Japan: Human Rights in Corporate Management and in Society
Corporate Federation for Dowa and Human Rights Issue, OsakaI

n recent decades, the important role that companies play in promoting human rights has been attracting attention not only in Japan but
also internationally. In particular, in March 2011, the United Nations
Human Rights Council adopted the “Guiding Principles on Business andHuman Rights,” requiring member-states to formulate national action plans.
In response, in October 2020, Japan adopted its National Action Plan on
Business and Human Rights (2020-2025).1
This global trend is expected to grow even stronger in the future. But
prior to the global focus on linking business to human rights, it is not wellknown that companies in Japan had started in late 1970s to develop and implement initiatives to address human rights issues. This was the initiative ofcorporate liaison associations that were formed in various parts of the country to address the Dowa problem (Buraku discrimination issue) in response
to a 1975 discrimination case involving companies.
This article introduces the human rights education program of the
Corporate Federation for Dowa and Human Rights Issue, Osaka (Osaka
Doukiren), which was formed in late 1970s in Japan and has been actively
implementing activities on the business and human rights issue. It is hopedthat this article would be useful in revitalizing efforts by companies to address human rights issues not only in Japan but also around the world.
Osaka Doukiren
In February 1978, fifty-two companies established a voluntary organization
called the Corporate Federation for Dowa Issue, Osaka with the aim of solving the Dowa problem (Buraku discrimination issue). This organization wascomposed of companies with head or branch offices in Osaka Prefecture.
More companies became active members later on. This organization waslater known as Corporate Federation for Dowa Issue and Human Rights
Issue, Osaka (Osaka Doukiren).
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HURIGHTS OSAKA

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Osaka Doukiren adopted these goals:
Aiming for “corporate management that respects humanrights” and “realization of a society where human rights are promoted” from a corporate standpoint.

Meeting on establishment of Osaka Doukiren on 22 February 1978.

Coalition of Companies in Osaka
Directories of the Buraku communities collectively referred to as Buraku
Chimei Soukan (部落地名総鑑) were uncovered in 1975. These directories
listed the locations and names of places of discriminated Buraku people
across the country. They were purchased by more than two hundred twenty
groups, mainly companies, nationwide. Companies purchased these to help
them avoid hiring residents of the Dowa district (discriminated Buraku residents). This incident exposed the companies’ discriminatory nature.
After these discriminatory directories were exposed and protested by
the Buraku liberation movement, companies initiated concrete measures toaddress Dowa issues (Buraku issues) and human rights issues. This discrimi-

Japan: Human Rights in Corporate Management and in Society

17natory book incident was taken up in the Diet at that time, and became amajor social issue.
This became known as the Buraku Lists Incident.
The establishment of Osaka Doukiren started with the purchase of this“Buraku lists” by companies. The failure of the companies that purchased
the list to notice the discriminatory nature of purchasing it, to try to correct
this discriminatory act, and to express regret for their discriminatory act,
led to the establishment of Osaka Doukiren.
Corporate Federation for Dowa and Human Rights Issue, Osaka
In 1965, the Japanese government’s Dowa policy council reported that resolving the Dowa issues was “a state responsibility and at the same time anational issue.” The Law on Special Measures for Dowa Projects, was subsequently enacted in 1968 to address the issue. The special measures law
lapsed in March 2002, and after that, the special measures under this law
were integrated into the general measures of the government.
In April 2003, Osaka Doukiren changed its name to the Corporate
Federation for Dowa and Human Rights Issue, Osaka, with the words “human rights” being added.
Today, in order to eliminate various forms of discrimination, including
the Dowa issues, Osaka Doukiren further strengthens its promotion of theidea of companies that respect human rights. It is undertaking various activities in cooperation with relevant government agencies and civil society
organizations with the aim of realizing a “society where human rights arepromoted” from a corporate standpoint.
Activities of Osaka Doukiren
Osaka Doukiren holds various activities including those on human rights
awareness-raising.
It sees the importance of member-companies themselves promoting
management system and business activities based on the spirit of respect forhuman rights. Human rights awareness-raising is an extremely important
initiative in helping companies establish systems and standards for making
judgments, etc. from the perspective of human rights and in conducting
business in a manner that respects human rights.

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H U M A N R I G H T S E D U C AT I O N I N A S I A - PA C I F I C · V O L U M E 1 3 , 2 0 2 3Start of Human Rights Awareness-raising activities in 1978
In the same year of its establishment, in 1978, Osaka Doukiren publisheda booklet entitled Kigyo to Dowa Mondai (Business and the Dowa Issue)
and distributed 13,000 copies to member-companies to deepen the correctunderstanding of the Dowa issue, based on the view that an urgent solution
to the Dowa issue was a national challenge and a social responsibility thatcompanies were expected to tackle.
In April 1978, a training session for new employees of member-companies was held, and in November 1978, a training program for mid-career
employees, who play a central role in raising human rights awareness within
member companies, was started.
Osaka Doukiren continues to hold human rights awareness-raising activities and workshops, mainly for member-companies, with the aim of providing opportunities for company officials and staff to participate in humanrights training and in the sharing of human rights information.
It started holding in-house training, study groups led by member-companies, and lectures for managers of member-companies.
It fosters human rights awareness by learning about various humanrights issues, including the Dowa issue, directly from the local community.
Groups of member-companies meet to learn from each other’s experience on human rights-related activities such as those on employment andawareness-raising, and make use of the experiences in their companies.
In addition, by actively participating in training sessions organized byrelated organizations, Osaka Doukiren established a system of sharing thelatest information on various human rights issues that helped officials ofmember-companies to have a high level of awareness of respecting humanrights.
Osaka Doukiren believes that it must continue to communicate the importance of respecting human rights to member-companies at every opportunity. In this way, awareness-raising activities through Osaka Doukirenin cooperation with the top management of member-companies and other
responsible persons and personnel will lead to human rights awarenessraising being held continuously within each member-company.
From February 2020, in view of the serious situation brought by thecovid-19 pandemic and to prevent the spread of virus infection, much of
the activities Osaka Doukiren shifted to online mode.

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Activities from 2022 and Onward
From 2022, the following activities were held:
I. Introductory Course on Awareness-raising on Dowa and humanrights issues
This course was meant mainly for young and new company employees.
It was held online on 6-22 April 2022, with one session being held in L Osaka(Osaka Prefectural Labor Center). The course had the following program:
Lecture I, Theme: “Business and Human Rights – Considering Human
Rights from the Perspective of the sdgs “Lecturer: Masaaki Shibamoto (Director, Support Center, Osaka
Business and Human Rights Council)
Lecture II, Theme: “Current Situation of Buraku Discrimination Elimination of Discrimination Based on Human Rights Awareness
Surveys”
Lecturer: Ryushi Uchida (Professor, Faculty of Sociology, Kansai
University)
The course was attended by seven hundred ninety-four participants.
They gave the following feedback:- I used to be careful not to discriminate against anyone.
But now, since I am a member of society, I feel that I must beaware of actions to eliminate discrimination and encourage theachievement of Sustainable Development Goals (sdgs).
- I was in awe of the fact that the consciousness of “defilement” that was born hundreds of years ago has remained tothis day. I have learned about Dowa issue many times before,
but from now on, as a member of society, I would like to takeresponsibility for respecting human rights and make efforts toeliminate discrimination. If I ever encounter a situation of discrimination, I would like to confront it with correct knowledge.
- The two lectures were very informative with easy-to-understand materials and stories. I realized once again that it is important to incorporate human rights issues into our daily lives.
- As an employee of a global company that also deals withoverseas customers, I would like to think more about what
I can do to build a better society, without being misled bymisinformation.

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H U M A N R I G H T S E D U C AT I O N I N A S I A - PA C I F I C · V O L U M E 1 3 , 2 0 2 3- I strongly felt that I would like to become fully aware of[human rights] and intentionally prevent discrimination basedon a solid understanding of their true nature.
- I am now aware that I knew about the SDGs, Buraku discrimination, and the Dowa issue after listening to the entire lecture. Therefore, I am glad that I am able to learn about theseissues at this time, when I will become a new member of society.
- I have been thinking that “if everyone forgets about Buraku
discrimination, it will disappear, and that will be fine,” but today’s lecture made me understand that “knowledge is necessary
to make the right decision.” It was a very informative lecture.
- I am aware that this is a very sensitive and difficult issue.
It seems that there is either a goal or no goal in learning humanrights. If there is a goal, I sometimes wonder if a new problem
will sprout. I am aware that if there is no goal, and even if there
is one, the next problem may sprout. This course reminds me tobecome aware of human rights issues in my daily life.
II. Dowa and human rights issues awareness-raising course (Managers)

Dowa and human rights issues awareness-raising course for managers.

This course was meant primarily for company managers. In addition toattending lectures at the venue (L Osaka) on 22 July 2022, online lectures
were held with both live and recorded streaming on 8-26 August 2022.
The course had the following program:
Lecture I, Theme: “Making Majorities’ Privilege Visible ~ Seeing discrimination as our own concern ~Japan: Human Rights in Corporate Management and in Society

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Lecturer: Makiko Deguchi (Professor, Faculty of Foreign Studies,
Sophia University)
Lecture II, Theme: “What I was asked by the reality of Buraku discrimination ～Thinking about “resolution” and “liberation”～”
Lecturer: Norio Takahashi (npo Human Rights Center Nagano).
A total of one thousand thirty-three participants attended the course.
Some participants expressed their feedback on the session:- The presentation was easy to understand and explained
the image and awareness of “privilege” by using the analogy ofan automatic door and introducing activities that can be done in
the classroom.
- I felt that it is important for the majority to take action.
- The lecture was not only understandable intellectually(head), but also touched the hearts of the participants becauseof his passionate talk about the reality of discrimination and hisdesire to resolve it and liberate people from it.
- It was a good reminder. I especially noticed the importance of community support.
- The real voices from the field resonated with me. I felt that
we have to think about discrimination as our own. I felt that I
have to think about discrimination as my own.
- It was a great opportunity for me to learn new things andto complement what I have learned so far.
- This was my first time to participate [in the course]. The
contents were easy to understand and meaningful. I would
like to use this as an opportunity to gain access to a variety of
information
III. “Top Management Meeting” of member-companies

A “Top Management Meeting” of member-companies.

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H U M A N R I G H T S E D U C AT I O N I N A S I A - PA C I F I C · V O L U M E 1 3 , 2 0 2 3The heads of human rights department of member-companies gather toshare information on how to manage their companies in a way that respects
human rights.
On 22 February 2023, the company officials met in the Osaka Chamberof Commerce and Industry building and held a human rights education
session. They came together to study contemporary human rights issues,
including the Dowa issue, and the activities of the Osaka Doukiren. The officials reported on the achievements of the member-companies on humanrights activities, explained the outline of the activity policy from the new
fiscal year onward, and provided information on human rights initiatives ofmember-companies that they would implement.2
A lecture on the theme “Change: Respecting Diversity and Making a
Company Where All Can Shine in Their Own Ways.” was delivered by Takao
Ando (Chairperson, Sanyo Chemical Industrial Company).
The session was attended by two hundred eighty-six participants.
Some participants expressed the following feedback on the session:- I realized that it is important to utilize diverse human resources from the perspective of “fairness.”- I sympathized with the idea of difference between“Equality” and “Equity.”- I shared the idea of reforming the way to work with thecompany’s very diverse and unique approaches.
- I found the human resource system and culture reforms
and the measures to promote the advancement of women very
helpful.
- I would like to think about the implementation of humanrights due diligence and its assessment at my workplace.
- It was very useful for me to reorganize my knowledge andawareness of human rights issues.
- I was able to deepen my understanding of the humanrights situation in Japan, where comprehensive legislation is lagging behind.
Group activities
Osaka Doukiren holds meetings attended by representatives of member-companies. These company representatives are divided into different
groups to discuss issues/topics independently.
The groups, with eleven to thirteen representatives of member-companies in each group, do the following activities:• Introduce specific initiatives by groupJapan: Human Rights in Corporate Management and in Society

•
•
•

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Meet once a month
Do on-site training (one-day trip and overnight stay once a year)
Have mutual learning and awareness-raising, etc.

Call for Human Rights Slogan Entries
Osaka Doukiren holds an annual human rights slogan competition. It calls on its membercompanies (including groupcompanies3) and three economic organizations in Osaka(Osaka Chamber of Commerceand Industry, Kansai Economic
Federation, kansai Associationof Corporate Executives), etc., tosubmit human rights slogans tothe competition to raise awareness of human rights among employees of member-companies
and their families.
The best entries are selected in February of each year andgiven awards at the annual meeting of top executives of member-companies held in the samemonth.
Posters of the best human rights slogan are printed and used as educational materials by member-companies and related organizations.
This competition has been going on since 1979, the year after the establishment of Osaka Doukiren, as part of the Human Rights Week celebrationin December each year. This is one of the most important activities of Osaka
Doukiren.
In the 2022 human rights slogan competition there were four hundred
eleven entries from member-companies (each member-company submitted
three entries).

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There is no information on how many entries were collected by eachcompany from which it selected three entries for the competition. The number of entries ranges from a few dozen to more than 10,000, depending on
the company.
Fifteen entries were chosen from which the best entries were categorized. The following were the categories of the best entries:• 45th anniversary special work: one work (only in 2023)• Excellent work: two entries• Honorable Mention Award: eleven entries (one slogan from eachgroup)The best entries were the following slogans:a. Best work
It’s fun because there are differences, and it’s wonderful because
we accept each other’s differences.
(違いがあるからおもしろい 認め合うからすばらしい みんなでつなぐ多様性)b. 45th Anniversary Special PrizeIf you try to eliminate your preconceptions, you will see a wider
view, and if you take action, the future will change.
(先入観 なくしてみたら 広がる景色 行動すれば 変わるよ未来)
c. Excellent works
Let’s connect heart to heart
Respect your own sense of values, respect others’ sense of values(つなげよう 心と心 温ライン
大事にしよう 自分の価値観 尊重しよう 相手の価値観)
Human Rights Information and Osaka Doukiren Website
The website of Osaka Doukiren provides information on its activities onhuman rights to deepen understanding of respect for human rights not only
among member-companies but also among a wide range of people.
The “Topics” page contains information about the various activities ofOsaka Doukiren.
The “Series” and “Information Board” sections contain different typesof information such as Q&A on human rights, historical figures related tohuman rights, and other information.

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QR Code of the Osaka Doukiren website, www.osaka-doukiren.jp.

The website had been accessed in 2022 as follows:•

Number of accesses per year: 72,910 visits
Number of accesses of main pages:• About Osaka Doukiren: approximately, 23,000
visits• “Q&A” series: about 20,000 visits“My history Tour” series: about 8,000 visits.

Public Relations Magazine

The November
2022
issue
of
Hotline 21 had the following content:

Hotline 21 magazine

Osaka Doukiren publishes a public relations magazine named Hotline
21 twice a year to provide information on its activities and various humanrights-related topics.
It has 2,700 copies per issue that are distributed to member-companies, government agencies, civil society organizations, National Corporate
Federation for Dowa and Human Rights Issue, etc.
The basic contents of Hotline 21 consist of featured articles, on-sitetraining reports, news box (projects of Osaka Doukiren and related organizations), Q&A (commentary on the latest human rights keywords), essays,
etc.

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H U M A N R I G H T S E D U C AT I O N I N A S I A - PA C I F I C · V O L U M E 1 3 , 2 0 2 3Special Feature: “On the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the
Osaka Suiheisha (Levelers Association)”• The historical significance of the Osaka Suiheisha and thethoughts and significance of the future liberation movement• The 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the Osaka Suiheisha.
Special Feature: “Scenes of blind women in the past” - Remembering
blind traveling women entertainers from the sound of their playing theshamisen”
Field Trip Report: Visit to Senzaki and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Prefecture, to learn about human rights
news box: Responsible person meeting, training session for
newly-appointed responsible persons and training session for newlyappointed responsible persons
Lecture on awareness of Dowa and human rights issues (management level)
Buraku Liberation and Human Rights West Japan Summer Course
Multi-Ethnic Human Rights Research Meeting
Buraku Liberation and Human Rights Summer Course (Koyasan)
Human Rights Seminar
Human Rights and Dowa Issue Corporate Lectures• What is “sdgs Achievement Ranking”?
• What is “microaggression”?
• What is psychological safety?
• What is “wellbeing”?
Other Publications
Osaka Doukiren has been coming out
with various other publications since1983. The main publications are thefollowing:• In Search of the Origin ofDiscrimination: A Trip to
India to Study the Caste
System (June 1983)• Five Years of Transformationof the Heart (September
1983)
Osaka Doukiren publications

Japan: Human Rights in Corporate Management and in Society

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

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Spring in the Land of Winter: A Report on Training on Ainu Issues in
Hokkaido (December 1984)
Enclave of Lamentations: Discriminatory Precepts in the Toushin
Region of Nagano Prefecture (March 1987)
What the Old Documents Knew: Gorobei Water Supply and thePeople (February 1991)
Awareness-raising and Employment: A Record of Practice: Results ofthe exchange of practical experience over the past 10 years (October
1991)
Record of Friends Who Walked Together: A Collection of Experiencesof Participating in the National March and the Osaka Prefecture
Aminome [Networking] Action (November 1992)
Testimony from Inside the Company: Facing the Buraku Issue(August 1998)
You Can Do It, Too: A Corporate Human Rights Training Handbook(March 2005)
30 Years of the Buraku Lists Incident: Lessons Learned andChallenges Ahead) (July 2005)
Activities and History of Osaka Doukiren (July 2006).

Symbol of Osaka Doukiren
Osaka Doukiren adopted this symbol:
The two “circles” represent the head of a person, andthe “heart,” which appears as a body part, is represented
by a single thick line in the motif of a river, which played
an important role in the development of culture and commerce in Osaka.
The symbol was created in 1992 to commemorate the15th anniversary of the founding of Osaka Doukiren, and is
still in use to this day.

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National Corporate Federation for Dowa and Human Rights Issue
Osaka Doukiren and similar corporate federations were organized in different prefectures of Japan since the late 1970s to address Dowa issues. These
federations in turn established in 1985 the National Corporate Federation
for Dowa and Human Rights Issue.
Since its establishment, the National Corporate Federation for Dowa
and Human Rights Issue has been holding a national meeting every
December during the Human Rights Week that brings together members
from all over Japan to deepen exchanges and cooperation. Currently, there
are thirteen federations with 1,493 member-companies.
In addition, it participates in the Central Executive Committee for
Buraku Liberation and Adoption of Human Rights Policies, which calls forthe establishment of a legal system for human rights at the national level,
and in the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination(imadr), which has consultative status with the United Nations and participates in efforts to eliminate discrimination from the entire world.
In addition, it cooperates with government agencies and civil society
organizations from the standpoint of companies in each region to exchange
and share useful information as a national federation of companies.
Osaka Doukiren’s Basic Direction for the Future
From the standpoint of the business sector, Osaka Doukiren aims to contribute to the “establishment of corporate management that respects humanrights” and the “realization of a society where human rights are promoted”
by conducting various activities and programs centered on “employment”
and “awareness raising” on various human rights issues, including the resolution of the Dowa issue, in cooperation with relevant government agencies and civil society organizations. It aims to be an advanced human rights
organization.
In October 2020, the National Action Plan on Business and Human
Rights of Japan was released and disseminated. Since companies are required to exercise human rights due diligence in their operations, Osaka
Doukiren will continue to strive to disseminate useful information and implement its programs in support of this requirement.

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Endnotes
1 National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (2020-2025), availableat www.mofa.go.jp/files/100173319.pdf. For more information on this document, see
Business and Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, www.mofa.go.jp/
fp/hr_ha/page23e_000551.html.
2 For more information on this matter, visit www.osaka-doukiren.jp/

activity/enterprise.

3 Group company refers to any business entity consisting of different companies or a company and its subsidiaries.