Apostasy (Japanese: 破戒, romanized: Hakai, lit.
[2][3] Segawa, a young school teacher in rural Meiji era Japan, hides his burakumin roots, as he had promised his father, who had hoped for his son to live a life without social discrimination.
Segawa's mentor and future father-in-law Kazama, ancestor of an old samurai family, has just been forced to retire for plain monetary reasons, thus losing his pension.
After meeting with prominent burakumin writer Inoko (who is later killed by a group of villagers), rumours about Segawa's descent are spreading.
Put under pressure at a public meeting of the townspeople, he finally reveals the truth.