15 Fascinating Facts About The Ainu - Japan’s Indigenous People

🎥 Who are the indigenous Ainu people of Japan, where did they come from, what do they look like, and where do they stand in the world today? 🇯🇵
Welcome to our deep dive into the fascinating world of the Ainu, the indigenous people of northern Japan. In this video, we explore the unique aspects of Ainu culture, from their ancient history to their contemporary resurgence…
00:26 - 🌿 Indigenous Heritage: Explore the history of the Ainu, the original inhabitants of Hokkaido, and their presence in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands.
01:54 - 📜 Unique Language: Discover the endangered Ainu language, distinct from other language families, with a dwindling number of fluent speakers.
03:13 - 👘 Distinctive Clothing: Admire the intricate patterns and embroidery of traditional Ainu clothing, crafted from elm tree bark.
04:43 - 🗣️ Oral Literature: Experience the 'yukar', the Ainu's rich oral literature tradition of epic sagas, recited in a unique rhythmic and singing style.
06:21 - 🌌 Spiritual Beliefs: Explore Ainu animism, where spirits known as "kamuy" are believed to inhabit everything, from animals to inanimate objects.
07:55 - 🖌️ Unique Tattoos: Learn about the tattoo culture among Ainu women, a tradition involving facial tattoos as a rite of passage and beauty symbol.
09:24 - 🐻 Bear Worship: Learn about 'Iomante', the sacred Ainu bear-worshipping ritual involving the raising and sacrificing of a bear to honor its spirit.
10:50 - 🏹 Skilled Hunters and Fishermen: Understand the Ainu's expertise in hunting and fishing, crucial skills for surviving their harsh environment.
12:20 - 🌱 Cultural Resurgence: Witness the revival of Ainu culture and language as a response to historical assimilation policies.
13:47 - ⚖️ Legal Recognition: Reflect on the recent recognition of the Ainu as an indigenous people by the Japanese government.
15:02 - 🧬 Distinct Features: Note the unique physical characteristics of the Ainu, including thick wavy hair and more pronounced facial and body hair.
16:10 - 🎨 Artistic Expression: Appreciate Ainu art, especially in wood carving and textile weaving, carrying deep symbolic and religious significance.
17:36 - 🎵 Musical Heritage: Listen to the unique sounds of Ainu music, including instruments like the 'mukkuri' and the 'tonkori'.
19:04 - 🍲 Cuisine: Savor the flavors of Ainu food, relying on ingredients like salmon, deer, and wild plants, rooted in their hunting and foraging traditions.
20:22 - 🎉 Cultural Festivals: Celebrate Ainu culture at their festivals like 'Ainu Mosir', featuring traditional dances, music, and food.
This journey into Ainu culture not only highlights their past struggles but also celebrates their enduring spirit and cultural revival. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more content on the world’s rich cultural tapestry.
#Ainu #AinuCulture #GoldenKamuy

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Which aspect of Ainu culture fascinates you the most? 🤩

[@balazskiss985]

picture is a cultural genocide yoou comitted against ainu people with the albino mulatto girl shame on you

[@roberttreborable]

The Stories and Music, I was lucky enough to see a Show by the Ainu Art Project a few years ago in Kutchan, Hokkaido and share some of their food, the evening ended with us all joining in with the singing and dancing together. It was a brilliant night well remembered.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

How wonderful, Robert! Surely an experience you will never forget! 😀

[@jan-michele3546]

All of them. They are close to the American Indigenous people. Though I am a white woman, I was raised around a lot of Indigenous people (different tribes/nations), so I learned a lot from them and their cultures. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest of the United States from Canada to Oregon. I got great history and cultural lessons when I was young. I never learned their languages, though. Wish I had.

[@tatianayegovtseva9737]

Ainu used to be Caucasian appearance with big beards - see photos. Also Japanese exterminated ainu...

[@mnegi9522]

I am Japanese who was born and raised in a small town where is located 60 miles north of Tokyo. My physical characteristics are very close to Ainu people’s ones and I always looked differently from average Japanese. I have big eyes and light complexion, more hairy than average Japanese. I rather look more mix or Eurasian or Latinos. I had DNA test 10 years ago in the US and according to my test result, surprisingly, I am almost 100% Jomon/Ainu descendant which I always suspected.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Fascinating - thank you for sharing!

[@levivolaju883]

Pls share your ig or fb so we can see you

[@user-dy2cg3hj6m]

​@@levivolaju883 📸🤨

[@benjauron5873]

You probably had an Ainu mailman about nine months before you were born... (Just kidding! It's just a joke, relax.)

[@SB-qm5wg]

Can you grow a full beard?

[@bob8284]

This is one reason I like the internet you can learn so much about the world that wasn't taught

[@cinnamonstar808]

so is school about knowledge or indoctrination?

[@2551987ezio]

I met a Japanese missionary from Japan. Ask if he knew the manga/anime series Golden Kamuy, which he responded very surprised, as no one in the West has ever mentioned that series to him. When I brought up the topic of the Ainu's, he told me, that him himself didn't know of their existence till he watched the anime.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Very interesting - thank you for sharing!

[@KanjiMadeEasy]

You're kidding! My first WEEK as a missionary in Japan I was invited to an annual celebration to a town in Hokkaido. The mayor was AINU. and he was in complete formal AINU garb!! They let me, a stranger, sit right next to him during the celebration. He was drunk....

[@monikagrosch9632]

Those clothing made of tree ‘bark’ reminds me of the ‘taps’ clothes of the Polynesians. Is there a connection?? Genetically??

[@genkideguire]

Unless they personally care about something Japanese are not well versed in their country history. Just like every other person from every other country.

[@ashmorris4067]

Good anime can't wait for the last series. Some crazy characters in it. Are they based of real characters?

[@ericv7720]

I was in the Marines stationed in Japan in the mid-90s. We did a two-week training exercise on Hokkaido. We had a night out in Sapporo, and I noticed how many of the locals were taller, stockier and, well, just plain more Caucasian looking than the mainland Japanese, and I remembered hearing about the Ainu. Assimilation cuts both ways!

[@artawhirler]

Ainu very little about this until now. Thanks! 😅

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Haha - very good!! 🤭

[@daxusbenjamin7683]

Lol clever

[@th-uh2oo]

Polish ethnographer Bronisław Piłsudski for his participation in the plot to assassinate tsar Nicolas III was sentenced by the tsarist regime for 15 years of exile to the Far East, the southern part of Sakhalin. He was the first to research and describe in detail the Ainu language, customs and culture. After the 1904 outbreak of the Japanese-Russian war, through Japan and the USA returned to Poland, where in 1912 he published Materials for the Study of the Ainu Language and Folklore. BTW, he was brother of Józef Piłsudski, one of the most important persons in the last 120 year of the Polish history.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Super interesting - thanks so much for sharing! 🙏

[@projectreracccty4764]

Studying biblical history is crucial for understanding the connections to Noah's son, whose name, Japheth-Nese, bears a resemblance to the Japanese name, suggesting he could be an ancestor of the Japanese people. His son, Meshech, also known as Mosoch, is believed to have influenced the naming of the Yauza River, derived from his son Ya and daughter Vuza. Similarly, Moscow's Russian name, Moskva, is thought to be derived from Mosoch and his wife Kva. Additionally, the name Yakuza is said to originate from Meshech's son Ya, his nephew Ashkenaz, also known as Ashkuz, and Vuza, Meshech's daughter.

[@th-uh2oo]

@@projectreracccty4764 I hate to disappoint you, but you are wrong. In accordance with official Ukraine historical state policy, children in schools are taught that the Ukrainian state is 140 000 years old, and all the people you are talking about with the entirety of humanity have their origins in Ukraine. If you have any questions about interpretation and the origins of any names in the Bible, contact Ukrainian scientists. Since Ukrainians wrote the Bible, they will know the best and will provide you with a correct interpretation. LMHO, it is sarcasm on my side, but it isn't a joke at all; you can check Ukrainian history text books.

[@LecherousLizard]

@@projectreracccty4764 What kind of bullshit is this? The word "Japan" is the result of Marco Polo's... I have honestly no idea what. He called Japan "Chipangu", which later evolved into "Japan" of today. The Japanese meanwhile have never used anything like that, instead they called their country "Yamato", "Wakoku", "Oyashima" and more recently "Nippon" or "Nihon", none of which has any resemblance to that "Japheth-Nese" thing you mentioned. Instead of reading fantasy books, you should study some actual history.

[@LecherousLizard]

@@projectreracccty4764 I don't think you got the message. The word "Japan" was made up by an Italian in the 16th century. It has NOTHING to do with Bible.

[@kyotosal]

I really enjoyed this video. I love Japan and have traveled there several times. It's great to hear that the Ainu are completely part of greater Japan now.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you! 🙏 Which part of Japan did you enjoy most?

[@ironjavs1182]

Pre-christian Finnish people also had animism believes that everyhting had a soul (väki) and they believed that bear was a ancestor for people and that why it was treated like a god and they had similiar seremony as well called "Karhupeijainen". Where bear was sent back to heaven. Really interesting to see these similarities and it would be interesting to know more about Ainu culture.

[@Jomon50]

Ainu are a Jomon race from South Asia (India, Bangladesh) but their culture was influenced by Siberians, so you are correct. Your information is vital to understanding the Jomon, whose ancestors migrated to Northeast Asia 45,000 years ago and settled Japan 30,000 years ago. They crossed over on landbridges when global sea levels dropped between the southern peninsula of Korea and Kyushu island, Japan. From Kyushu the Jomon expanded to the Shikoku, Honshu and Hokkaido islands of Japan. Ainu means "human" in the Ainuic language. Japanese called them Eizo (Yezo the old Japanese word for Hokkaido) and the Ainu Homeland also encompassed the northern Tohoku region of Honshu island. 14,000 years ago ice sheets formed connecting Siberia to Japan and the Hokkaido Ainu expanded into the Kuril islands of the Okhotsk Sea and the southern region of Sakhalin island adjacent to Siberia. Ainu oral histories recount warfare between Sakhalin Ainu and the indigenous Yakut people riding -- Reindeer! That means the Finnish🦌🦌🦌 culture extended latitudinally to Siberia and Sakhalin. Anthropologists describe the Ainu bear ritual as Siberian in origin -- which explains your Finnish bear ritual. A 2016 linguistic study classified Ainuic as a Sino Tibetan language, however, linguists classify the Okinawan language as Jomon, who settled Okinawa 9,000 years ago. 80% of Ainu men and 60% of Okinawan men carry Jomon D-M55 DNA and Jomon M7 mtDNA is common to both groups. So, same race yet different cultures due to geographic distance and isolation. But there are similarities as Jomon cultures. The principal deity of the Ainu is the fire goddess Fuji (like the volcanic mountain) and the Okinawan Noro religion worshipped the fire god of the hearth. Okinawan women were also ritually tattooed. Okinawan lacquerware uses the same red and black color scheme as Jomon lacquerware. The Jomon created the 1st lacquerware (the oldest lacquer tree is in Japan) and the world's oldest lacquerware was discovered in Hokkaido. Okinawans were also hunter gatherers until agriculture was introduced very late in 800 CE by Japanese farmers. The physical stereotype of Okinawans is "dark and hairy." From 1100 CE to the 1609 CE conquest of the Ryukyu Kingdom by the Japanese Satsuma Clan, Okinawa had a cultural and trade relationship with China. Much of Okinawan culture became Chinese: Patriarchical system of Kings and Clans, Written language, Shishi (lion dog imagery), Sanshin music, Martial arts ("Karate"), Andagi (Chinese pastry), Basho (banana fiber fabric), etc. The Jomon Ainu-Okinawa spectrum finds parallels in the Irish-Welsh, Hawaiian-Samoan, Chinese-Japanese, East Asian-Native American, Italian-Sicilian ethnic relationships.

[@Elora445]

They also have a lot in common with the Sami in the north of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. They too had animism. Well, until the Swedish state did to them what the Japanese state did to the Ainu.

[@drpigglesnuudelworte5209]

Irish polytheism was similar as well. I’ve noticed a lot of pre-Christian religions have some form of animism. There was actually a very interesting study done and it revealed that children, when not influenced towards one religion or another, will naturally tend to form some concept of animism, so it’s arguable that humanity’s most natural instincts regarding religion is animism. I remember as a child I used to fight with adults over animals having souls and I would pull out the Bible and say “‘let every living creature praise the lord’ see it says all living creatures worship god not just humans how could they do that if they didn’t have a soul THEREFORE dogs go to heaven and if they don’t I don’t want to go”

[@David-gh6vp]

There are similarities between the Ainu people and the Native American cultures of the Pacific Norhtwest and coastal Canada. The use of native materials in clothing and homes is especially apparent. Carvings in posts and sticks are also similar. Much of the similarities may be due to comparable climates of both regions, but one wonders if there isn't a direct genetic trace, as well.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thanks for your comment - I can absolutely see the similarities. You very well may be right!

[@veroboro4035]

Well the native americans decend from people who wandered from the region of Yakutia in nowadays russia and then they crossed the now sunken path to Alaska. There is genetic evidence for this thesis, but also the culture is quite similar to yakutian people. So it may be the Yakutians came down there, too.

[@hansspadvii]

Maybe, the words "Ainu" and "Inuit" are etymologically related?

[@veroboro4035]

@@hansspadvii I mean, I dont know. Its was a guess,cause david said native amaricans have a similar culture. But Yakutians and native amaricans are certainly related.

[@veroboro4035]

Wikipedia says: "The Ainu are regarded as having descended from the indigenous Japanese hunter-gatherers who lived in Japan during the Jōmon period (c. 14,000 to 300 BCE).[72] The exact origins of the early Ainu remain unclear, but it is generally agreed to be linked to the Satsumon culture of the Epi-Jōmon period, with later influences from the nearby Okhotsk culture.[73] The Ainu culture may be better described as an "Ainu cultural complex", taking into account the regional variable subgroups of Ainu peoples. " "There is also evidence that Ainu speakers lived in the Amur region through Ainu loanwords found in the Uilta and Ulch language"

[@qhuizatlantis8484]

I'm curious to hear about their native language so fascinating

[@thoughtank1019]

It is amazing how similar so many native cultures are. All very connected with nature and spirits, stories, songs and dance

[@raifandreev]

Humans still do all that, it's just that big citys amplify everything I think, the good the bad the ugly hehe 🖖

[@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural]

All cultures started there.

[@birdieberry]

Prince Ashitaka comes from the Ainu tribe in the movie "Mononoke-hime".

[@dorolicious]

I knew it! As soon as I've seen the video title I was like "wasn't Ashitaka one of this tribe?"

[@jamesyamauchi5657]

He was actually Emishi. The Emishi were related to the Ainu people.

[@feliad6401]

​@@jamesyamauchi5657From my understanding and knowledge of japanese, "Emishi" has a meaning of "barbarian" and was a pejorative word used to described the one that came from the north, which were the Ainu.

[@melissapinol7279]

Back in the 90's I saw a fascinating film by a Russian filmmaker about the Ainu on the Shaklin islands. They lived in communal log houses and used sled dogs, who lived in the house with them. I think it was an effort to preserve a lost culture, as these people were kind of a northern offshoot more like the Inuit, they wore fur clothing and had the sled dogs, but were Ainu. I wish I could remember the title, it had English subtitles.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Fascinating! If you ever remember the title, please let me know! 🙂

[@RadenWA]

Do the Russian Ainus write their language in Cyrilic?

[@feliad6401]

​​@@RadenWA Nowaday's Ainu language is mostly written using Katakana (or Rōmaji) which is from japanese writing system.

[@RadenWA]

@@feliad6401 I mean the ones living in Russia

[@feliad6401]

​@@RadenWA Well, what's Russia today was Japan yesterday. I don't know how well the Ainus are recognized in today's Russia. I speak japanese not russian, thus I would be eager to ear anything you would learn about the one living in today's russia. But the cyrilic alphabet may not fit the Ainu language that well when it comes to phonetics. Just my humble thoughts 🙌

[@maverickfox4102]

As someone who loves history I’m glad that Japan 🇯🇵 is addressing it’s past mistakes. By making sure the Ainu People would keep their cultural identity alive.

[@nicolaspetit6718]

Next stape War crime during ww2

[@RadenWA]

And what about Russia, what preservation efforts have they done for the Ainus in their jurisdiction?

[@AllanMogensen]

Too often a culture is destroyed and then we go: Oh, what a loss, how sad - but NOW we can really study it :) YaY!. If only the living was as important as the dead

[@apelsinuke]

now, Okinawan or Ryukyuan people should not be forgotten either. used to be a whole separate kingdom. have their own culture and language too.

[@KP11520]

Preserving their past is going to be a pillar in all of Japan's future. Their very deliberate harmony is a very significant way of life that will help work with Earth for all to exist without greed, which would sabotage that balance. Make room for it and let it flow naturally. All will benefit.

[@charlesarmstrong5292]

Truly fascinating. I never knew about the Ainu until now. Many thanks.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you, Charles. Really glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂

[@stormygcannon1229]

Thank you for explaining some I knew already I think Japan was out of line not to allow them their personal freedom. Indigenous people should be recognized, enough said.

[@0therun1t21]

They better be celebrated, they're beautiful and cool as hell!

[@EmilyTienne]

Assimilation is a two-edged sword. You gain something and you lose something too. Once the culture and language is lost, there’s no going back.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

So true and thank you for sharing. Thankfully Ainu culture survived this!

[@David-gh6vp]

Almost never in Life do you gain anything, without losing something else. If cultural changes are done with care and through time [not abruptly] the best of both worlds may be saved.

[@usnchief1339]

It's the way of the world

[@quentinmac.5579]

A prime example and a more current one is the 1800’s United States the conflicts between the Native American’s & European American’s and what it done to the Native American’s in the long run.

[@EmilyTienne]

@@quentinmac.5579 Agreed. Native Americans have lost so much in terms of culture, language, knowledge of living off the land. In the process of losing their identity, they were brutalized as well.

[@schelin1447]

like all indigenous people they should be protected and preserved

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Absolutely!

[@catherder6]

Everyone is indigenous somewhere.

[@user-gs7ev5hk3v]

非現実的だ

[@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural]

Like all indigenous people and every other culture that has ever or will ever exist, the Ainu will disappear. All cultures (and everything else) are impermanent.

[@kellylyons1038]

​@@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural truly a cyberpunk dystopian nightmare! All cultures and languages lost, nothing distinct left about humanity, just technology and globalism.

[@susanbergquist3550]

Very informative and well-presented.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you, Susan! So glad you enjoyed it. 😊

[@larrymyers6327]

I look similar to the Yupik Eskimo in Alaska. I lived with them for 4 years.

[@jamal3537]

Clothing patterns are so beautiful!

[@vbressner]

You should do one on the Sami peoples.

[@79klkw]

Such a beautiful, indigenous people.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you for the suggestion - I've added them to our research list.

[@suutra3]

Yes, but please without the musac and swishh sounds!

[@alinaanto]

It’s remarkable and I for one am glad that we still have a window into this different culture - fascinating in itself, and also full of meaning when we make connections with other people around the world!

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Absolutely - very well said! 🙂

[@thornalas4385]

Interesting, it's always inspiring to learn more about variations of the human adventure on our blessed planet Earth!

[@Raja-bz4yw]

I just wanna know how the fudge do you make clothes out of tree bark????

[@oscarmet9029]

Hi there! It's an interesting video you uploaded here, with various facts about the Ainu people. However, I would like to add to some things you mentioned in the video. The Ainu people consist of various groups with similar traditions. One example is that the patterns of their clothing may vary. The Ainu population around Akan Lake is also mixed between the Ainu people who lived there and the Ainu population who moved there from Sakhalin Island by the Japanese. Another example is where you mentioned Yukar as performed by older women. If I remember correctly, in south-western Ainu tradition, young women also participate in the singing. Regarding instruments. The Tonkori was for a long time a dead instrument with no players. The musician Oki Kano resurrected the instrument through ethnographic recordings and descriptions of the instrument. Also, you mentioned that they were skilled hunters with bows and arrows. However, due to a long tradition of trade with the Japanese (which also included revolutions and wars against them), they also gained access to firearms that they used. I hope this adds information for people interested in knowing more. Also, please continue making videos like this and spreading awareness about minorities.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing this added information. 🙏

[@haroldshull6848]

I've read other sources relating to the Ainu and the one characteristic not mentioned here was their red hair. There was a reference to it by Admiral, Commodore, Perry whose crew sailed around all the Japanese Islands. One of the first European Americans to explore the Western reaches of the Louisiana Purchase wrote of an extended conversation with an Indian native about the red scalps on his tee pee. He explained that his and other Indian tribes had, over generations, wiped them out. His grandfather was at the last battle and took many scalps. When British settlers began settling New Zeland the Maori who met them with unsheathed weapons told of "the first people" who were there when the Maori arrived and killed almost all of them. They were white skinned, red haired sailors with connections to South America. We don't know as much about history as we imagine. This was a very enjoyable program well presented.

[@lechatdeluna8472]

Love this great information❤❤❤

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you! ❤️🙏

[@shashimenon1000]

Well made video. Good info. Just saw Golden Samuy last night. Very interesting. Thank you.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

So glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@timking2459]

Fascinating - thankyou

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank YOU for watching! ❤️

[@MaliciousMollusc]

The Ainu reminds me of the native Filipino tribes. There's a lot of very interesting parallels. 😊

[@Jomon50]

Ainu are Jomon, an ancient race from South Asia (India, Bangladesh) who migrated to Northeast Asia 45,000 years ago and settled Japan 30,000 years ago. Filipinos are a mixture of indigenous Black Pygmies ("Negrillos") from Malaysia, Austronesians (Southeast Asians), Chinese and Spanish.

[@ryomai8063]

Those images are beautiful... Are these for sale somewhere?

[@erwinordonez3662]

it was horo horo of shaman king that introduced me to the ainu people . . .😊

[@suechandler8162]

The tattoos, house construction, clothes and decorative designs and even the look of the people is a lot like the Maori people of New Zealand who are mostly Polynesian.

[@Jomon50]

Polynesians have Austronesian (Southeast Asian) and Papuan New Guinea Melanesian (Black Asian) Y DNA ancestries. Their mtDNA is B4, a rare East Asian (Chinese) DNA also common among Native Americans. Ainu are Jomon descendants: D-M55 Y DNA and M7 mtDNA, an ancient South Asian race from Arabia via Africa. They migrated from India and Bangladesh over 45,000 years ago and settled Northeast Asia -- making them an older race than East Asian Mongoloids (Native Americans). 30,000 years ago the Jomon crossed over to Japan on land bridges when sea levels dropped and after 13,000 years of geographic isolation created the world's 1st pottery culture 16,500 years ago. (They also created the 1st lacquerware.) Jomon means "cord marked" and was coined in 1882 by renowned American zoologist Edward Morse who discovered intricately designed sherds in Japan shell middens. 2015 DNA research of Ainu discovered European and Middle Eastern genetic alleles associated with the formation of facial features, which explains why 19th century accounts described Ainu as a non-mongoloid race with Caucasian features. However, assimilation by Japan and the Ainu custom of adopting Japanese orphans have changed their appearance into East Asian Mongoloids.

[@Jomon50]

Ainu means "human" in the Ainuic Language. It's what Ainu call themselves. The Japanese called them Eizo (Yezo, the old Japanese word for Hokkaido) and their Homeland encompassed the northern Tohoku region of Honshu island, Japan. A 2016 linguistic study classified Ainuic as a Sino Tibetan language, which makes sense since the Ainu bear ritual is a Siberian cultural influence. The Ainu also settled the southern area of Sakhalin island which was inhabited by the Siberian Yakut people. 14,000 years ago ice sheets connected Siberia to Hokkaido making travel on foot possible. Greek is an unrelated Indo-European language and there is no archaeological evidence of Greek culture in Hokkaido. The Ainu are the sole surviving tribe of the indigenous Jomon people of Japan, who migrated from South Asia (India, Bangladesh) 45,000 years ago and settled Northeast Asia before crossing over on landbridges 30,000 years ago into Japan. A 2019 DNA study found 79% Jomon DNA (Ancient Haplogroups M and D) in the Ainu and a 2010 study found that 80% of Ainu men carry the Jomon D-M55 Paternal DNA. The Ainu do not have European DNA ancestry. However, a 2015 study found genetic alleles (mutations) of Europeans and Middle Easterners associated with forming facial features, which gave the Ainu a Caucasian appearance. Some scientists call them "faux" (fake) Europeans. Geneticists don't know how the Ainu acquired those mutations. Perhaps it was from brief interbreeding encounters with ancient European and Turkic peoples in Central Asia as they migrated from India to Northeast Asia. So, the mutation would survive and be replicated but the small amount of DNA ancestry would be drowned out ("genetic drift") over the course of 45,000 years.

[@Koncs86]

Golden Kamuy is the show that introduced me to the Ainu, and I definitely recommend it to anyone interested in late 19th century Japanese history. It is a more mature anime tho, not a little kid cartoon. Just something to keep in mind…

[@coursii]

The anime Golden Kamoy has an amazing Ainu main character in it.

[@michelleboyle6497]

The mukkuri sounds so very much like the Jaws Harp used in Appalachian folk music

[@jwlavasse]

ya it does, I just got a jaw harp and am trying to play but the origins of mine are Turkic from Altai mountain they think. 🤔

[@stewartthomas2642]

Love your stuff kick on love it ❤️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍

[@brokebanshee92]

The Tonkori reminds me of a harp.🍀 (I am glad I watched this and learned a lot!)

[@stevenwarner7348]

Thank you so much for this. 〰✨〰

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

You are most welcome, Steven. So glad you enjoyed it!

[@mangthanghaokip]

Great educational

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

So glad you enjoyed the video! 😊

[@AndrewHibberd]

Thank you. Arigatou. Ainu,

[@louisefarber7573]

Thank you for this video. I had heard of the Ainu but knew nothing about them. Hopefully the Japanese government will allow and support their cultural resurgence.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you, Louise! 🙏

[@nholmes86]

its really fascinating to me to see full blowing beard in asiatic people

[@ananamu2248]

I have always been attracted to the ainu tribes .similar beliefs and connected to some native American tribes

[@kpreno]

WOW! Amazing... ALL of it! Thank you

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

You are very welcome. So glad you enjoyed the video! 😊

[@thedarktitangaming6350]

The ainu gives you a unique perspective on "japanese" people.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

They certainly do! 👍 Thanks for watching.

[@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural]

I’m pretty sure the original Japanese were the Jomon.

[@PalaeoJoe]

Both groups are indigenous to Japan, and are related. But the Jomon are an extinct culture, unlike the Ainu.

[@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural]

@@PalaeoJoe my understanding was that we didn’t know where the Jomon originated or how long ago they got to Japan. Are the Ainu considered to be an offshoot? It’s been a while since I really looked at this topic but if I remember correctly fairly recent dna analysis has shown that the Jomon never disappeared but contributed as much to the current population of Japan as the Han. I would be surprised if none of their culture survives in contemporary Japan. Some of the stories and traditions in contemporary western culture go all the way back to the Ice Age. Hamlet’s Mill showed this by examining precessional information recorded in old myths. It also seems to me, though I can’t prove it now, that the events recorded in the story of Noah’s flood (actually most cultures share some form of this myth) took place roughly 12,500 years ago when some comet fragments did cause global flooding and massive climate change (Firestone and West). I bet there is still some Jomon cultural heritage in Japan.

[@NorthernThaiGardenGuy]

Sounds like the many Hill Tribe peoples we have here in Thailand.

[@Jomon50]

Interestingly, 12% of Thai have M7a Jomon mtDNA, which branched off in Northeast Asia 30,000 years ago. Ainu are a tribe of the Jomon, the ancient race from South Asia (India, Bangladesh) who settled Japan 30,000 years ago. So, did the M7a disperse on a Continental route to Southeast Asia -- or--did it arrive from the Jomon seafarers of Okinawa, which was settled by the Kyushu Jomon 9,000 years ago? Perhaps both routes? Only geneticists can answer those questions, however, it appears that they have yet to ask those questions.

[@richarddamasco4979]

Good evening Japan😊❤😊

[@35906]

It is crazy how similar they are to some of the native American tribes.

[@davidjacobs8558]

Ainu people (or related people) occupied the entire Japanese Archipelago, not just Hokkaido. They entered the archipelago during the Ice Age, when Japan was connected to the Contienent by land bridges. After the Ice Age was over, the sea level rose, and people could no longer enter Japan, until the people of Continent developed ships that can cross the strait.

[@catholiccrusader5328]

The short girl in frame 12:29 is a real hottie! I love those robes in fact I'm wearing one right now. Years ago I used to travel yearly to visit and live with Japanese friends. Much love from Chicago.

[@eyeswideopen7777]

Ainu were taught by their custodians.. I'm not surprised.

[@erichpizer1]

great video. I knew of the Ainu but till now did not find a lot of info. I found out of the Ainu because i was curious about Sakhalin island occupied by Russia , the very Northern Japanese Island geographically speaking .

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂

[@moosedahlheim8401]

They remind me greatly of the Pacific Northwest native peoples of Alaska and Washington.

[@roboparks]

They are probably Genetically related.

[@roivosemraiva]

I just Learned SOMETHING--Ainu Culture !! i I even studied Japanese Language and never did i know... I would like to hear Music from the Ainu musicians. what type of scales in music do they use.?? WOW !! DO they use any type of percussion instruments? I instantly became a subscriber.

[@Elora445]

I know that some Swedish Sami connected with the Ainu. They apparently got along really, really well. Tried on each others clothes and such. Exchanged cultures galore. Funnily enough, when they wore the other person's clothes, it was hard to see which one was Sami and who was Ainu. So they might not look like the average Japanese, but at least there are some people out there they look similar to. Sadly, the Sami and the Ainu have a lot in common, and not only in their beliefs, but in how they were treated by their respective states. Sad but true.

[@theantifachannel.2771]

oh gawd, cry us a river.

[@Jomon50]

​@@theantifachannel.2771 The Ainu are the sole surviving Jomon tribe. The Jomon were the indigenous people of Japan from South Asia (India, Bangladesh) who settled Japan 30,000 years ago. The Chronicles of Japan recorded a Yamato (Han Chinese Conquerers, 250-550 CE Kofun Period) military campaign to eliminate the last Jomon tribes in Yamato Japan. The Jomon were extinct by 800 CE. A 1,000 years later in 1869 the "Foreign Frontier" of Hokkaido was annexed and a forced assimilation policy was instituted banning the Ainuic language, hunting, salmon fishing and the tatooing of women. In 1947, Hokkaido was finally designated an official Prefecture of Japan. The Genocide of the Jomon in Japan is the only complete genocide of a people group and culture in Common Existence (CE). The Jews survived the Holocaust and other groups survived genocide: Native Americans, Armenians, Rwandans, Cambodians, Rohingyans, et al. The English didn't exterminate the Scots and Welsh.

[@theantifachannel.2771]

@@Jomon50 Are you Ainu?

[@Jomon50]

@@theantifachannel.2771 No I'm a Jomon descendant, related to the Ainu. My Mom and i did our ancestral DNA tests in 2016 since we had questions about our racial heritage, and found that our mtDNA is M7b2: a 7,000 year old Jomon branch of the 50,000 year old M SuperGroup in India via Arabia out of Africa. So i did a deep dive into the Jomon (and Ainu) DNA and history.

[@taktktk5240]

縄文人が北海道の先住民 アイヌさんは択捉島から来たと聞きましたが

[@petergarcia8225]

For some reason, I am more attracted to Hokkaido than any part of Japan.??....weird right

[@LadyLeda2]

37 years ago I had a Japanese high school exchange student. I knew about the Ainu people and asked her about them. She had a very violent reaction toward them, describing them as filthy, dirty people the scum of Japan. I knew the Japanese people did not like the Ainu very much, but, that violent reaction really surprised me. I am glad to hear that they are being more accepted today. So at that time, I bought a book on the Ainu people. It was very thin so not a lot of information but it said that the Ainu people had blue eyes. Since you did not mention blue eyes, I think this blue eyed thing in the book was wrong.

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

It's very interesting yet also rather sad to read this. I'm sure the girl's life involved a lot of conditioning, and the reaction you witnessed was simply a result of that. I, too, am glad to see that the Ainu people are far more accepted today. Regarding the Ainu having blue eyes, although it is uncommon, I believe there is a higher prevalence of this trait compared to other Asian populations. Thank you very much for sharing your story, and I hope you enjoyed the video! 🙂

[@2551987ezio]

Satoru Noda's manga called Golden Kamuy has a Ainu character with blue eye's. So I don't think, it's entirely false.

[@oqqaynewaddingxtwjy7072]

That same as Zionist treat Gazans

[@user-jk6ed9ux1t]

​@UntoldHistoryYT Ainu having blue eyes or that kind of remarks suggesting they were of Caucasian origin are completely debunked by the recent most advanced genetic tests. They were just other kind of ancient Jomon people who were completely of Asian origin.

[@GroundbreakGames]

@@oqqaynewaddingxtwjy7072 There is no such thing as Gazans. There are 6 different Tribes living in the area you call Gaza, and they normally hate and kill each other when not focused on attacking Israel.

[@crownlessKingg]

"Scourge to the Ainu, prepare to die" - Nakoruru

[@amazinggrace5692]

Those beards and starches are certainly impressive. Do they seem to be unusually robust compared to general Japanese?

[@mjean6762]

Im always impressed by indiginous cultures. It makes me sad to hear of decline in traditions, beliefs, way of life, language, territories and population. However it's encouraging to hear that there are efforts at preservation. I'm also always amazed (and rather curious) at how indiginous cultures from different regions of the world and different time periods even can be so similar! How people who had never interacted and experienced different challenges and such, could have so many aspects of their culture that are seen in other cultures. It's one of the things I find most interesting when learning about a new indiginous group. Don't get me wrong, I find it all fascinating and truly exciting. I have a great respect for the ancestors of this world. It has also shaped how I view people in today's world. I look at each person as a human being and treat everyone neighborly. We may look different, talk different, etc but I bet we are more common than you think! It makes people so much more approachable as I don't shy away from those that are "different". We can all be friendly. 😊

[@Monstacheeks]

Ainu? I didn’t knew.

[@wolfiethedog76]

The Ainu seem Native American-like....

[@brianshissler3263]

I noticed that too

[@WayOfTheCode]

Genetically they are of same lineage

[@wolfiethedog76]

@@WayOfTheCode it's possible....

[@Jomon50]

​@@WayOfTheCode No. Native Americans are Central Asian (Mongolia C1, D4) and East Asian (China B2) DNAs. Ainu are South Asian (India, Bangladesh M7, D-M55) DNAs. So different races and lineages. A 2015 Hokkaido Ainu DNA study found genetic alleles (mutations) of Europeans and Middle Easterners associated with forming facial features, which gave them Caucasian features. The archival photos of unassimilated (non-Mongoloid) Hokkaido Ainu confirm that. Archival photos of unassimilated (non-Caucasian) Native Americans reveal that they are a Mongoloid race.

[@PalaeoJoe]

I am curious how similar Shino is to Ainu's spiritual beliefs. Like the Shinto "Kami" sounds very similar to the Ainu's concept of the "Kamuy"

[@Jomon50]

A 2024 linguistic study found that kami is derived from the Ainuic kamuy, however, Shinto is a Yamato religion instituted in 400 CE. Its cosmology states that the Yamato gods created the Japan islands and that the 1st Yamato emperor Jimmu was the grandson of the sun goddess Amaterasu, who brought the Rising Sun over the darkened Japan islands. The Ainu have a saying that refutes Shintoism: The people of the sun (Yamato Japanese) have been in Japan for a 1,000 years but we (Jomon Ainu) have been here for a 100,000 years! The Yamato were the Han Chinese conquerors who invaded Japan during the Kofun ("ancient grave" ) Period 250-550 CE and also created the modern Japanese language (Nihongo: a composite language of the Korean Yayoi and Han Chinese) circa 500 CE, the Imperial Family, the Yamato Dynasty and the 1st State called Yamato. They are the 1st ethnic Japanese people group. The Chronicles of Japan recorded a 701 CE Yamato military campaign to eliminate the last Jomon tribes in Japan. A 1,000 years later in 1869 the "Foreign Frontier" of Hokkaido was annexed, but not declared an official Prefecture until 1947.

[@shaolindreams]

What i find interesting is the genetics.. West Africans & East Africans (including many Med/Europeans) both come under different subclades of YDNA haplogroup E. Now what is cool is Ainu mainly come under haplogroup D.. And E and D both come from the split of DE. We didn't go that far, but D went all the way to Japan!

[@TubeYouTakashi]

I am Japanese staying 25 years at Hokkaido. I am not so familiar about Ainu, but have some basic knowledges and history, I respect Ainu culture, but I feel this documents in particular those graphics are not correct. giving wrong information

[@alinaanto]

Could you please tell us some of the details you see that are incorrect? I just want to learn, thank you!

[@kindofsimplereally]

@@alinaanto All of those detailed painted panoramas are done by AI, and are not accurate to the actual Ainu culture, if you look closely at them they don't make much sense at all, and many look more native american. The photos are all real though.

[@rubiks6]

They treat the bear like a member of the family and they earn its trust and then the bear is sacrificed and sent back to the spirit world?? What treachery!!

[@LG-bs1rs]

Great video

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you!! ❤️

[@stevoplex]

I knew an Ainu native who was the first to be fitted with a prosthetic eye new from the clinic.

[@glengreen362]

I wonder if any genetic studies were ever made to see if there were any ancestral links between the Ainu and other ancient indigenous races. For example, would it be possible that there might be distant links to the ancestor of the American native tribes that migrated across the land bridge during the ice ages. The Ainu seem to be a very beautiful and unique culture.

[@Jomon50]

Ainu are Jomon descendants whose ancestral Y DNA is D-M55 and mtDNA is M7, an ancient South Asian race that split off in Arabia from out of Africa. The Jomon (named for the world's 1st pottery culture 16,500 years ago) migrated from India and Bangladesh over 45,000 years ago and became the 1st people of Northeast Asia -- making them an older race than East Asian Mongoloids who are the ancestors of Native Americans. 2015 DNA research of Ainu revealed genetic alleles of Europeans and Middle Easterners associated with the formation of facial features, which explains why 19th century historical accounts described Ainu as a non-mongoloid race with Caucasian features. However, due to assimilation by Japan and the Ainu custom of adopting Japanese orphans they began to resemble East Asians as they do today. After 15,000 years in Northeast Asia, these indigenous hunter gatherers crossed over to Japan 30,000 years ago on land bridges when global sea levels dropped. They settled Okinawa 9,000 years ago. 80% of Ainu men and 60% of Okinawan men carry D-M55 DNA and M7 DNA is common. Japanese are descendants of the Korean "Yayoi" rice farmers who arrived in Japan 1,000 - 300 BCE and the Han Chinese "Yamato" conquerors of Japan who invaded during the Kofun "ancient grave" period 250 - 550 CE. The Chronicles of Japan recorded the Yamato military campaign in 701 CE to eliminate the last surviving tribe of Jomon in Japan. By 800 CE the Jomon people and culture were extinct. The "Foreign Frontier" of Hokkaido was annexed 1,000 years later in 1869, but not designated an official Prefecture until 1947.

[@famitsus987]

The jomon are the original natives of Japan who are caucsoid aniu are their kids they adopted many mongliod orphans mostly girls and mixed with East Asian woman

[@mangthanghaokip]

There’s a tribal known as Chin-Kuki-Mizo by the British and outsiders presently residing in modern day Burma, Bangladesh and North East India borderline. It could be nice if there’s anything you can shine about their past culture and their origins. They are blood relatives but divided into 3 countries after the Second World War by the British Empire. They have no written history record but just oral records passing through generations

[@apooravsinghdeo2317]

Seems like Princesses Mononoke is inspired from Ainu’s culture.

[@Jagdtyger2A]

What is the level, if any, og Fenisovan DNA in the AInu genome??

[@Fotosynthesis858]

My ex-gf was Japanese & she said that a lot of Japanese are racist towards Ainu & treat them like crap

[@TimmyT-ri5lo]

That was in the past nowadays nobody cares. But yes some ainu do get stares when they walk in the city because they look different then 98% of the population

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

The Japanese culture at its core is based upon racism and xenophobia. Their national metrics and demographics are declining and dying sharply. The best and least racist are making plans to emigrate perhaps to world genetic Japanese enclaves as Brazil. Their treatment of Ainu is cosmetic and token. Japanese are incapable of inclusion. The Ainu similar to native Hawaiians strongly desire a separate enclave, reservation or large island away from the destructive dominating culture. The Ainu like the San or Bushmen of the Kalahari desert. Both were widely dispersed peoples who were hunted and killed and finally driven into undesirable lands by the dominate culture. The Ainu adapted to Hokkaido (Yuki Kuni or Snow Country). There is a Japanese movie with subtitles which dramatizes the Japanese intrusion into Hokkaido to colonize it. It's title is Year One in the North. There are many popular movies set in Hokkaido today. It is fun to collect them. I live in Tucson AZ next to the Tohono O'Odham reservation. Since the Ainu and these reservation people share such a similar history, it would be grand to arrange a high school student swap for a year or a steady arrangement. Goodreads.com has a list of popular Ainu books.

[@shaunmaree6493]

My best friend is Japanese and he discounts the existence of the Ainu, or their place in Japan, this saddens me .

[@afro_souledits2382]

I learn of them because of samurai champloo episode

[@maximos905]

I love samurai champloo but haven't seen it in a while and don't remember the Ainu being in it. Looks like I'll have to give it another watch

[@DuelingBongos]

If you knew Ainu like I know Ainu. Who knew Ainu?

[@ojisan4220]

Some of their ornament and hats remind of Central Asia - specifically Bashkir, Tatar, Kazakh people though it is obvious Ainu people moved to Far East long (at least a thousand years) before formation of modern Bashkir, Kazakh people. According to Ainu wiki page, DNA research partly confirms this

[@smonline631]

in Kazakhstan we have same music instruments, and in Latin America they tattooed married women

[@eyeswideopen7777]

They were guardians of the land japan

[@jorgegonzalez-larramendi5491]

Pls try Oki's Ainu Dub Band. Traditional songs reinterpreted in rock dub,,, w tonkori. Great stuff in youtube, several CDs.

[@MakerBoyOldBoy]

There is another lesser known nomadic ethnic group also driven to undesirable lands. The Sanka who tend to roam the mountains of Honshu.

[@joyhill7315]

Background music is very intrusive,

[@TheSmartPorcupine]

I liked it

[@bennymoreira1443]

You can silence the sound and put the cc on

[@robertlyon8876]

Very interesting article

[@UntoldHistoryYT]

Thank you, Robert. Glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂

[@nphipps9406]

thank you i didn't know it had Ainu people in Russia, but the resembles Japanese, or did the Japanese integrated with them

[@TheShamwari]

Would be far more interesting if there were lots of details - pictures of the actual people today to compering to the Japanese,

[@yeqingzhu6028]

That is funny! Since when Panda bear lives in Japan? And is connected to Ainu people?

[@jerrysstories711]

Are the Ainur named after them?

[@siomokof3425]

Is it me , or is Princess Mononoke inspired by these Ainu ?

[@JoeDuke-PhD]

My mom, did the same.

[@restlessfae2407]

The animism part reminds me of the indigenous of north America. They believe animals, trees,etc had spirits.

[@famitsus987]

Yh no ish it’s from ancient north Eurasians Europeans central Asians and native Americans jomon etc all have similar beliefs

[@rogerphelps1798]

Lets hope the resurgence does not lead the Ainu becoming a caricature of what a modern person thinks they were/are like , as is seen around the world with revival of indigenous cultures.

[@ramondelgado4927]

What i find super interesting is that people often make comparisions between Ainu and the natives from North and South america , while the treatment may seem similar , the context is very diferent , natives in america were subjugated by eropeans that arrived less than 200yrs ago at best , very recent history , while the ainu were subjegated by Yamato and Jomon people that have been living in the japanese archipelago since around 2K yrs ago , they were not opressed by "invaders/conquerors" like most others , but by the very people already living there , they are all japanese , none are more or less japanese than the other A closer comparison i think , would be like macedonia subjugating (assimilating) greece and Rome later on doing the same to them and so on thru history , the issue here is than japan isolation cause it to endure into modern times I always had a love for their clothing , ever since an uncle gifted me a book about japan which had (unexpectedly) a chapter dedicated to them , im glad they are having a resurgance in life

[@Jomon50]

Ainu were absolutely not subjugated by the Jomon because they are the northernmost and sole surviving tribe of Jomon (D-M55 Y DNA and M7 mtDNA), an ancient South Asian race (India, Bangladesh) who migrated to Northeast Asia 45,000 years ago and settled Japan 30,000 years ago. A 2010 DNA study found that 80% of Ainu men carry D-M55 DNA. The Ainu were called "Eizo" (or Yezo, old Japanese meaning Hokkaido). The Eizo (Ainu) homeland encompassed Hokkaido and the adjacent Tohoku region of Northern Honshu island (Japan). Some scientists believe the Ainu lived throughout Japan and their DNA (with the specific G mtDNA marker, a late 500 BCE migration from Central Asia) is even found far south among Okinawans, who are also Jomon descendants. Other Jomon tribes were the Emishi, Kumaso and Hayato. The Chronicles of Japan recorded a 701 CE Yamato military campaign to eliminate the last Jomon tribes. The "Foreign Frontier" of Hokkaido was annexed 1,000 years later in 1869, but not designated an official Prefecture until 1947. So, the Hokkaido Ainu survived the Jomon Genocide of Japan.

[@radwest86406]

The Ainu people were probably one of the first peoples of The Americas.

[@Jomon50]

Ainu are Jomon, the 1st people of Northeast Asia and Japan who migrated from South Asia (India, Bangladesh) 45,000 years ago. Their ancestral DNAs (D and M Haplogroups) are 50,000 - 65,000 years old. Native Americans are the descendants of Central Asians (C and D4 DNAs) and East Asians (B2 DNA) who crossed over from Siberia. A 2015 Ainu DNA study found genetic alleles (mutations) of Europeans and Middle Easterners associated with forming facial features, which explains why 19th century accounts described the Ainu as a non-mongoloid race with Caucasian features. However, due to assimilating surrounding Mongoloid races and the Ainu custom of adopting Japanese orphans (especially girls), Ainu features began to resemble Mongoloid races as they do today. So, that explains their mistaken identity.