Jiichirō Matsumoto
Jiichirō Matsumoto (松本 治一郎 Matsumoto Jiichirō) (June 18, 1887 – November 22, 1966) was a Japanese politician, businessman, and leader of the Burakumin liberation movement. Born in Fukuoka Prefecture, Matsumoto led the Burakumin liberation movement during its activity, and earned himself the title "Father of the Buraku Liberation" from the Buraku Liberation League.
Matsumoto was born in Chikushi District, now currently part of the city of Fukuoka. His parents were Burakumin. After graduating from Sumiyoshi Elementary School and Kanjō Junior High School in Tokyo, he dropped out of Dalian High School in 1900.
During 1907, Matsumoto made his living as a street fortune-teller and quack doctor. In 1910, he was extradited back to his home province by the consul general.
By 1911, Matsumoto had established the Matsumoto Company, which specialized in civil engineering and heavy construction. The company was later destroyed by members of the Kyūshū Yakuza Clan.
In 1921, the Chikuzenkyō revolutionary group was organized. That same year, during the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the first Fukuoka daimyō Kuroda Nagamasa, the protest movement organized by Matsumoto, rose up and the celebration turned into "voluntary donation from non-discriminated descendants against forms of discrimination" under enforcement.
In 1923, Matsumoto became chairman of the Kyūshū Levelers Association (九州水平社 Kyūshū Suiheisha).
In 1925, Matsumoto assumed the office of National Levelers Association (全国水平社 Zenkoku Suiheisha) as chairman of the committee.
Having strong ideas of equality between people across the country, Matsumoto organized the strife of not giving the title of nobility to Iesato Tokugawa. Later, after the assassination of Iesato Tokugawa, Matsumoto was found guilty of attempted assassination and imprisoned for four months in 1927.
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