(Fukuoka) -(2001) Amagi-shi, Fukuoka.flag,happi,towel, production of a Japanese towel, direct sale. (flag, happi, towel, Japanesetowel, dye, Dyedgoods, Fukuoka, Amagi-shi, Yanagihara, sale)
(Osaka) -(2000) afropower films (mountainbike, bike, downhill, mountainbiking, BMX, films, film, actionsports, xgames)
(Kyoto) -(1998) The Bank of Yanagihara was the only bank made by people in Buraku*1. Leaders in Yanagihara-cho*2 (one of Buraku areas) got their money together, and made the capital with which they started business of the bank. They got the permission of bank business from government and opened the Bank of Yanagihara in 1899. The Bank of Yanagihara made a great contribution to improve education and local industory of Yanagihara-cho community. Actions of this Bank was for Buraku community, and against Buraku Discrimination. Buraku Discrimination kept Buraku industory from getting loan from banks in other areas. Buraku people was too poor for their children to get a enough education. They had wanted loan and bank for their industory ,education ,and community. The name of the bank was turned into The Bank of Yamashiro in Taisho era (1912-1925). And then its business area became wider, and the bank left Buraku community. Money Crisis made the Bank of Yamashiro ended in 1927. The house of the bank was used as a shop or rent-house till 1994. In order to widen Kawaramachi-dori street, Kyoto City bought up the house in 1986 and planed to remove it. This plan started the preserve movement of the house of the Bank of Yanagihara, as the symbol of Our Town-Planning. People of this town held symposyome of the preserve of the Bank house, studied conserving culture and history of own town, and published a book of The Bank of Yanagihara and its time. Kyoto City investigated the house in 1989 and found its cultural value as wooden house for a bank in Meiji era. The house of the Bank was entried into lists of cultural assets of Kyoto City in 1995. People of this community and had a storng intention of the preserve, and then Kyoto City dicided the preserve of the house. Kyoto City re-opened this house as The Bank of Yanagihara Memorial Museum (Kyoto City Sujin-rinpokan Library of Historical Documents) in Nov. 28 1997. The Museum exhibits history and culture of Buraku, and make an enlightment of Buraku Problem and Human Rights Protection. -------------------- *1 Buraku is a Japanese word referring to village or hamlet. The word began to acquire a new connotation after the administration in Meiji era (1868 - 1912) started to use Tokushu Buraku (special hamlet) in reference to former outcaste communities. The intention was to negatively distinguish former outcaste communities from other areas. At present the word Buraku is usually referred to as communities where discriminated-against Buraku people reside. On the other hand, the term Tokushu Buraku has been figuratively used from time to time in distinguishing adifferent society from a so-called ordinary society as well asin describing Buraku areas, resulting in fostering discrimination against Buraku people. *2 One of Leaders in Yanagihara-cho was Tamizo Akashi. He worked as mayer of Yanagihara-cho and made much effort against Buraku Discrimination and the poverty of Buraku communities in Meiji era. (Buraku, Discrimination, Bank, Museum, HumanRights, Protection)
