Hokkaido’s indigenous people face challenges to preserve Ainu identity

Japan is often thought to be a homogenous culture, but the reality is a little more complex. The vast majority of its population is ethnically Japanese, though there are some segments that are not.

Places like Okinawa famously have their own background and culture, though another lesser-known ethnicity, the Ainu, have recently started getting more recognition. However, they have faced much discrimination in the past and present day.

The Ainu are an indigenous people mainly native to Hokkaido. There are also Ainu populations in northern Honshu and Russia. Their traditional culture has centered on hunting, fishing and gathering food. They are also animists, believing that each object has its own spirit, or kamuy.

Discriminated against, forced to abandon their culture

Ainu people have dealt with severe discrimination throughout Japanese history, particularly when Japanese people started moving more to Hokkaido. For example, the Meiji Era saw attempts at forced assimilation into mainstream Japanese culture. The 1899 Hokkaido Former Aborigines Protection Act in the late Meiji Era promoted farming over their traditional hunting activities. While schools were built for the Ainu, there were also strict regulations on the distribution of land.

Official discrimination against the Ainu did not end until after World War II, but that was not the real end of the story. People started hiding their Ainu roots in order to avoid further discrimination.

Many Ainu people in the modern-day may not even be aware of their background. According to surveys conducted by the Hokkaido government, only about 20,000 Ainu are living in Japan now. Those numbers may be affected by people hiding or not being aware of their heritage.

Discrimination and awareness of the Ainu are higher in Hokkaido compared to other parts of Japan. In an article by the Tokyo Human Rights Promotion Center, an Ainu woman named Mikiko Maruko discusses her experiences. She talks about how she was not taught her Ainu language or background when growing up in order to avoid discrimination. Maruko moved to Tokyo, where she faced less overt discrimination. However, she was confused as a foreigner by other Japanese, which brought another set of problems.

Modern living conditions for Ainu lag behind other Japanese groups. A 2013 survey conducted by the Hokkaido government shows this. For instance, only 25.8% of Ainu surveyed said they moved on to post-secondary education, compared with the general population’s 42.0%. Over 30% of respondents said that they have either faced discrimination, or have heard about discrimination among those they know.

Seeking protection and respect for Ainu heritage

There have been some efforts to make up for the history of discrimination against the Ainu. In addition, there have been projects to promote Ainu culture and foster a stronger sense of identity. The Ainu were finally officially recognized as an indigenous people of Japan in 2008.

In 2020, a National Museum dedicated to Ainu culture, called Upopoy, was opened in Hokkaido. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the start date was pushed back twice. The museum also limits the amount of visitors each day. Despite these setbacks, the museum has several exhibits and performances showcasing Ainu traditions.

The recognition and protection of minority and indigenous groups is an important human rights issue. The push to promote Ainu culture and pride, and undo some of the effects of forced assimilation policies, is a step in the right direction. This push can hopefully bring a shift in attitudes, leading to policies with a more tangible and direct effect on the lives of Ainu people.