Japanology Plus (2014)

Season 8: Episode 27

The Ainu are an indigenous people who live in Hokkaido Prefecture (northern Japan) and surrounding areas. Traditionally, they were hunter-gatherers who shared a close relationship with the natural world. In the second of 2 episodes about the Ainu, we look at young Ainu in modern Japan who are conserving and promoting their ancestral culture. Our guest is Sasaki Shiro, Executive Director of the National Ainu Museum. He introduces a special exhibition centered around a popular manga series.