On Wednesday, November 5, 2014 11:43:44 AM UTC+9, Frankie wrote:
> Can anyone shed light on a group of people in Japan referred to as 部落　.
> 
> Are these people regarded like.. Bad asses, avoid conflict with them at all costs?  Or more like trailer trash? 
> 
> I had a small experience that has baffled me.

The word itself is a subunit of a village but probably is shorthand for the descendants of the lowest feudal economic group and their activist/terrorist organizations. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buraku_Liberation_League