The Ainu are an indigenous people in Japan with a distinct culture, language, and physical traits. They have faced discrimination and forced relocation, leading to a decline in their population. Many have assimilated into Japanese society, but some still preserve their traditions and rely on tourism for income. The term “Ainu” is commonly used, but some prefer “Utari.”
The Ainu are an indigenous people native to Japan, with origins dating back at least to the Jomon period, a pivotal time in Japanese prehistory in which numerous cultural advances were made. Today, the Ainu are mostly found in the northern regions of Japan and the exact population currently living in Japan is not fully known, due to some of them hiding their heritage due to racial discrimination. An estimated 50,000 Ainu are alive today.
These Japanese natives have a rich culture, language, and set of traditions that are completely different from those of the Japanese people. They are also physically very different, with physical traits closely linking them to native Tibetans, including a tendency to grow significantly more body hair than many other native Asian peoples. Besides being found in Japan, the Ainu can also be found in parts of Russia.
When settlers first arrived in Japan, they began driving the Ainu from their native lands, forcing them to slowly move north in an effort to protect themselves and preserve their culture. Over the centuries, the Ainu increasingly came under Japanese control and were often treated with derision by the Japanese government and Japanese people. Despite this, cultural exchange between the Ainu and the Japanese people has led to increasing conformity with Japanese values and traditions among the Ainu, to the dismay of some, and many Ainu have intermarried with the Japanese people.
The Ainu at one point spoke their own language, which was completely distinct from Japanese, although today they speak Japanese to function in Japanese society. Their religious beliefs are animistic and most made their living as hunters, fishermen and farmers, producing a distinctive cuisine that is very different from Japanese food. The Ainu also have their own traditional dress, distinctive style of architecture, cultural values and traditions. Today, many Ainu rely on the tourist trade for an income, producing traditional handicrafts for sale to visitors.
Some Ainu do not like the term Ainu, which means “people” in their language. They would prefer to use the term Utari, which means “companion.” In some documents and official publications, both terms are used, reflecting a desire to respect the indigenous Japanese and their traditions, but the term “Ainu” is much more widespread and commonly understood. The conditions in which the Ainu live and have historically lived are often a subject of discussion among people concerned about racial tensions in Japan.
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