden
on school management. In 1947, when Japan was still
suffering the aftermath of war, the Basic Act on Education
was enacted, and organizations which we know today as
PTAs were established in schools all over Japan to assist
in the healthy growth of children. Schools in Sakai City
also introduced PTAs, and the Sakai City PTA Federation
was founded in 1949 as their umbrella organization.
The Sakai City PTA Federation has since been
assisting the healthy development of each and every
child under the motto, “Let us communicate and watch
over children, help solve their problems, and foster
personal bonds through partnership among family,
school and community.”
Today, children face more complex and serious
problems than ever before, such as troubles in cyberspace, some of which can have irreversible consequences. Therefore, families, schools and communities
are required to work closer together to protect children
from such problems. As PTAs, we should help children
recognize the importance of personal bonds and foster

self-esteem so that they can develop the ability to overcome difficulties in society when grown up.
Well-intended intervention isbetter than turning a blind eye.
Through PTA activities, we will join efforts to talk to
and watch over children to assist in their healthy development. In doing so, we hope to create an environment thatallows every child to live a happy and positive life.
Amid the rapid changes of the modern world, theroles of PTAs are also changing, and we must flexibly
adapt to such changes.
We therefore shifted the focus of our activities to the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) following thedesignation of Sakai City as a SDGs Future City in 2018,
and started new activities to contribute to a sustainable
society in compliance with the 17 SDGs. To publicize ourcommitment to the SDGs, we redesigned the flag of the
Sakai City PTA Federation. The new flag has the slogan“Sakai City P × SDGs” printed in large letters on it. We
conducted cleaning activities with local volunteer organizations and also produced towels to increase publicawareness of the SDGs and emphasize the importanceof working in cooperation. In doing so, we aim to contribute to the SDGs while enjoying such activities ourselves.
The Sakai City PTA Federation will continue efforts
for the well-being of children while responding adequately
to the changing needs of the times, under our inheritedprinciple of healthy child development.
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Sustainable Development Goals

What Are

SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global
goals that are central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in2015. The SDGs are intended to achieve a better future for the world
by finding solutions to various global challenges, such as poverty,
inequality, disparity, climate change, depletion of resources anddestruction of nature in a 15-year period from 2016 to 2030.

The motto of the SDGs is“Leaving no one behind.”

Activities of HREPC tocontribute to the SDGs

Sakai City was designated as an SDGs
Future City in June 2018 by the Japanese
government and has since been working
hard toward the SDGs.

The Sakai City Human Rights Education Promotion Council (HREPC) has
been working to increase public awareness of the SDGs by implementing
various programs and producing SDGs panels and stickers.
The SDGs aim to solve various global issues that face society today.
Each of us is required to consider what we can do to help achieve the SDGs.

Exhibition of
SDGs panels

HREPC is committed to working toward the SDGs in partnership with
Sakai City and other organizations by expanding human rights education andconducting awareness-raising activities.

3

The 17 SDGs aim to achieve the vision of how theworld should be in 2030, namely, to create asustainable society free from the threat of global
challenges. The SDGs comprise 169 concretetargets and 232 indicators.

SDGs sticker

Contributed Article

Escaping from the Abyss of Child Abuse– Creating a society where we can live freefrom the threat of abuse and no one
is left behind –SHIMADA Taeko
Director
Child Abuse Prevention Organization Orange CAPO

Although Japan is considered to be an advanced

directed at children, these people often justify it bycountry, the number of children who have diedsaying it’s “discipline” instead of apologizing. But theirthrough abuse is increasing. Whenever a case of

conduct can escalate and eventually lead to abuse.

child abuse is reported, you hear people say “WhatAnger causes certain changes in our body.

a horrible parent!” or “This is a difficult problem.”

When we feel angry, the sympathetic nerves are

I myself suffered terrible abuse from my father

activated and a hormone called adrenaline isand stepmother for six years until my second year of

released. Known as the fight-or-flight hormone,

junior high school. During those years, I came close

adrenaline is secreted into the blood in times of

to death several times but I just managed to survive

stress, for example, when animals try to escape fromthanks to my older brothers. We supported eachpredators or hunt their prey. It increases the heart-other through the hard times and I still feel that it is abeat and blood pressure, dilates the pupils, andmiracle I’m alive today.

raises the blood sugar level.

When I was little, I screamed within my mind,

In other words, adrenaline causes us to feel

“Someone, please help my dad!” Of course, I also

excited. Acting impulsively while adrenaline is highneeded help, but I felt the saddest to see my father’s

may have unexpected consequences.

distorted face as he beat and shouted at me. He
turned into someone completely different from theperson I remembered as a loving father.

It takes no more than six seconds for adrenaline
to flood into every cell and then leave the body. Thismeans we should do nothing and say nothing forWhen I was in the second-grade of junior highthose six seconds.

school, a 27-year-old female teacher saved my life. She

Instead of acting impulsively, we should wait for

was the first adult I could trust so I told her everything.

six seconds and then decide calmly whether to getangry or not, after the adrenaline is gone from theShe said to my father, “Wrong is wrong even if
you are a parent.”

body. We adults should especially remember this, as
we often get angry at someone for no good reason
just because we are in a bad mood.

She continued, “You can forget about what you

By learning to control our emotions and regulate

have done up till yesterday, because we can’t go

our mood, we can eliminate child abuse. Serotonin is aback and change what happened anyway.” Those

hormone that helps us feel calm. You can cause sero-

words saved him.

tonin to be released by inhaling deeply through the

I was taken to a foster home where I lived until

nose and exhaling through the mouth. So when you

graduating from junior high school. There, I learned

feel your anger rising, breathe deeply to expel adrena-

how wonderful it is to sleep without worry, eat hotline from the body and allow serotonin to be secreted.

food without hesitation, and say what I feel openly.
When irritated, some people tend to vent theirfrustration on objects or someone vulnerable. Suchbehavior can become habitual and even when it is“Peace and equality for all people”
I believe that by preventing child abuse, we cancontribute to achieving the SDGs.
4

Introduction of the Committees
The Sakai City Human Rights Education Promotion Council has four committees: Business Members
Committee, Religious Groups Committee, International Youth Sakai, and Sakai Liaison Committee for the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This issue introduces the activities of the Business Members
Committee and the International Youth Sakai.

Business Members Committee

Chairperson: KANAMARU Naohiro (Eikou Co., Ltd.)
Number of corporate members: 429 (as of December 2019)

The Business Members Committee was established in 1982 with the aims of eliminating discrimination in employment and addressing Dowa and other human rights issues from the corporate standpoint, under the slogan, “Wewill never be involved in or allow discrimination in employment.”
Consisting of business entities located in Sakai City, our committee has been carrying out various activities toguarantee equality in hiring and increase human rights awareness in the workplace, such as offering training on
human rights, conducting awareness-raising events at railway stations during the month designated for preventing discrimination in employment, and publishing newsletters about the committee’s activities.
During fiscal 2019, we held a public lecture on the employment offoreign nationals and human rights, organized a tour to a company with ahistory of hiring people with disabilities, and offered training at a facility
designed to promote peace. Through these activities, we aim to foster abasic understanding of human rights and increase awareness of theimportance of having empathy for others.
While ensuring equality in hiring practices, we will continue efforts toincrease awareness of and respect for the human rights of each worker tocontribute to a society where everyone can thrive.

International Youth Sakai

Chairperson: SHIRAMOTO Tadashi

The International Youth Sakai carries out various social programs for young people for three major purposes: toincrease human rights awareness; to network with a wide range of people; and to contribute to the wellbeing ofsociety. We aim to help them understand the importance of their own initiative in making decisions and taking
action, and encourage them to interact and cooperate with people with diverse backgrounds. We thus aim todevelop human resources with a strong awareness of human rights, an international mindset and the ability tocontribute to a society where peace and human rights are respected.
The International Youth Sakai, since its establishment as the International Youth Year Sakai Liaison
Committee, has been implementing a wide range of projects for 35 years in which more than 400 young people
have participated so far. Experiences in these projects have helped participants choose their career paths: someare now engaged in international activities under the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) program of
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) or other projects, some are studying abroad, and others areworking in the field of public welfare as Sakai City government employees, nurses, or teachers.
In fiscal 2019, we held workshops focusing on human rights trends in the world and on issues concerning
gender, Dowa and Ainu as the first part of our annual workshop
program. In the summer, we conducted a study tour to Taiwan whereparticipants met with Taiwanese people of various ages, including indigenous people, and discovered a lot of important things that can belearned only through directly meeting local people.
We also organized a public meeting to share the experiences
gained in the study tour and various other workshops widely withcitizens.
We will continue our activities for the healthy development of the
youth and would greatly appreciate your support.

5Introduction to Activities of the Special Committees

Special Committee on Dowa Issues
The Special Committee on Dowa Issues aims to address Dowa issues and other social problems in contemporarysociety. All committee members are expected to first correctly understand the history of Dowa issues and othercurrent social problems and then communicate what they have learned to the public.
The sectional meeting in the second part of the HREPC Comprehensive Workshop was convened in August
2019, chaired by Mr. SHIBAHARA Koji, Executive Director and Secretary-General of the Foundation for Osaka
Prefectural Human Rights Association. At the meeting, which was held in the World Café format, there was a frankand open discussion on Dowa issues, focusing on discrimination in marriage and discriminatory comments
posted on social media. Participants in the meeting voiced the importance of spreading correct knowledge andthe necessity of recognizing how social media canexacerbate discrimination.
What is the World Café?
Representative: SHIRAMOTO Tadashi
The World Café method requires participants to form small(Sakai City Association of Childcare Organizations)groups consisting of about four people to exchange their

Special Committee on Human Rights of
Women and Children

thoughts and ideas in a café-like relaxed atmosphere.
Groups of participants discuss a topic at several tables.
Participants switch tables periodically and discuss the topic
with new group members. The World Café is an effective
method to facilitate open and intimate discussions and ensure
active participation of all participants.

The Special Committee on Human Rights of Women and Children is engaged in various activities, while considering what to do to protect the human rights of women and children.
In the sectional meeting in the second part of the HREPC Comprehensive Workshop held in August 2019, a
discussion on types, causes and similarities of violence took place in the World Café format in a friendly atmosphere under the theme: “SDGs and society free from violence – physical punishment, abuse, bullying, domestic
violence, and sexual assault.” Comments expressed by participants included, “We should care about how others
feel when we act” and “I know it’s my responsibility to talk to my grandchildren
about violence.” The meeting ended with the conclusion that “by uniting efforts
to build a violence-free world, we can contribute to creating a society where noone is left behind.”
We will continue to address human rights issues with citizens.
Representative: YAMAGUCHI Noriko (Sakai City Women’s Association)

Special Committee on Human Rights of Persons
with Disabilities and Elderly Persons
The Special Committee on Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Elderly
Persons invites persons with problems to talk about their experiences in order toincrease public understanding and awareness of what we should do to protect
the human rights of these persons.
The theme of the sectional meeting held in the second part of the HREPC
Comprehensive Workshop was the present state and prevention of what is known as the “8050 problem,” and aperson who had isolated himself from any social contact and lived as a shut-in or hikikomori was invited to speak
about how he felt in those days and how he returned to active
life in the outside world.
The 8050 problem
We believe it is important to correctly understand various
In Japan, there is the serious social problem of children
social problems and consider how we can help solve the probisolating themselves from society as shut-ins orlems.
hikikomori. Such social isolation can last for years, and as
the children and their parents grow old, the household
We will continue conducting human rights awarenessfinances and caring for the elderly parents become aactivities to build a society where everyone enjoys life.
problem. These are collectively called the “8050 problem,”Representative: MATSUKAWA Ryotoku
meaning that parents in their 80s are looking after children
in their 50s.
(Religious Groups Committee of HREPC)
6

Programs and Activities Undertaken by the HREPC
Ms. SHIMADA Taeko giving a speechComprehensive
WorkshopAugust 21, 2019 Place: Sakai City Education and Culture Center (Sophia Sakai)

In the first part of the comprehensive workshop, Ms. SHIMADA Taeko (Director of theChild Abuse Prevention Organization Orange CAPO and Hyogo Prefecture Special
Advisor on Child Abuse) gave a speech titled “Escaping from the Abyss of Child Abuse – Creating a society where
we can live free from the threat of abuse and no one is left behind.”
In the second part, the Special Committee on Dowa Issues and the Special Committee on Human Rights of
Women and Children held meetings in the World Café format, while the Special Committee on Human Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and Elderly Persons held a lecture-style meeting by inviting a speaker. More detailed
information is available on page 6 in “Introduction to Activities of the Special Committees.”

Visitors intently reading the panels

Ward Residents’ Festivals
HREPC participates in annual festivals held by respective ward offices by displaying
panels on human rights issues in its booth to educate the public on human rights.
As in past years, the HREPC booth was visited this year
by many people, who took great interest in the panels.
Starting from this year, HREPC held a new workshop at some of the festivals
where children were invited to draw pictures on eco bags. Children visiting the HREPC
booth enjoyed creating their original eco bags.
HREPC welcomes the participation of many people in its programs at ward
residents’ festivals and on other occasions.
Children concentrating on drawing

Citizens’ Forum for Human Rights
Protection

December 15, 2019 Place: Hotel Agora Regency Osaka Sakai

The 41st Citizens’ Forum for Human Rights Protection was held from December 4 to 10, 2019 in conjunction with
Human Rights Week to increase public interest in and awareness of human rights issues.
In the first part of the forum, a ceremony to commend the winners in the “My
Human Rights Message,” an essay contest for citizens, was held and award-winning
essays were read out. Then the International Youth Sakai, an organization working totrain young people with a strong awareness of human rights and an international mindset, made a presentation on the overseas study tour they conducted.
In the second part, Professor KAMBARA Fumiko (Ph.D. in Social Sciences, Deanof the Faculty of Contemporary Social Studies, Kobe Gakuin University) gave a lecture
titled “Poverty of Women and Children.”Professor KAMBARA Fumiko giving a lecture
7

Community Human Rights Promotion Committee Workshops
Workshops on human rights are held every October and November for members of the Community Human
Rights Promotion Committees in the seven wards of Sakai City.
The following table shows the workshops held in fiscal 2019. The workshops were attended by many
participants. Thank you very much.
Ward

Date

Kita

Oct. 2 (Wed.)

Higashi

Oct. 28 (Mon.)

Sakai

Oct. 3 (Thu.)

MiharaOct. 10 (Thu.)

MinamiOct. 24 (Thu.)

Naka

Nov. 18 (Mon.)

Nishi

Oct. 25 (Fri.)

Pickup

Dowa issue

Theme

Lecturer

Dowa issue
Mr. IKETANI Keisuke“Community development focusing (NPO Kurashizukuri Network Kitashiba)
on human rights”
Women’s rights“Domestic violence (DV)”Ms. YUKITA JuriInternet and human rights“Internet and human rights”

Ms. ISHIKAWA Chiaki

Human rights of the elderly“Elderly abuse”

Dr. MIZUGAMI Tsuzuru(Lawyer, Josei Kyodo Law Office)(Director, NPO Nara’s Organization for
Promoting Regional Learning)(Associate Professor, Kobe Gakuin
University)

Community Development Focusing on Human Rights

In this workshop, we learned that it is our responsibility as
committee members to listen to the voices of local residents,
even the quietest ones, and let other people know about ourcommunity to make it a place where everyone is valued.
In so doing, we can launch services desired by local
residents, such as a catering service, and hold popular events,
such as a morning market, through community-wide cooperation. We can also eliminate discrimination arising from ignorance about the community. We were taught many important things by the lecturer who spoke about
the community activities focusing on human rights that are enjoyable for residents.

Who are the members of the Community Human Rights Promotion Committee?
Members of the Community Human Rights Promotion Committee engage in grassroots human rights activities in their respective school districts. Members are recommended by community representatives of theFederation of Sakai City Residents’ Associations from among officials of community resident’s joint associations, president of unit residents’ associations, members of various organizations in school districts, andpeople who are enthusiastic about human rights education activities in individual school districts.

8

40th

Essay Contest “Myd-winning Entries
ts Message” – Awar

Human Righ–Twenty award-winning essays selected from
3,231 entries are posted on the following site.
(in Japanese)Collection of award-winning“My Human Rights Message” essays:

http://www.jinkenkyo.jp/
past-message/

Parent-child Relationships (Third-year elementary school student)
My mum was neglected as a child.
Ignoring children is really bad.
Soon after my mum was born, she was taken to
my great grandma’s home and raised there until she
began living with her mum after entering elementary
school.
But she was often not at school.
Instead, she did the washing and cooking alone at
home. Even when she was ill, she made her own bed
and lay there with no one taking care of her.
After growing up, my mum left home, worked a lot,and met my dad.
She got married, had children and plays with me alot.
She cooks delicious food every day and keeps ourhome clean and tidy.
She loves my elder brother, me and my younger
sister very much.
But my mum doesn’t like being left alone. She
doesn’t go out alone, even for shopping, and always

asks me to go with her.
Sometimes I don’t want to, but in the end, I gowith her.
Maybe I also feel uneasy about being left alone.
Not all children live with their parents.
Some live with just their dad, some with just mum,and others don’t live with either.
That’s why I feel sad and scared whenever I hear
news about child abuse.
TV news stories about children being killed or
separated from their parents due to abuse make me
feel ill.
When I grow up and have a child, I think I will bevery happy.
But can I make my child as happy as I am now?
Even now, there are many children who are lonelyor suffering somewhere.
But I hope each of us can live a good life by always
remembering that we can control our own happinessourselves, just like my mum did.

People with Disabilities and Human Rights (First-year junior high school student)
Disability is relevant to me because I have been
diagnosed with mild Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
As the name indicates, ADD is a disorder that causes
various behavioral problems such as struggling tofocus on instructions and, though not in my case, being
overly sensitive to sounds.
I have several friends who also have disabilities, but
I don’t know if they’ve suffered bullying or discrimination.
One day, my disabled friend told me, “Take it easy.”
I didn’t know what he meant, but after thinking for awhile, I understood what he wanted to say. I was so
worried that he might be bullied that whenever someone even mentioned his name, it made me too nervous.
My friend was probably aware of this so he told me.
I was so obsessed with the idea of protecting himfrom any trouble that I failed to understand what hereally felt. He didn’t like being treated differently becauseof his disability. He just wanted to be friends with me
regardless of it.
And then I remembered one thing. When I was in
the first-grade of elementary school, I became aware of
my developmental disorder and cried to my mother that
I hated it. It used to take me an hour to complete justone page of homework. At school, I could never work9

as a group and caused trouble to my classmates, sothey disliked me. Such experiences made my life so
stressful that I finally exploded.
My mother told me, “Disabilities are not thatspecial. They are not something to be blamed for, andthey are not uncommon; they are part of who you are.”From that moment on, I stopped feeling ashamed of mydisorder. My friends don’t actually care about it somuch. This realization has made my life more pleasantand enjoyable.
Even though my mother taught me this, my friend’s
words made me realize that I was making the same
mistake of treating them differently because of theirdisability.
Sometimes, people with disabilities need help, butsometimes they do not want to be treated differently
from others, like me and my friend.
Help each other without offering too much help.
This seems difficult, but it means to simply enjoy being
with other people on an equal footing. Just being
protected does not make us happy. The important thing
is not to offer help to people simply because they are
disabled or elderly, but to listen sincerely to them,understand their feelings, and respect their humanrights regardless of what they are.

I Want to Fully Enjoy Amusement Rides(Third-year student in the upper secondary department of a special needs education school)
My parents, some of my siblings and I are hearing-impaired. We have something in common – we love
amusement park rides. The excitement and thrill of therides releases our daily stress.
However, when ride operators give safety instructions and realize we are hearing-impaired, they always
ask if we have someone to accompany us. When we
say “no,” they usually don’t allow us to get on the ride,saying politely that they cannot take responsibility if an
accident happens. But my father objects to such treatment, and tells the operator through gestures or noteson his phone that it is discrimination. Then we areusually allowed on the ride on condition that we take full
responsibility if anything happens. I don’t like it whenever we are told by a stranger, even if it is their duty as aride operator, that we cannot board the ride because ofour disability. Even if the words are polite, the refusal
ruins our fun family outing and we spend the rest of thetime in the amusement park with mixed feelings ofpleasure and disappointment.
And yet the ride operators’ attitude is fully understandable; if an accident or earthquake occurs, theycannot immediately warn us of the danger and quickly
help us.
If this is the reason for refusing us, I strongly believe
it should be indicated at the entrance or on their websitethat visitors with impaired hearing cannot board therides without an accompanying person. You might thinksuch an indication would hurt our feelings, but we would
understand. Rather, it hurts more to be told we cannot
board a ride after waiting in line for our turn, simply
because we don’t have an accompanying person.
If evacuation instructions are provided in a visualmanner, both hearing and hearing-impaired people
could understand and have more fun at amusement
parks.

Now Is the Prime of My Life (Adult)
I was born in 1941 in Kohama in Sumiyoshi Ward,
Osaka City. When I was four, there was an air-raid on
Osaka. I faintly remember fleeing the fire, holding on to
my mother’s hand. Our house was destroyed in the
air-raid and so my family moved to Sakai City. Though I
don’t remember much about the disaster, I was scaredof the sound of airplanes long after the war ended, andfeared another war might be coming.
Some years after the war, my mother died ofillness. I was nine at the time. After her death, I did
household chores and looked after my younger sisterbecause my father was seldom home due to his work.
In those days, all housekeeping tasks were done manually. To cook rice, I had to begin by making a fire. Of
course, I did the washing by hand too. I took thelaundry to an outdoor communal washing place and it
was really tough on cold winter days.
After graduating from elementary school, I began
working at a textile company near my house. While I
managed to cope with the work, I didn’t like to hear mycolleagues and neighbors talking happily of memories
from their junior high school days. It always made me
feel sad. After growing up, I often wondered why I
could not attend junior high school like others. I also
always wanted to study at school again but I never said
so openly. Years passed and one day, I saw a poster fora night junior high school at an elementary school in myneighborhood. I didn’t know such a school existed andfelt excited at the thought of studying there. But I
couldn’t tell my husband because I had always told him
not to go out alone at night and, what’s more, he wasoften unwell and often lay in bed.
My husband died nine years ago. Some time after
his death, I decided to join that night junior high school.
I was already seventy years old, and at first, I was afraid
I might not be able to keep up with the studying. But I
found the teachers are kind to me and teach theirsubjects in an easy-to-understand manner.
In particular, I like Japanese and social studies. I
have always enjoyed reading books, especially biographies and autobiographies, but before, there weresome Chinese characters I couldn’t read. I used to lookthem up in a dictionary or skip them but I no longer
struggle like that now as I have mastered many difficult
Chinese characters through Japanese studies. In
social studies, I learned about the history of Sakai andfound it is the birthplace of a high Buddhist priest
named Gyoki.
I am really happy to be able to study. I feel much
more confident and light-hearted than before. As amember of the student council, I have even got used to
speaking in front of many people. I hope to live apositive life by continuing to study hard. For me, now is
the prime of my life.
10DVDs and Books on Human Rights

The Human Rights Promotion Division of the Sakai City
Government lends out DVDs on human rights for free.
* Books are not lent out.

* The DVDs are in Japanese only, without foreign-language subtitles or dubbing.

Inquiries: Human Rights Promotion Division,
TEL: 072-228-7420
Sakai City Government

DVD
Dowa issue

Tomoni Ikiru Watashitachi no Mirai
Burakusabetsu Kaisho Suishinho
ga Mezasumono(Our Common Future: Aim of the Act on the
Promotion of the Elimination of Buraku
Discrimination) (38 min.)This video sheds light on buraku discrimination
prevailing in society that led to the enactment of the
Act on the Promotion of the Elimination of Buraku
Discrimination, as well as new forms of discrimination arising in cyberspace, while introducing young
people who take pride in their roots in buraku andplay an active role in society with confidence. This
video will help you understand the new buraku
issue emerging in today’s Internet-connectedsociety and encourage you to think how you cancontribute to an inclusive society.

DVD
Human rightsof children

BOOK* Please notethat books are
not lent out.

11

DVD
Peace

FAX: 072-228-8070

Senso Taiken Shogen-shu(Experiences of War Survivors:
Vols. 1, 2, 3 and 4)(39 min., 26 min., 28 min. and 28 min.)

Sakai was air-raided five times in 1945 during
World War II. This video contains records andphotographs of the Sakai air raids that claimed
the lives of many citizens, and the recollectionsof war survivors
about their
wartime lives anddamage causedby the air raids.

Homuresu to Deau Kodomotachi (Children Meet the Homeless) (30 min.)What drives some young people to assault the homeless? This video deals with thenight-watch program conducted by The Home for Children, an NPO based in the Kamagasaki
area in Osaka City, in which children visit homeless people on the street during the night to givethem meals and talk with them, and shows how the children have changed through the experience. The video also introduces a homeless person named Suzuki – what he does to earn aliving, what his everyday life is like, and what he thinks about. By focusing on repeated assaults
by young people on the homeless, this video encourages viewers to think how children withno place (home) where they feel safe may be driven to bully the vulnerable.
● Gyakutai no Fuchi wo Ikinuite (Escaping from the Abyss of Child Abuse), authored by

SHIMADA Taeko (Mainichi Shimbun Publishing)● Shokuba no LGBT Dokuhon (LGBT in the Workplace), authored by YANAGISAWA
Masakazu and others (Jitsumukyoiku-Shuppan)● Jinken-tte Nandaro? (What Are Human Rights About?), edited by Asia-Pacific
Human Rights Information Center (Buraku Liberation Publishing House)● Yokuwakaru Supotsu to Jenda (Learning About Sports and Gender in an Easy-toUnderstand Manner), authored by IIDA Takako and others (Minerva Shobo)● Shitteimasuka? SDGs Yunisefu to Mezasu 2030-nen no Goru (Do You Know the
SDGs? Goals to Be Achieved in 2030 With UNICEF), published with cooperation of
the Japan Committee for UNICEF (Saela Shobo)

Under the Sakai Safe City Program, Sakai City has been endeavoring to create a safe andcomfortable living environment for women, children, and all other people.
For example, the city has been helping victims of sexual crimes to heal their physical and mental
wounds by providing well-organized consultation and support services, while conducting educational
activities to reduce society’s prejudice and stigma towards such victims.
The city remains committed to helping eradicate violence against women and children.