Anthropology

By Emiko Jozuka, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 10:18 PM EDT, Mon April 22, 2019



Oki Kano is a musician and founder of Oki Dub Ainu, a band that mixes indigenous Ainu music with reggae and other genres. Ishida Masataka
Hong Kong

CNN
—
Growing up in Japan, musician Oki Kano never knew he was part of a “vanishing people.” His Japanese mother was divorced and never told Kano that his birth father was an indigenous Ainu man. Kano was 20 years old when he found out.

Gayman says there might actually be tens of thousands more people of Ainu descent who have gone uncounted – due to discrimination, many Ainu chose to hide their background and assimilate years ago, leaving younger people in the dark about their heritage.

A bill, which was passed on Friday, for the first time has officially recognized the Ainu of Hokkaido as an “indigenous” people of Japan. The bill also includes measures to make Japan a more inclusive society for the Ainu, strengthen their local economies and bring visibility to their culture.

Japanese land minister Keiichi Ishii told reporters Friday that it was important for the Ainu to maintain their ethnic dignity and pass on their culture to create a vibrant and diverse society.

Yet some warn a new museum showcasing their culture risks turning the Ainu into a cultural exhibit and note the bill is missing one important thing – an apology.

More:
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/20/asia/japan-ainu-indigenous-peoples-bill-intl/index.html