Google Maps Sparks Japanese Race Row.

Back in the feudal days, Japan was divided by caste. The lowest of these castes where the Burakumin, those whose jobs involved death. They where butchers, tanners and grave diggers, and in the highly ordered society of Japan with it's own unique cultures and laws, those who worked these jobs where considered tainted.

Even today, the descendants of these people, or those who live on the sites of old Burakumin villages face prejudice. Some companies refuse to hire the Burakumin, and the sites of the old villages are often targeted by graffiti and hate crimes.

Now, using old Japanese maps, google has added a new layer to its records of the region to show how Japan has changed throughout history. These maps also include details of the sites of old Burakumin villages, so now these places can be identified far more easily, and the Japanese government is concerned about the potential backlash against these communities.

Read the whole story here.