The Eta

The movement for universal suffrage is still being pushed energetically by the Seivukai (majority) members of the Japanese Diet. In the Lower House a resolution was introduced urging abolition of class distinctions, especially with regard to that social group known as the Eta, which numbers 3,000,000 people.

Eta is a word that was applied formerly to the butchers of Japan when meat-eaters were social pariahs. Although the ignominy attached to this class of people was removed by a legislative ordinance some years ago, the Eta have, nevertheless, been subjected to discriminatory treatment. The difficulty is to find some means of effectively destroying the absurd prejudice. It is evidently not enough to pass a law; for although it may be illegal to slight the Eta, there is always a way out of the difficulty for the superior classes: that of leaving them severely alone.

With the birth of democracy in Japan, the Eta are pushing themselves forward to gain equitable recognition by all classes, and there seems to be some hope that this class discrimination will in time disappear.