#26 The Ainu, Hokkaido, and Japan with Professor of Hokkaido University Jeffry Gayman

We are in the Ainu Mosir -- a quiet ground of the Ainu, that is, human beings. 

The Ainu had lived in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago long before the Japanese moved there. 

What if main livelihoods are suddenly forbidden? What if using the mother tongue isn’t allowed? What if one day you found out that these things or even worse had happened to your family ancestors? 

Currently in Japan, there are people of Ainu descent. Some of them see themselves as an Ainu person. Some of them are trying to search for their identity. Some others are not comfortable talking about it. 

You may have heard of such stories.  But beyond that, what do you know about the Ainu? Perhaps you’ve seen their embroidery and wood carving crafts? Or maybe you can recognise their music and traditional dancing? How about their cultural values and beliefs? Do you know anything about these? 

Being aware of these would enable you to see Japan from another angle, which should be a great help if you are visiting Hokkaido or even travelling in Japan. 

So today, we are joined by Professor of Hokkaido University Jeffry Gayman to discuss all the things about the Ainu. Currently based in Hokkaido, he has been studying and researching the Ainu for almost two decades, especially in the field of indigenous and intercultural education as well as promotion of indigenous rights. 

Beyond academic research, he has supervised a Japanese-English bilingual book The Spirit of Huci: Four Seasons of an Ainu Woman. 

More information about Jeffry Gayman and his work can be found in the following site: https://researchmap.jp/483 

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