"Today, official statistics put the number of burakumin at around 1.2 million, with unofficial estimates as high as 3 million. Despite the numbers, the issue is something of a taboo in Japan: Mention the word "burakumin" in conversation and the response you often get is a polite silence. This approach seems to extend to the mainstream media, with television and newspapers barely covering the issues regarding this minority group." (Quoted from article)