Indigenous groups

The Ainu People

The Ainu are indigenous people living in Japan and Russia whereby "Ainu" means "human." Most of them live in the northern island of Hokkaido and are believed to descend from people who lived in Japan as early as 13,000 years ago. Their culture is distinct from mainstream Japanese society as they live by hunting, fishing, farming, and selling crafts to tourists.

In the 19th century, Japan banned the Ainu language, seized their land, and outlawed their hunting and religious practices. These centuries of oppression, racism, and forced assimilation policies have contributed to the annihilation of the Ainu culture. Modern socialization and the fear of marginalization has led recent generations to deny their Ainu identity.

Also, due to the intermarriage over the years with the Japanese, the concept of a “pure Ainu” is no longer feasible. Today the Ainu language is almost completely extinct. Also, it is not known how many Ainu live outside Hokkaido.

However, in June 2008, Japan’s parliament passed a resolution that formally recognized the Ainu as an indigenous people with a distinct language, religion and culture. Today, the Ainu have their own cultural institutions and are working with the Japanese government to maintain their unique heritage.