Ms. Risa Kumamoto is part of a discriminated community of individuals historically known as Buraku. Since studying in Canada, she has been actively working on the problems and issues that face Buraku communities and women. While studying abroad, she met Native Americans in Canada and realized that the problems faced by minorities in Canada were similar to those faced by Buraku communities in Japan. After graduating from college, she began working full-time at the International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism Committee. Since leaving, she has been working at Kinki University's Center for Human Rights. The following is a message from her.

My life has been painful since I recognize that people accepted discrimination as "natural," "common sense," and "normal" without any objections and that this constituted a sort of violence. I also realized that unconsciously I had accepted these same things to be true and therefore participated in the dominating ideology. Thanks to meeting with the Buraku Communities Liberation and Women Liberation group, I was able to develop relationships and new ways of observing the world, myself, and problems. Being a discriminated person is to have a negative identity, history, and experience. In the battle to overcome that negativity, I fought and struggled against discrimination with an anger and pride that came from the rejection of discrimination. Through this fight, I was freed from the chains and the domination of my own consciousness. My hope now is to reclaim rights that were taken away; the strength of heart, living, and happiness. I would like to live my life as a human being and be mindful of where I stand. I want to learn from communities and people that despite exploitation, discrimination, and domination, people work vibrantly, have visions for the future, and live their lives powerfully.