Word: saitama
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Japan's untouchables live in 6,000 more or less rigidly segregated communities. Commercial firms generally refuse to hire them, and when an eta seeks to "pass over" by hiding his origins, discovery can mean divorce, suicide, and occasionally even murder. In Saitama prefecture one day recently, an eta suicide left a note saying: "Even in death I cannot forget I am an eta. I hope I will be reborn in a better place.'' In Tokyo last year, an appeal for nondiscrimination brought offers from a number of small business firms to hire etas...
Since His Majesty is the 124th lineal descendant of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu-0-Mikami, such appeals are regarded as a deadly sacrilege and sin. Nonetheless last week, when Emperor Hirohito rode out to open Parliament, a burly farmer from Saitama Province burst through the cordon of Imperial police and groveled sinfully before the Son of Heaven...
...floods!" cried the farmer. "Save us from the waters, Divine One! The floods are rising in Saitama. Save our farms! Speak only a word to Amaterasu-0-Mikami, that She may dry up the floods...