While travelling through Japan I came upon an issue not something Japan would be proud about. Many people from religious minorities groups are being abducted or forced to convert from their religion. When I heard this, I was like no way could this happen. One lady I met, her son got abducted because he proclaimed his was Roman Catholic and did not practice Shinto, the main religion in Japan. When I asked the lady if she had reported to the police about the situations, she said no. Her friend, who's husband was also abducted a couple of years, tired to get the police to investigate and find her husband. They refused to help them and told them the best thing they could do is to convert to Shinto. I was literally horrified when I heard this. There were also rumours that some police actually worked with perpetrators. Many people have tried to take it to civil courts but were disregarded and classified as "family matters or problems."
The reasons why this is an issue is that Japan is trying to keep its culture and not become to Westernized. Some believe if they get rid of the people who are different and who want change it will go away and they can control it. It is more a political matter also as some people don't want any of these people going into government and changing this and customs. They are afraid of change.
I think the best way to solve this problem is for other countries to help save these minority groups but taking them away from Japan or talking to Japan leaders about protecting these people's human rights. If they do not listen they should bring it to the United Nations and let them deal with situation. Overall this needs to be stopped as these people's human rights are being violated. I would hate to have to live everyday in fear of being abducted because I practice a different religion.
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