Learning about the Ainu

Yoshinobu MiyakeFrom the 28th to 30th August, 46 Japanese participants, including members of the Japan Liaison Committee, visited Hokkaido, the second largest island in the Japanese Archipelago. The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the Ainu, the indigenous peoples of Hokkaido.

The group travelled around the island, meeting key people who were able to provide an insight into the history, culture and particularly the religious beliefs of the Ainu (whose population is approximately 23,767 out of a total of 126 million Japanese.)

The religious beliefs of the Ainu have much in common with those of the Shinto tradition. The Ainu consider that nature and humanity are interlinked and, in this context, the Ainu’s idea of nature is similar to that of Shinto. God (function of nature) is called "Kamui" by the Ainu and Shinto uses the word "Kami".

Ten thousand years ago, a people called Jomon-jin inhabited the Japanese Archipelago. Their religion was Ko-Shinto (the original Shinto tradition.) Then, 2,500 years ago, the Yayoi-jin came from the Chinese continent. The two cultures mixed in the archipelago and created Shinto. The Ainu people (who were pure Jomon-jin) were displaced to the North (Hokkaido) and the South (Okinawa). Therefore, the Ainu’s religion has very clearly kept a distinct Ko-Shinto belief system. On the other hand, the present Shinto tradition has been influenced by Buddhism and Confucianism over time.

The Japanese constitution guarantees full religious freedom, so at present the Ainu do not have a specific problem of religious freedom. However, in the past they were forced to abandon their traditional lifestyle as were many indigenous peoples. Today, some of the Ainu are looking for greater recognition by working closely with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and are linking up with other indigenous groups. Although it is not appropriate for the Japanese Liaison Committee to be involved in the political struggle of the Ainu, it is nevertheless vital that their religious beliefs should be understood and given respect.