"Kazuo is innocent. No court that refuses to deliver due justice on this case can be trusted to adjudicate justice properly for any Burakumin, much less any upper caste Japanese." - Manami Kishimoto of TRAI-Kobe friend and life-long supporter of Kazuo Ishikawa, known also as Japan's 'Hurricane' July 2002
Kazuo Ishikawa at front center with youth of Tokushima; SHIN Sugok of TRAI-Tokyo; miho kim of TRAI-U.S.; and Manami Kishimoto of TRAI-Kobeto his left.

In 1963, Kazuo was framed by national law enforcement, and wrongfully incarcerated for over 30 years. He learned how to read and write in prison, and vowed to fight, to get his guilty verdict overturned.

"Such an egregious crime as rape and murder of a sixteen year-old high school girl can only be committed by a Burakumin"¹ underscores the deeply flawed approach to seeking the suspect on this case. The Burakumin like Kazuo have been historically and systematically targeted as criminal suspects  as were other 'Untouchables' of Japan's caste system like Kazuo.

azuo at age 24, shortly before being arrested. Police identified Kazuo among the area's Burakumin who didn't have an alibi for the time of the murder and released his identity as prime suspect. The media rushed in to take his photo from around the country. This was one of them. It was not (and is not) uncommon for Burakumin to lack even basic literacy due to exreme poverty and discrimination in Japan. Kazuo had no way of knowing the real reasons of his sudden popularity at the time.

This website aims to raise awareness about the Sayama Justice campaign  and through it, systematic oppression of minorities including the Burakumin in Japan to the US audiance; facilitate and promote alliance building between marginalized communities in Japan and the US; and solicit allies in the US, within the larger context of a global racial and social justice movement. The Sayama Campaign aims to win the retrial for the Sayama case, which, if it is realized, is certain to expose the irrefutable innocence of Kazuo.

The Burakumin and allies throughout the country have rallied support to win innocence for Kazuo's case for decades, but the Superior Court of Japan continues to refuse to admit new evidence that provide legitimate grounds for a retrial. 

About Sayama Justice Solidarity:

Two Burakumin from Japan who grew up in midst of the nation-wide Buraku liberation movement, Manami and Mitsunori Kishimoto (the Kishimoto siblings), came to the US in February 2002 to rally support of Bob Dylan who, decades back, helped raise profile for the wrongly accused 'Hurricane' Carter through the legendary song of the same title. They flew out to the US, with support of grassroots donations collected nation-wide, in hopes that Bob will write a song today for the Japanese 'Hurricane.' (click here to read Manami's letter to Bob). While they failed to secure an appointment with Bob, they met Yuri Kochiyama who is a legendary and life-long activist for human rights and justice for political prisoners. With Yuri's support and blessings of solidarity, several inspired individuals from Japan residing in the Bay Area decided to carry on the seed sown by the Kishimoto siblings right here on our adopted home.

Kazuo is now 68 years old. He has yet to pay a visit to the grave of his parents who passed while he was locked up. Until his "invisible handcuffs" are taken off, he cannot bring himself to face them, let alone put his hands together in prayer.

We call for your support in mounting a powerful grassroots international agitation campaign so as to force the lock open, starting with the front doors of the Superior Court of Japan. You can help!

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Last updated: Dec. 04, 2007