Becoming Indigenous in Japan: Ainu Articulation and Representation in Hokkaido

My project considers the way Ainu people, the Indigenous people of northern Japan, express identity and think about what being Indigenous means within their communities. Using media depictions of Ainu culture (e.g., pop culture, tourism ads, educational materials) as a lens for thinking about these concerns, I hope to highlight the specifics of being Indigenous in Japan, a country that is often perceived as mono-ethnic/cultural. Additionally, it is an inherently comparative project that draws out moments of resonance between Ainu people and Indigenous peoples around the globe. My project’s final aim is to begin a larger, critical conversation with fellow Ainu scholars, who are a majority western or non-Ainu Japanese, to consider the current state of Ainu studies. Specifically, how it contributes to (or doesn’t) to the multitude of hopes and aspirations expressed by the Ainu people we work with and rely on.