Description

Hello. I am J. Harim, author from “MeeNii,” a bookstore specializing in Japanese books.

This book is a story of centuries of struggle, resistance, and survival experienced by the Ainu people, the indigenous inhabitants of Hokkaido, Japan. The history of the Ainu, who fought to protect their land, culture, and identity during the rapid modernization and colonization process following the Meiji Restoration, is not merely a record of the past but a living narrative that continues to this day.

We often think of Japan as a “single-ethnic nation.” However, this is nothing more than a myth created by modern Japan. The Ainu people, who for thousands of years developed a unique culture, language, and belief system in Hokkaido (formerly Ezochi), were dispossessed of their land, had their culture denied, and their identity suppressed during the expansion of the Japanese Empire.

Through the story of one Ainu family spanning four generations – Chikara, Ashiri, Yuki, and Ren – this book vividly portrays the history of social conflict, discrimination, and resistance that the Ainu people have experienced from the Meiji era to the present. The family’s story is both a personal narrative and the history of a people, raising questions about universal justice and dignity.

By listening to the voices of the Ainu people, we can confront the truth hidden in the shadow of history, reflect on the value of diversity and inclusion, and gain wisdom for a better future. I hope this book serves as a small window into the Ainu people’s past, present, and future, becoming a story of hope.

Thank you.

Table of Contents

Foreword. Forgotten History                 4

Ⅰ. Lost Land (1869-1899)                   9

1. Days with Kamuy

2. The Arrival of Invaders

3. The Stolen Forests and Rivers

Ⅱ. Years of Silence (1900-1970)            39

4. Under the Shadow of Assimilation

5. War and Assimilation

Ⅲ. Awakening Voices (1945-1997)         75

6. Defeat and a New Beginning

7. The Revival of Forgotten Voices

8. A Long Journey Towards Recognition

Ⅳ. Towards a New Era (1997-Future)        121 

9. The Struggle Across Generations

10. The Dawn of a New Era

Epilogue: Awakened Voices

Author’s Note

Ⅴ. Appendix                               183

1. Glossary of Ainu Terms

2. Chronology of Key Figures and Events

3. Ainu Cultural Heritage and Preservation Status

4. Related Research and References on Ainu

5. Information on Ainu-Related Sites and Experiences

Copyright Information                      192