On February 10th, the Centre for the Study of Global Japan welcomed Kiyoteru Tsutsui, a Professor of Sociology at Stanford University and the Director of the Japan Program at Shorenstein APARC, to deliver a talk about his book, “Rights Make Might: Global Human Rights and Minority Social Movements in Japan.”
Professor Tsutsui commenced his talk with a discussion of the three minority groups in Japan his book focuses on: the Ainu, Zainichi, and Burakumin. All three groups have expanded their activism and made gains in Japanese public life since the 1970s. Tsutsui explained the development of global human rights from the 1940s with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights of the 1960s. He noted that these developments “Influenced Japanese politics of the 1970s by starting on the local level and spread from Northern Japanese regions into the consciousness of mainland citizens.” While the idea of global human rights spread in the later decades of the 20th century, Tsutsui notes that minority groups like the Ainu had been advocating for themselves for a much longer period, starting in 1869 when Hokkaido was incorporated by the Meiji government.
Tsutsui further explained that the language used when minority groups fought for recognition was key, stating that “The language of global human rights broke down the barrier between the North and the South, and that between citizens and non-citizens in Japan.” The use of anti-discrimination rhetoric and the promotion as the Japanese coming together under shared values led to progress for several groups. For example, Tsutsui noted that strong social opposition encouraged the Japanese government to abandon strategies such as fingerprinting of resident foreigners in 2008, a practice that was described as “the most infamous symbol of discrimination for the Zainichi peoples.” Professor Tsutsui concluded his talk by noting that the empowering capacity of global human rights is often underestimated, but it is of utmost importance to research and understand.
Following the presentation, a lively question and answer period was moderated by Professor Phillip Lipscy, the Director of the Centre for the Study of Global Japan. Tsutsui answered questions about structural factors leading to policy changes in Japan, the occurrence of crimes against national minorities and the response these actions illicit, and the potential for transnational fights for human rights inspiring the activism of minority groups in Japan.
We would like to thank Professor Kiyoteru Tsutsui for sharing his insights, as well as the virtual audience that was in attendance from around the globe for an engaged Q&A session
