Have You Heard About The Ainu? Elders of Japan's Indigenous People Speak

The Ainu are an indigenous ethnic minority group of Japan. This documentary film (2015) was produced by Dr. Kinko Ito, a professor of sociology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) in the United States. She conducted her research and many unstructured interviews in Hokkaido in 2011, 2012, and 2014. This ethnographic film features several Ainu people, and the interview topics include identity, marriage and family, human relations with non-Ainu Japanese, their history, and school and work experiences.

[@UsDiYoNa]

I had no Idea the Ainu were still around. As an Indigenous Native American, I say hello and congratulations on our shared persistence!

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Musashi! Thank you for watching my film and commenting! Irankarapte! (the Ainu word for "Hello"). You might be interested in watching my "Have You Heard About the Ainu Part 2 Toward a Better Understanding and World Peace (30 minutes)." Iyairaykere ("Thank you")

[@UsDiYoNa]

@@KinkoIto Siyo (the Cherokee word for hello🙂) Sorry it took me so long to reply, I hadnt logged on in a while. Sgi, (the Cherokee word for “Thank you”) for posting the film, I thoroughly enjoyed it! And yes, I will definitely go check that out!

[@KinkoIto]

It was great to hear from you again! Thank you! I am very happy you are using the native language! It follows the saying "Use it or lose it!" Keep your great work! Love, Dr. Ito

[@abyssoulzenith]

Hello🌚👹😈🤐✌️

[@nahonu3]

Aloha to Musashi and Dr. Ito! I've always wanted to know more about the Ainu people! We knew a little about the Ainu history from my parents... Mahalo nunui loa (Thank you very much in Hawaiian)

[@mkptrsn]

It’s sad that they’ve pretty much been stripped of their culture, lost their language and customs. Same story in the Americas, Australasia and basically everywhere 😕

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for watching my film and commenting! Your comment is to the point and summarizes all what happened to the indigenous people. You can also watch "Have You Heard about the Ainu? Part 2" (31 minutes). The Ainu people talk about their perspectives about their culture. Thank you again!

[@mkptrsn]

K.I. Peeler it was a really interesting documentary- I learned A LOT. I’ll watch part 2 later! Thank you.

[@KinkoIto]

@@mkptrsn Thank you and have a nice day!

[@delsi26]

Where are you from cause I’m very happy you are aware of the aboriginal Australian people they deserve a million times more recognition and respect

[@jfusion9976]

Sake doiya kiyam moh.

[@user-ff7hi2jk1b]

I'm very surprised to see a lot of foreigners who're interested in Ainu. My mother was born in Hokkaido, and perhaps have the ancestor of Ainu. These days, I've become interested in foreign language and culture, but I also think I should learn my own root and my own country. Anyway, this video was so fantastic! Thank You!

[@my6kittens321]

カラッペ Protect your Ainus....Intermixing of Japanese with Ainu people may make them loose their identity and culture...Atleast give them safe zone and protect them coz they are native Japanese

[@KinkoIto]

映画を見て下さって有難う！　Knowing your ancestors helps you know yourself! Please keep learning!

[@vincentverne7052]

Do you know of Bronisław Piłsudski and his efforts to record and document Ainu culture around year 1903 +. If not, have a read here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronis%C5%82aw_Pi%C5%82sudski

[@kumarjavvaji]

Indigenous cultures need to be conserved and their history should be taught in schools

[@KinkoIto]

@@vincentverne7052 Yes, I have heard about the man. Thank you so much for giving me the link to his page. It was very nice and thoughtful of you to do that! It was quite informative. Thank you very much. Love, Dr. Kinko Ito

[@blessings310]

As a Polynesian watching this I wish the Ainu people would get more recognition today it resonates with me. Stay strong Ainu people. Keep the word of your ancestors alive ♥️

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Phee! Thank you for watching my film and commenting! I am glad you could learn about the Ainu and appreciate your support for them!

[@buckjohnnie2642]

AMEN‼️❤️🎶

[@KahwahShutseh]

I am Native "american" and when I was a child my family moved to Japan for a handful of years. We often went on excursions to take in the sites and travel around Japan. We went to Hokkaido once and I fell asleep on the way there. When I woke up we were approaching this village, and the houses looked like Northern Native houses and they had totems and the designs were so familiar and I was so confused I thought we were back in "america" and were at some Northern coastal Nation's village.😅

[@opioo.4998]

Have you read the book, "Paekche's Principle: The Great Secret of Asia"?

[@LB-uo7xy]

So you guys finally agree you came from Siberian over the land bridge or by boats to the Americas? It's basically DNA proven by now anyway that it's the most likely explanation of how you ended up there.

[@julianmiller974]

Hearing about how the Ainu would adopt Japanese children who where abandoned by their parents is astonishing and demonstrates how caring the Ainu people are. Its hard to imagine how the Ainu will loose the features that distinguish them from other Japanese cultures in about a 100 years or so; it reminds me about the Native American cultures that have been lost due to the exploration of European powers.

[@renwaldobaconesdegarcian281]

Julian Miller "exploration" is the wrong word to use there, but I love your sentiment.

[@user-vt3jj6uw7f]

The Ainu are descended from Siberia, as were the natives of both Southern and Northern America. The modern Siberian people too, now subjected to Russian colonialism.

[@valcan321]

No they weren't. The are descended from a entirely separate group of people and the only other genetic traces we can find from them are in Tibet and the Andaman islands. Basically, they are their own branch.

[@manjitrupbikram]

No, they will not die out but live on in the genes of other Japanese. Nothing ever dies. They only change form.

[@life-pm5xl]

valcan321 and they are still Asians!!!

[@sunny_tree5050]

My father is half Ainu and my mother is Haitian, I am very proud and happy that others are willing to learn about my culture, although I do not look Ainu it is still a part of me that I will continue to be extremely proud about, videos like these also help me to be more connected to my roots, so I am thankful to you🥰🥰

[@handwerker7718]

❤

[@chiarabroglia6028]

Hi! I am conducting a study on Indigenous languages in Japan, and desperately trying to find ainu participants.. is there any chance that your father or your grandparents would be willing to participate? It's a 10 min anonymous survey in japanese, but I can provide the english questions too.

[@naashawginosh4570]

I live on a reserve in Canada. And the elders say the same thing, that when they grew up they were told not to speak native

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for the information. I am very sad that many languages are becoming extinct like that.

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Dan! Thank you so much for sharing the story. It is a very sad story, and we should not repeat the same mistake again.

[@woohooo7634]

( Im putting this everywhere to educate people on Ainus ) I’m partially Ainu, partially Polynesian, and partially Chukchi (Chukotkan-Kamchadal of Siberian Far East) There is an even toss up between Ainus being either from haplogroup C (Australian aborigine) or from haplogroup D (the first people out of Africa to settle Asia) For those of you wondering about the cultural similarities between North American Eskimos and Ainus: (keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadals are part of the Eskimo ethnic and cultural family) The Ainu language is a Paleo-Siberian language. A couple of other Siberian tribes who speak a Paleo-Siberian language include: Koryaks, Chukchis, and Itelmen (just to name a few) Languages in the Paleo-Siberian linguistic family very similar to Eskimo-aleut languages. However, they are classified as different families due to structure. All Siberian tribes that speak a language from the Paleo-Siberian family tend to be indigenous to either Chukotka, or the Kamchatka peninsula. The indigenous people of Chukotka and Kamchatka are all ethnically and culturally related. (If not, the same) They are what we would call “Chukotkan-Kamchadals” and Chukotkan-Kamchadals, are a part of the general ethno-cultural group we call “Eskimo” which is why there are big similarities between North American eskimos and Chukotkan-Kamchadals. They are both “Eskimo” However, Ainus are not ethnically related to Chukotkan-Kamchadals or North American eskimos. The reason that Ainu people speak a paleo-Siberian language is because of how close the Ainu live to other Paleo-Siberian speaking groups. (Ainus, geographically, are classified as inhabitants of Siberia, after all) This leads us into the next segment: Culture: Ainu people’s traditional music is the same as general Siberian traditional music. They use a jaw-harp, and Ainu melodies sound very similar to Siberian melodies (or more specifically Chukotkan-Kamchadal ones) All of the cultural and linguistic similarities between Chukotkan-Kamchadals, and Ainus are from how close they are to each other. There obviously would have been great linguistic and cultural influence. PLEASE READ THIS, AS BACKGROUND INFO ON SIBERIANS, CHUKOTKAN-KAMCHADALS AND ESKIMOS: Keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadal culture is similar to that of Siberian Turkic culture (Yakut, Evens, etc) Chukotkan-Kamchadals culture is the midpoint between Turkic Siberian and North American Eskimo culture. ( _keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadals are Eskimo, ethnically and culturally wise. However, I will continue to refer to them as Chukotkan-Kamchadals to avoid confusion._ ) ON THE TOPIC OF LIGHT HAIR AND EYES: I am not white by any means. However, my eye color is olive and my hair is auburn/ginger. (My hair is dyed in my prof pic and I have contact lenses in) This is a genetic mutation. People can have genetic mutations that give them light hair and eyes, but not have even a drop of European blood. Ainus can have blue eyes, but this by no means makes them white. Let’s look at the Solomon Islanders: The Solomon Islands are in Melanesia. 60,000 to 100,000 years ago, Africans set sail and became the first people to settle the Melanesian islands. Melanesians are basically African (black) and their haplogroups line up with that conclusion. Either way, melanesians being from Sub-Saharan Africa is a fact. People from the Solomon Islands may inherit a genetic mutation that gives them blonde hair and blue eyes. _This does not make them white, nor does it mean that they are partially white._ I brought this up to show us that you do not have to be white to have these types of features. Asia and genetic mutations: It is a common occurrence that once in a while in Central Asia, a person will be born with either green or blue eyes, or maybe auburn or red hair. The same goes for Siberia. GENETIC MUTATIONS HAPPEN. They just do. It means nothing about race. Bottom line: The genetic mutations causing light hair and eyes in non-white people, is a completely different gene than the one that is passed on through white people that can lead to blonde hair and blue eyes etc. Eye and hair color does not indicate the racial identity of a certain ethnic group. *_JUST BECAUSE A COUPLE MONGOLIANS HAVE RED HAIR AND GREEN EYES, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE SECRETLY WHITE. NOR DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE RACE OF THE PEOPLE. IF THEY ARE ASIAN THEY ARE ASIAN. HAIR AND EYES COLOR DOESNT CHANGE THAT._* Genghis Khan having red hair and green eyes, does not mean he was white. whatsoever. Plus, it probably was more of a tint, than full on red and green. Ainus having blue eyes does not prove that they are “secretly white” In addition, there is plenty of haplogroup evidence to back up that they are not descendants of Europeans or white. Thank youuu :) Edit: another argument for Ainus being white are the fact that some Ainus can be lighter skinned. Pure Ainus can range from tan to light. While pure Ainus are usually mostly tan, they can still be very pale. This is due to the fact that Ainus are geographically siberians. In Siberia, people _can_ be very tan (the sun actually is pretty prominent in the summer. And in winter, light bounces off of the snow) however, most siberians are light skinned due to the fact that they need to absorb more vitamin D from the atmosphere. Again, light skin does not prove race. It is a environmental adaptation.

[@maiholiaw4927]

It seems all native people faces the same linguistic problems; they were banned to speak their own languages. However, it seems only India has provided for the growth of native people's native language and culture, since it's independence. I'm a native Khasi Tribal from Meghalaya, in North East India, And I can speak three languages fluently, my native Khasi, English and Hindi. And yes, as of now, my language, and many other native tribal languages of India are being taught to the Ph.D level. In that sense, we are luckier than other native people from other parts of the world. Of course there were attempts by some majority people who wishes to bring us within their fold by undermining our language and culture but we are protected by the Indian Constitution. However, the real threat we as a native tribal people of India faces now is the influx of immigrants, or more precisely, ilegal immigrants from other countries whose lack of documents makes it difficult to identify if the person is an alien or a citizen despite the racial difference.

[@osso4405]

Well I heard that native Americans were just the mix between Asians and the Olmecs of México

[@jane_80s61]

I'm an Original Australian First Nations Descendant, much love and blessings to the Ainu.. PROTECT and PRESERVE your Heritage, continue to practice your culture and remember your Ancestors, they are the foundation of who you are. 👣❣️

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Jane! Thank you for watching my film and commenting! You are right! I have visited Australia a few times, and one of my most memorable experience was Aboriginal people dancing!!

[@maverickfox4102]

It's good to see the Ainu people's culture & language is still alive.

[@KinkoIto]

Yes, indeed! Thank you for watching my video and taking time to comment!!

[@jp3062]

hello, i am half ainu and proud, ainu are paleo-mongoloid. pure ainu had lighter skin. but we are not caucasoid. our next relatives are native americans and tibetans. origin is siberia or tibet. others say central-asia. autosomal DNA show ainu are related to modern japanese, siberians and native americans

[@stover14]

You neglected to mention the relationship between Ainu and Polynesians. Very, very similar

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@kingnamor7777]

I heard that Ainu DNA and origins are related back to the pymies tribes of Central Africa. Who traveled Northern Asia, Southern Asia and Indonesia islands. Is this true?

[@kevindiver6327]

Wow I would be proud to. Definitely something to be proud of. I'm a native from the Pacific northwest I heard a you guys an wanted to see if you were like us...you are not.we dont look alike our language culture religion tools and society are all completely different.just one more fact in the pile that the human migration theory is a joke. Dna an specifically the g nome is a brand new science I definitely wouldn't believe everything the geneticist say.just question everything make up your own mind

[@battoday953]

@@kingnamor7777 you can see it in them!

[@Colourisedspoon]

Yes I know about The Ainu. The manga golden kamui did a very good job introducing them and explaining their culture.

[@barakmuladi7190]

Yeah thats a great anime

[@iljpops334]

First of all, Japanese govt had a serious blunder on didn't recognize the Ainu people in more early time therefore we students missed, lost chances of learning to their cultures or spirits in wholly at school so most Japanese don't know about them. Finally, the govt recognized their identify very late but they still don't teaching intimate of the Ainu people on history books.

[@brandnewty]

"Black" history is covered up all over the world.

[@TheeLifted-Bodhisattva]

brandnewty They don't hear you...

[@containeduniverse]

Truth.

[@containeduniverse]

NOT a blunder, but a well structured plan to hide truth.

[@miagibson7579]

Great video! It’s a shame how they treat those people :(

[@Tasunka_Nightwolf]

I am a Native American. From the Oglala Lakota half Amazonian kichwa people . And I'm very interested in the Ainu culture. I grew up within both cultures and our people can track their stories and history back to 30"000 years.

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Tasunka! Thank you so much for watching my film and sharing your background!! I hope you can go to Japan one day!!

[@dongyo69]

Cool bro! I love hearing about native Americans!

[@Shel230]

Native anericans werent in america that long ago

[@Tasunka_Nightwolf]

@@Shel230 yes they were. Since you think you know so much about my people. It has scientifically proven that natives been in America's where longer then 20'000 years.

[@Shel230]

@@Tasunka_Nightwolf the natives u see today only been around since 20 thousand years ago there's tribes in braszil and the Amazon and peru that have dna more closely related with aboringal austrillan then they do with north asians

[@TheGribblesnitch]

The older gentlemen has an accent, not a Japanese one, but I hear a unique voice there. Stay strong, no one can take your culture from you

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for watching my film and commenting! I am glad you heard a unique voice!!

[@J.Burrough]

Wow I see some of my family (Cherokees) in these people, including language sounds. Interesting. Thanks for video. I live I Shannon Hills just outside Little Rock. I’m intrigued.

[@1000dannycawley]

Face structure off sun's sons ayy real isrealites

[@KinkoIto]

You are very welcome, James!! You might want to sign up in my Sociology 3316 Japanese Culture and Society class next semester!!

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for your comment! I teach at UA Little Rock (sociology) and a course on Japanese Culture and Society is offered every year. You are more than welcome to enroll if you are interested!! I know here Shannon Hills is!!

[@rexxcolt7689]

@@1000dannycawley nope he means real redskinned natives not that bullshit outta africa bs you be preaching you 5$ ndn.

[@LetsGoGetThem]

@@rexxcolt7689 The anti-semitic racist black """"Israelites""" are like bugs in these comments...

[@aaroneller3333]

I found the moment of the of the Japanese charcoal makers fasanating. The ability for the Ainu people to adopt children left by there parents is amazing. The social responsibility and cultural values are very strong with the Ainu and can be seen with this action.

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Aaron! Thank you for watching my film and commenting! The Ainu are very kind people!

[@dariuswilson8533]

Dr. Ito, your documentary was well organized and educational just like your Japanese Culture course. Your documentary has so much quality in the visual for you to have just used a $99.00 camera. It looks better than movies that I've seen that cost a fortune to make. Also the production is great. You really did a amazing job.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for your compliment! I really appreciate it. You are a very kind person who can inspire others!

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Darius! Thank you for your nice comment! I truly enjoyed teaching you Japanese Culture and Society class!! You learned so much about not only Japan but also yourself and about the United States! It was just amazing to see you grow as a human being over the semester as you gained the knowledge and wisdom about human societies! Good luck on whatever you do in your future. Let me know when you need a letter of recommendation!

[@woohooo7634]

( Im putting this everywhere to educate people on Ainus ) I’m partially Ainu, partially Polynesian, and partially Chukchi (Chukotkan-Kamchadal of Siberian Far East) There is an even toss up between Ainus being either from haplogroup C (Australian aborigine) or from haplogroup D (the first people out of Africa to settle Asia) For those of you wondering about the cultural similarities between North American Eskimos and Ainus: (keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadals are part of the Eskimo ethnic and cultural family) The Ainu language is a Paleo-Siberian language. A couple of other Siberian tribes who speak a Paleo-Siberian language include: Koryaks, Chukchis, and Itelmen (just to name a few) Languages in the Paleo-Siberian linguistic family very similar to Eskimo-aleut languages. However, they are classified as different families due to structure. All Siberian tribes that speak a language from the Paleo-Siberian family tend to be indigenous to either Chukotka, or the Kamchatka peninsula. The indigenous people of Chukotka and Kamchatka are all ethnically and culturally related. (If not, the same) They are what we would call “Chukotkan-Kamchadals” and Chukotkan-Kamchadals, are a part of the general ethno-cultural group we call “Eskimo” which is why there are big similarities between North American eskimos and Chukotkan-Kamchadals. They are both “Eskimo” However, Ainus are not ethnically related to Chukotkan-Kamchadals or North American eskimos. The reason that Ainu people speak a paleo-Siberian language is because of how close the Ainu live to other Paleo-Siberian speaking groups. (Ainus, geographically, are classified as inhabitants of Siberia, after all) This leads us into the next segment: Culture: Ainu people’s traditional music is the same as general Siberian traditional music. They use a jaw-harp, and Ainu melodies sound very similar to Siberian melodies (or more specifically Chukotkan-Kamchadal ones) All of the cultural and linguistic similarities between Chukotkan-Kamchadals, and Ainus are from how close they are to each other. There obviously would have been great linguistic and cultural influence. PLEASE READ THIS, AS BACKGROUND INFO ON SIBERIANS, CHUKOTKAN-KAMCHADALS AND ESKIMOS: Keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadal culture is similar to that of Siberian Turkic culture (Yakut, Evens, etc) Chukotkan-Kamchadals culture is the midpoint between Turkic Siberian and North American Eskimo culture. ( _keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadals are Eskimo, ethnically and culturally wise. However, I will continue to refer to them as Chukotkan-Kamchadals to avoid confusion._ ) ON THE TOPIC OF LIGHT HAIR AND EYES: I am not white by any means. However, my eye color is olive and my hair is auburn/ginger. (My hair is dyed in my prof pic and I have contact lenses in) This is a genetic mutation. People can have genetic mutations that give them light hair and eyes, but not have even a drop of European blood. Ainus can have blue eyes, but this by no means makes them white. Let’s look at the Solomon Islanders: The Solomon Islands are in Melanesia. 60,000 to 100,000 years ago, Africans set sail and became the first people to settle the Melanesian islands. Melanesians are basically African (black) and their haplogroups line up with that conclusion. Either way, melanesians being from Sub-Saharan Africa is a fact. People from the Solomon Islands may inherit a genetic mutation that gives them blonde hair and blue eyes. _This does not make them white, nor does it mean that they are partially white._ I brought this up to show us that you do not have to be white to have these types of features. Asia and genetic mutations: It is a common occurrence that once in a while in Central Asia, a person will be born with either green or blue eyes, or maybe auburn or red hair. The same goes for Siberia. GENETIC MUTATIONS HAPPEN. They just do. It means nothing about race. Bottom line: The genetic mutations causing light hair and eyes in non-white people, is a completely different gene than the one that is passed on through white people that can lead to blonde hair and blue eyes etc. Eye and hair color does not indicate the racial identity of a certain ethnic group. *_JUST BECAUSE A COUPLE MONGOLIANS HAVE RED HAIR AND GREEN EYES, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE SECRETLY WHITE. NOR DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE RACE OF THE PEOPLE. IF THEY ARE ASIAN THEY ARE ASIAN. HAIR AND EYES COLOR DOESNT CHANGE THAT._* Genghis Khan having red hair and green eyes, does not mean he was white. whatsoever. Plus, it probably was more of a tint, than full on red and green. Ainus having blue eyes does not prove that they are “secretly white” In addition, there is plenty of haplogroup evidence to back up that they are not descendants of Europeans or white. Thank youuu :) Edit: another argument for Ainus being white are the fact that some Ainus can be lighter skinned. Pure Ainus can range from tan to light. While pure Ainus are usually mostly tan, they can still be very pale. This is due to the fact that Ainus are geographically siberians. In Siberia, people _can_ be very tan (the sun actually is pretty prominent in the summer. And in winter, light bounces off of the snow) however, most siberians are light skinned due to the fact that they need to absorb more vitamin D from the atmosphere. Again, light skin does not prove race. It is a environmental adaptation.

[@liz-marie4224]

Totally agree!

[@Xaforn]

This would explain why they don’t show up too much in anime; I know of 3 anime that show them Golden Kamuy, Samurai Champloo and Shaman King. Princess Mononoke is the only one I’ve heard to mention the Emishi. I’ve seen many Japanese young people say Ainu have only been recently been started to be taught about again in school. I find them and all indigenous cultures fascinating.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for watching my film and commenting! The manga and anime that include the Ainu characters contributed to a better understanding of the minority group in recent years. They are educational and are agents of socialization for those who have never heard about the Ainu. Prejudice and discrimination take place where there are ignorance and misunderstanding. I admire these anime and manga works.

[@whoekm]

I come from Greenland 🇬🇱 And I have always been interested in Ainu People. Inuk means Human 🙏❤️Thank you so much for making this very important documentary ❤️

[@KinkoIto]

Hello! Thank you so much for watching my film and taking time to comment on it! You made my day!

[@meheatagarden8340]

« Aïnu » in French-Polynesia Tahaa-Raiatea means «fish hook »

[@amenooni4204]

Wow! Ornaments on their clothing are the same as ornaments used in Kazakhstan. We call that kind of ornaments “koshkar-muiz”. I am Kazakh and I can speak Japanese (I was studying in Japan for a while). I have heard about Ainu, but never considered that we have something in common (I thought that they are similar to some ethnicities in Siberia). We need more anthropological studies about Ainu.

[@E-Kat]

How long did it take you to learn Japanese, if I may ask?

[@HH-he4pw]

Yes they have altaic ancestry just like kazakh people

[@HH-he4pw]

Their culture is altaic mixed with the austronesian culture which is southeast asian

[@amenooni4204]

J W yeah, but Japanese people also comes from Altaic group, however Japanese culture is far from Central Asian culture.

[@amenooni4204]

Ekaterina well, I am still learning. However it took me 2 years to feel completely confident in my daily conversations.

[@nativesai6487]

Thank you for this video, I am a indigenous man from America, it is amazing and heart breaking how similar our story's are. I am very happy that the Ainu people are keeping there traditions and ways of life alive. Wopila Tunkasila Pi’la mi’ya ye’lo he Ainu Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for watching my video and your comment!　I think it is very important that we record the cultures and traditions of indigenous people. People need to know about these in the future. You can also contribute by writing down your experiences as an indigenous man!! I am very curious about your life experiences!!

[@BenjaminGroff-qi6lc]

Let me guess, are you speaking a Siouan language of some sort?

[@dominos6576]

I'm hoping the Ainu language never becomes extinct.

[@Astraeus..]

Oddly enough I learned about the Ainu from something very much Japanese in nature, that being Anime, specifically one called Golden Kamuy. Truth be told there are actually quite a few things I've learned of or heard about through my love of anime, but getting to learn about people like the Ainu is always pleasant. I'm a Canadian of Irish lineage, and I've always found that here in America we have a stunning disregard for any history that's not our own, even though our own history is short and bloody and particularly boring beyond that....So getting to learn about other people and other places has always been a lot of fun, and of all the various people and places out there Japan has always been my favorite, and so finding out a bit more about their history and people is a source of joy for me.

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Sean! Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I have been doing research on Japanese manga for a long time (aka Kinko Ito) and am familiar with Golden Kamuy. I have read all 14 volumes of the manga and just purchased volume 15 last week. The manga/anime is very educational and the author has done a great job doing research on the Ainu! You might want to watch my second film (31 minutes) Have You Head about the Ainu? Part 2 Toward a Better Understanding and World Peace. I hope you can go visit Japan some day. With your knowledge of Japan from anime, I am sure you will really enjoy the visit!

[@vaiyaktikasolarbeam1906]

Also in Okami Game

[@vaiyaktikasolarbeam1906]

@Excalibur mononoke?

[@jamiestewart4087]

Nobody in Japan knows anything about the Ainu or the original people of Japan and very few care at all to learn. If you have any interest in blood histories beyond your own, study Japanese history. Europeans don't have a monopoly on violence.

[@SumDumGai5]

@@jamiestewart4087 Get out, whitey.

[@obiwan88]

Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke is Emishi (蝦夷), who are closely related to the Ainu. Even the design pattern on their kimonos are similar...

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for the information. Princess Mononoke is one of the greatest Japanese anime that was not only popular but also stimulated people's way of looking at things.

[@YumegakaMurakumo]

@Excalibur Miyazaki-San was born the same day as me. He's a capricorn. And as a capricorn much like myself, he is very opinionated about things (which he has angered many fans) and will speak fervently against things in a savage way. He doesn't want his work to be called anime (because of it being so sexualized now adays) but it is anime. Animé came from the French pronunciation of animation just shortened. A cartoon.

[@nuukuu8893]

Didn't Emishi just mean uncivilized person back in the day? Similar to the Romans use of the term 'barbarian'. It was used to describe people that lived in the northern regions of honshu that the emperor's influence hasn't reached yet.

[@user-zl3se4qj8m]

​@@nuukuu8893 It was originally written "hairy people", used to describe an ethnic group that were partway between Jomon and Yayoi (predominantly Jomon, unlike Yamato Japanese which are predominantly Yayoi). Ainu are predominantly Ashihase, coming from a place which aligns to modern day northeast China and southeast Russia. Both modern Ainu and Yamato Japanese have a decent amount (but not predominant) amount of Jomon DNA. Jomon were a Caucasian people, as evidenced by skeletal remains.

[@nuukuu8893]

@@user-zl3se4qj8m I LOVE JOMON

[@kenyabessie]

This documentary was such an eye opener for me. It made me curious to learn more about the Ainu people. I also loved my experience in your class. Thanks for working with me.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Kenya!　I am glad your eyes were opened and you are eager to learn more!!

[@woohooo7634]

( Im putting this everywhere to educate people on Ainus ) I’m partially Ainu, partially Polynesian, and partially Chukchi (Chukotkan-Kamchadal of Siberian Far East) There is an even toss up between Ainus being either from haplogroup C (Australian aborigine) or from haplogroup D (the first people out of Africa to settle Asia) For those of you wondering about the cultural similarities between North American Eskimos and Ainus: (keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadals are part of the Eskimo ethnic and cultural family) The Ainu language is a Paleo-Siberian language. A couple of other Siberian tribes who speak a Paleo-Siberian language include: Koryaks, Chukchis, and Itelmen (just to name a few) Languages in the Paleo-Siberian linguistic family very similar to Eskimo-aleut languages. However, they are classified as different families due to structure. All Siberian tribes that speak a language from the Paleo-Siberian family tend to be indigenous to either Chukotka, or the Kamchatka peninsula. The indigenous people of Chukotka and Kamchatka are all ethnically and culturally related. (If not, the same) They are what we would call “Chukotkan-Kamchadals” and Chukotkan-Kamchadals, are a part of the general ethno-cultural group we call “Eskimo” which is why there are big similarities between North American eskimos and Chukotkan-Kamchadals. They are both “Eskimo” However, Ainus are not ethnically related to Chukotkan-Kamchadals or North American eskimos. The reason that Ainu people speak a paleo-Siberian language is because of how close the Ainu live to other Paleo-Siberian speaking groups. (Ainus, geographically, are classified as inhabitants of Siberia, after all) This leads us into the next segment: Culture: Ainu people’s traditional music is the same as general Siberian traditional music. They use a jaw-harp, and Ainu melodies sound very similar to Siberian melodies (or more specifically Chukotkan-Kamchadal ones) All of the cultural and linguistic similarities between Chukotkan-Kamchadals, and Ainus are from how close they are to each other. There obviously would have been great linguistic and cultural influence. PLEASE READ THIS, AS BACKGROUND INFO ON SIBERIANS, CHUKOTKAN-KAMCHADALS AND ESKIMOS: Keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadal culture is similar to that of Siberian Turkic culture (Yakut, Evens, etc) Chukotkan-Kamchadals culture is the midpoint between Turkic Siberian and North American Eskimo culture. ( _keep in mind that Chukotkan-Kamchadals are Eskimo, ethnically and culturally wise. However, I will continue to refer to them as Chukotkan-Kamchadals to avoid confusion._ ) ON THE TOPIC OF LIGHT HAIR AND EYES: I am not white by any means. However, my eye color is olive and my hair is auburn/ginger. (My hair is dyed in my prof pic and I have contact lenses in) This is a genetic mutation. People can have genetic mutations that give them light hair and eyes, but not have even a drop of European blood. Ainus can have blue eyes, but this by no means makes them white. Let’s look at the Solomon Islanders: The Solomon Islands are in Melanesia. 60,000 to 100,000 years ago, Africans set sail and became the first people to settle the Melanesian islands. Melanesians are basically African (black) and their haplogroups line up with that conclusion. Either way, melanesians being from Sub-Saharan Africa is a fact. People from the Solomon Islands may inherit a genetic mutation that gives them blonde hair and blue eyes. _This does not make them white, nor does it mean that they are partially white._ I brought this up to show us that you do not have to be white to have these types of features. Asia and genetic mutations: It is a common occurrence that once in a while in Central Asia, a person will be born with either green or blue eyes, or maybe auburn or red hair. The same goes for Siberia. GENETIC MUTATIONS HAPPEN. They just do. It means nothing about race. Bottom line: The genetic mutations causing light hair and eyes in non-white people, is a completely different gene than the one that is passed on through white people that can lead to blonde hair and blue eyes etc. Eye and hair color does not indicate the racial identity of a certain ethnic group. *_JUST BECAUSE A COUPLE MONGOLIANS HAVE RED HAIR AND GREEN EYES, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE SECRETLY WHITE. NOR DOES IT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE RACE OF THE PEOPLE. IF THEY ARE ASIAN THEY ARE ASIAN. HAIR AND EYES COLOR DOESNT CHANGE THAT._* Genghis Khan having red hair and green eyes, does not mean he was white. whatsoever. Plus, it probably was more of a tint, than full on red and green. Ainus having blue eyes does not prove that they are “secretly white” In addition, there is plenty of haplogroup evidence to back up that they are not descendants of Europeans or white. Thank youuu :) Edit: another argument for Ainus being white are the fact that some Ainus can be lighter skinned. Pure Ainus can range from tan to light. While pure Ainus are usually mostly tan, they can still be very pale. This is due to the fact that Ainus are geographically siberians. In Siberia, people _can_ be very tan (the sun actually is pretty prominent in the summer. And in winter, light bounces off of the snow) however, most siberians are light skinned due to the fact that they need to absorb more vitamin D from the atmosphere. Again, light skin does not prove race. It is a environmental adaptation.

[@kemeticzagreus584]

@@woohooo7634 .... why do you care so much about being considered white? Stop being racist.

[@kaylinedge6791]

This was a well done documentary. I love learning about different cultures, and you did a wonderful job in bringing light about the Ainu and their culture. It was educational, entertaining, funny, and emotional during parts throughout the documentary. Your friendship and lack of camera crew really showed through the video especially with your interaction with the Ainu and how they responded to you.

[@treees8982]

Thank you for this fantastic documentary. It is so interesting to hear about Ainu culture, and their history and progression through oppression, to now being recognised as an indigenous people. As a Brit living on Honshu, I don’t hear much about Ainu people, expect when I took a book out of the library on them. I’m glad you took the time and energy to make this movie, despite not being a videographer... it didn’t matter because the content was so good! I love to hear the older people talking about their culture and memories.

[@jascintarebello3234]

The ainu man with the head gear. Speaks from his heart. He understands women well. Love this documentary.

[@chickennugget6233]

I deeply appreciate how these interviews were conducted intimately and with sincerity 🧡

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Felicity, for your great comments! It was very nice of you!! It is really sad that the same kind of history is repeated all over the world, as you said in your other comment. Awareness is always the first step for remedying things, and I am very happy you saw my film!!

[@4tressfortified]

Thank you for taking the time to preserve the Ainu's story! They are amazing group of people who's culture was way ahead of it's time. One can't help but fall in love with these gentle people and their culture.

[@SK-wy9it]

I happened to stumble upon this documentary today - even three years after being posted. It brought me to tears and gave me such an appreciation for the Ainu people, the culture and their way of life. Thank you for sharing!

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, SK, for watching the video and commenting! You must be a very nice and kind person!! I hope you can visit them in Hokkaido one day!

[@h.y.2178]

What a priceless & thoughtful video. I throughly enjoyed it in so many different levels. I'm originally from Hokkaido but lived in the US for nearly 50 yrs. now. Always had an interest in Ainu cuture, people & their roots. Thank you Dr. Ito for this important record.

[@KinkoIto]

ひろさん、映画をご覧いただき、また素敵なコメントを有難うございました。私の励みになりました！

[@nevermore_was_here]

I knew about Ainu! An anthropologist from my country (that also happened to be a brother to a very prominent political figure of that times) did research about Ainu people about 100 years ago, even married Ainu woman if I remember correctly. His name was Bronisław Piłsudski (ブロニスワフ・ピオトル・ピウスツキ). I did an essay about him and his research for my history classes in high school. I'm really glad Ainu people still exist and do their best to preserve their culture for next generations. I will make sure I'll visit this region when I go to Japan. Thank you for that document, the quality is amazing as for one person to do it all!

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Adrianna! Thank you for your message and information. An award winning author Soichi Kawazoke wrote a novel about the Ainu and Pilsudski titled Netsugen. It became a best seller in 2019, and of course I enjoyed reading it!! I am happy you did a research on Pilsudski. My best friend Beata is from Poland, too. I can give you tips and information when you plan to go to Japan!!

[@saraeison2666]

I really enjoyed learning about the Ainu culture. The dance, the dress, and the art shown in this are so beautiful and unique. It is sad that it was not so long ago that the Ainu could not be proud of who they are. Thank you for this amazing documentary!

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Sara! Thank you for watching my film and commenting! I am very glad there has been a lot more interest in their culture in recent years.

[@SageAkemi]

Dr. Ito, This documentary is truly an unique and educational piece. I feel like you were able to get more details from the people of the Ainu since you were friends with them and that you were able to bring life to the Ainu history. As the Ainu have an oral tradition, I believe this is a great way to make sure their history will live on and that the future generations of the Ainu have another way to look on their past.

[@garrettrokas7505]

Dr. Ito it was so nice of you to share this video with the class. Without this video I myself probably would have never herd of this type of culture and would have never known it had existed. I loved hearing about how the elders of the tribe practice their traditions down from their grand parents and so on it reminded me a lot of how my grandparents did with me. Also it was so cool to see how the people didn't assimilate into modern Japanese culture and kind of isolated themselves to keep the culture alive even though the Japanese government took control of their homeland

[@adrianagreen3374]

"My mother did not speak Ainu due to discrimination..." (13:15). Honestly this makes me so sad. They didn't feel like they could be their own selves much less speak their own language. Imagine being unable to participate in your own cultures way of life, their language. I understand it was probably for self preservation, a perfectly valid reason, but I'm glad to see that the current elders are taking necessary steps to preserve and promote the Ainu culture. I'm also personally interested in seeing the differences between Ainu and Japanese language wise.

[@Zeeksda1]

That happen to a lot of African nations 😢

[@SlayerRiley]

The Ainu, their customs and traditions sure are interesting, and their story sad and impressive at the same time, so thanks for making this and preserving history :)

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for watching my film and commenting! You made my day!!

[@TheBrightestOfLords]

This video was an amazing documentary on a tribe of people some never knew existed. Thank you Dr. Ito for sharing your experience and their story to the World. Very insightful!

[@funcake22]

This is incredible! Thank you Dr. Ito for being so gracious enough to share with us this documentary on this beautiful group of peoples living in Japan! They deserve so much to be celebrated!

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, D.W.!! You are a kind and beautiful person!

[@hannaheason9709]

My favorite part was when you talked about what the Ainu people would do for leisure. This video was very intriguing to me because it introduced me to a culture I wasn't familiar with. I was shocked to hear that the Ainu were isolated and forced to speak Japanese instead of their own native tongue. It's sad how the saying "history repeats itself", is so true. Thank you for taking the time to make this documentary!

[@j.d.primera1511]

Dr. Ito, this video was very enlightening. I doubt I would have ever been made aware of the ainu people without out this video.

[@STDealer]

Salutations from Arizona!!! This is not only an incredibly put together video but it is also an important and valuable subject matter. I have always found myself fascinated with ancient cultures and the Ainu in particular so I want you to know that I appreciate this on the deepest level. That traditional song that you played is hauntingly beautiful and I wish someone could establish recording all of these traditional songs so other people can hear them and their culture can spread.

[@traceycasler853]

I loved hearing the stories. Countless stories have been lost in time, and it's great that you have used technology to preserve such unique voices. I also enjoyed seeing the robes, I wish my family had a special pattern that was passed down from mother to daughter!

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Tracey!! One of the Ainu elders said that he could not wait for the CNN or BBS to come and shoot them, I mean, videotape them. "I am getting old now, and when I die everything will be lost," one of them said. Thus, I went there with my camera and made video clips.

[@aurorasky7575]

Dr Ito, Thank you! I have to say that your two documentaries on the Ainu are both eye opening experiences for me personally. I am well aware of the challenges that all races of humans face, but when I am able to actually see, hear, and learn about them makes a huge difference, not only for my understanding, but for my own life. It is welcoming to understand that I am not alone when I speak out about my challenges. Your videos encourage me to express my challenges however, from a more positive perspective when I enlighten myself with the information from your two documentaries on the Ainu. Therefore, thank you again Dr Ito as always for helping me Shine:)

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Aurora! Thank you for watching my films and your very positive comment! You inspired me to make another film on the Ainu! Thank you!!

[@LarsOfMars.]

Hello from Scotland! This was a fascinating film, I appreciate very much you sharing it with us and giving us some insight as to what life is like for, and what it is to be Ainu in 21st century Japan. I first learned about the Ainu and their ancestors when I was around 12 or 13 years old (in the 1990s) and have been fascinated ever since. Such a long and emotive history, the Ainu often enter my thoughts. I'm surprised it has taken youtube so long to recommend this video to me, but I am grateful it has today. Best wishes to you, and the peoples of the Ainu.

[@emilychrist6007]

Watching this documentary film has really taught me a lot about an ethic group that I likely never would have known about otherwise as an American. It is easy to see that this film was a labor of love, and it is very well done!

[@anasevi9456]

thank you for your video, for someone not used to making videos; your videography is excellent!

[@bekahgulledge1258]

This video ethnography was so raw and gave such a clear picture of the Ainu people. I loved watching the Ainu elders share their experiences in every area of life, even as children. Learning about the assimilation process through their experiences living through it made it feel a lot more real. I found it interesting how the women you spoke with continued about their work, and the men chose to give you their undivided attention. Great video and story of the Ainu people, Dr. Ito!

[@KinkoIto]

Konnichiwa, Bekah! Thank you so much for watching my film and commenting on it! I am so glad you liked it! You made my day!!

[@mikicerise6250]

Thank you so much for bringing us this wonderful documentary, Dr. Ito.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for your wonderful comment! It made my day!!

[@gwendolynboatwright5932]

This is a great video. I've never heard of the Ainu tribe and without this video, I would be clueless. Thank you for opening on the door to help people like me, who really aren't travelers learn about such a great group of people.

[@foreverfearlesswear]

Great documentary. It was interesting to learn about the Ainu people and their culture. The catchy part of the video was the song/tune of the woman singing the Ainu song.

[@KinkoIto]

Her name is Mrs. Kibata and she performs at Ainu festivals, too. She also appears in the sequel "Have You Heard about the Ainu? Part 2 Toward a Better Understanding and World Peace." Her humor is really something!

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Damian, for a positive feedback!

[@haileyculberson6184]

This documentary was very interesting! I have always enjoyed learning about other cultures. Considering this documentary was filmed on a "cheap" camera the quality is great. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@ActressEdie]

Thank you for producing this and keeping their rich history alive! I do hope and pray that the younger generation keep the beautiful fire of the Ainu burning bright

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for watching my film and commenting!! You made my day!

[@AlekzanderKing]

What a wonderful documentary! Full of information and all the interviews feel so organic and natural, Dr. Kinko really transmits that sense of discovering the history and the researcher feeling. Thank you for sharing this precious work. ありがとう

[@saemuzzaman]

I have visited in Hokkaido and stayed in Sapporo for one month to attend a training on JICA. During our traing I came to know about Ainu people, who was the real owner of this island. This video has enriched my knowledge about ainu people. I must thank the person behind this master piece. Arigato gozaimasta. Love and respect from Bangladesh to our Japanese friends. Bangladeshi people like Japanese and its culture very much.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for your comment, Kazi! I am glad you had the training in Sapporo. You truly are an inspiration for international friendship!!

[@Simpleuser2525]

upload Thank you very much... FROM Japan Hokkaido

[@KinkoIto]

私のドキュメンタリー映画を見てくださって、本当に有難うございます！　これからももっと勉強したいと思っています。コメントありがとうね！

[@KinkoIto]

道産子魂さん、コメントをどうも有難うございました！　みんなが仲良く暮らせる社会になるといいですね！

[@thotmaringningshen7370]

I love you from dubai

[@ginohemerlein420]

Wow. I am so blown away by this documentary Dr. Ito. Words can't describe the sheer amazement I have for this historical topic. Being a fan and a once avid reader of the Golden Kamuy Manga, and learning more about the Ainu peoples from your documentary has opened my eyes on how truly stunning this Japanese ethnic minority's culture really is. I know now that the Ainu people are not the only ones who were taken advantaged of by their government or country, and also dominated by another race or ethnic group.

[@opioo.4998]

Have you read the book, "Paekche's Principle: The Great Secret of Asia"?

[@HurtCobain]

I found this documentary very interesting & insightful. I've picked up several things about Japanese culture and history through watching anime over the years but, just as the people in the intro, I never knew or had heard anything about the Ainu people. It saddened me to hear about their forced assimilation into Japanese society, even going so far as to have their names forcibly changed. As an African-American, I understand the frustrations of growing up with a name that isn't yours. It completely cuts you off from your family history as generations pass. However, I'm happy to see their legacy and people are very much alive. I saw many of them say their parents adopted Japanese children as their own, even after all of the turmoil the Japanese government caused for them. It goes to show you how forgiving and resilient of a people they are. Thank you for this.

[@betsyvandusen8866]

I found this documentary very enlightening! I have never heard about the Ainu and I loved learning about them and hearing their stories. It was very eye-opening. Very well done!

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Betsy, for watching and commenting!!

[@maryokeefe9486]

I just watched this. Thank you so much for creating this documentary. I loved learning about the Ainu people ❤️

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Mary, for your positive comment! I am going to Hokkaido this April to shoot more video clips!

[@rhinseout]

A truly informative and excellent documentary. A big heartfelt thanks to all those involved in this priceless piece of cultural preservation.

[@Noah44XEH]

I think it is amazing how you spent the time and effort to tell about these unknown people called the Ainu. I heard a man that once stated he was Ainu. I never knew what it was till now. Very interesting Dr. Ito.

[@AvuncularFeldspar]

Thank you very much for doing this.

[@jaimeblanchard4310]

Dr. Ito, It was a well put documentary of the Ainu. This video makes me want to do a video of the cajun culture. Ainu is a beautiful culture. Thank you for the opportunity to be apart of your class.

[@happybuddhabear1155]

This was so touching and beautiful to watch. I enjoyed every minute and learned so much about an ethnic group to which I had never been exposed. Thank you for all your efforts.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Stephen, for watching and commenting!! My new book Today's Ainu: Tales from Hokkaido is now available at Amazon's Kindle Store. If you have a Kindle, it is free!

[@joeywall4657]

You did a great job with this. I like the informal format and your delivery did not make me feel rushed. Thank you for putting this together and sharing with us.

[@gloglogloish]

Thank you so much for this beautiful documentary Ito先生、I really enjoyed and appreciated your hard work. It is so important to preserve Ainu traditions, I hope the young generation will continue this amazing work. I hope one day to visit Hokkaido.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for watching my film and your positive feedback!! You made my day!! You can also watch "Have You Heard about the Ainu Part 2" (31 minutes). Have a nice day!!

[@cecemepls0]

Thank you so very much for making this documentary! ❤ I was trying to research the Ainu, but sadly, there’s a lack of information online. Especially when it comes to actually hearing from Ainu people and elders. I was so happy to learn from them, and I was so focused while watching this! I wish it was even longer 😂 I would have watched for hours! I’m so thankful that you cared enough to create this project and posted it online! I’m from Ohio, but I have a passion for learning about foreign cultures and languages…recently I’ve been focusing on indigenous cultures/languages and heard about the Ainu. I can’t say thank you enough for this wonderful piece of education! ❤❤❤

[@cecemepls0]

Update: I just saw there’s a second part to this! YAYYYYYY 😂🎉 I’m sitting in bed with my cat learning about the Ainu and I’ve never been so content!

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, theycallmescw! Thank you so much for watching my videos and commenting!! It was so very nice of you! I wrote an e-book titled Today's Ainu: Tales from Hokkaido, which is available at Amazon's Kindle Store. The e-book is $10. If you have Kindle Unlimited Service, it is FREE! Your comments made my day! You are such a wonderful person who make others happy! I graduated from the Ohio State University in Columbus (MA and Ph.D. in sociology), and I also taught at Wittenberg University in Springfield for one academic year! I loe Ohio!! I admire you for your interest in different cultures and languages! I am sure you will have a chance to visit Hokkaido one day!! There is a national museum about the Ainu which is called Upopoy, and you will love it! Love, Dr. Ito

[@carahogg9301]

Dr. Ito, I very much enjoyed this documentary. Listening to all the different stories from and ethnic group I never even knew existed was eye opening. I enjoyed learning about how others discriminated and how much fear the Ainu actually had. Some didn't even want to speak their language.

[@JoshuaCurry-ep8nb]

The lengths you went to to tell the Ainu's people story is so admirable. It's absolutely amazing their stories and legacy will live on thanks to your film.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for watching my film and commenting!!

[@nixxq.3421]

Talk about an eye opener. Great job Dr. Peeler on a documentary well done.

[@colmhain]

It was made by Dr. Kinko Ito.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for your positive comment!! K.I. Peeler is my pen name (my books are available at Amazon's Kindle Store for $2.99 each).

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for watching and commenting!! Your comment made my day!!

[@libbytwzz2032]

This is so fascinating! When I started my Linguistics degree, I became very interested in the Ainu language, people and culture. I'd love to eventually figure out how to live there and document their language/culture. Thank you for the video. It is very hard to find anything about the Ainu, especially since i'm not sure what is authentic and what is not.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for your comment! I had been working on my Master's degree in linguistics for a few quarters at the Ohio State University in Columbus when I changed my major to sociology! Linguistics is my minor for my PhD, degree!!! You might be interested in watching Part 2 of my documentary film (31 minutes) titled "Have You Heard about the Ainu? Part 2 Toward a Better Understanding and World Peace" in which Mr. Nabesawa speaks in Ainu. Mr. Nabesawa was one of very few native speakers of Ainu, and he was a very kind man. He passed away in April 2018, two weeks before I was to meet him again in Hokkaido...

[@laikenkaylor1858]

I had not hear of the Ainu people until quite recently. After watching this documentary, I feel as if I know so much about them! The Ainu ar very compassionate people. Though they got discriminated against by other ethnicities, they would never discriminate others. The fact that they even adopted Japanese children who were lacking care goes to show just how caring they were. The Ainu take much pride in who they are and it is very evident in the way the people of the Ainu present themselves and talk about their culture! It radiates joy and I think it's wonderful you have taken the time to tell their story. Thank you, Dr. Ito!

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Laiken! Thank you so much for watching my film and commenting on it! I am glad you now know the Ainu people!!

[@Gambattte]

Hello I'm half Ainu people, my old grandfather& family exodus to bali around 180 years ago with traditional traditional boat and stranded in bali island . Our old people very survived in sea around 4 full moon/ 132 days. Until now we must say to all generation to generation who we are. I've Ainu blood. Thanks for share about my family

[@saarinenj1]

I don't understand it why people hate different types of Natives in this world? When European immigrants went to America they wanted to get rid of Native American. Adolf Hitler hated Jews and wanted to get rid of them. Japanese people wanted to get rid of Ainus. Native people need more respect! (P.S I know Jews aren't native but it's the same idea.)

[@KinkoIto]

Annyeonghaseyo! Dansin-ui uigyeon-e gamsahabnida! I am sorry but I do not have an answer to your question. You might ask a historian or a political scientist. Here is my opinion about human nature and what we can do about hatred: Love is beautiful and nice. We all love ourselves, our family, friends, neighbors, etc. Love is the essence of our existence. Many people are so kind, understanding, and compassionate. However, hatred is also human, and it is very unfortunate. Many people are not happy with their lives, and they are jealous of others. They often are not aware that they have hatred toward someone or something. We already know what love is, and we need to recognize and identify our (hidden) hatred. Once we recognize it, we can try to eliminate it. Also, there is a group issue. We are all nice to our "in-group," a group we belong to and identify with. However, when it comes to our "out-group," a group to which we do not belong and identify with, we often dehumanize the other group. We do not give enough consideration or respect. It is crucial that we can put ourselves into others' shoes and see from their perspective instead of pushing our own views on them. Basically understanding leads ro compassion and compassion leads ro peace. BTW I have been to Korea many times since I was in my 20s, and I will never forget the wonderful people. I had great time doing sight-seeing and eating out in many places such as Seoul, Inchon, Suwon, Busan, and Jeju. When I got sick, many people showed me concern, compassion, and love. I was quite impressed how kind they were!! You might be interested in watching "Have you heard about the Ainu? Part 2 Toward a Better Understanding and World Peace" (30 minutes). Thank you again!

[@guzelataroach4450]

jews arent native

[@ingeanderson6319]

You did such an amazing job putting this all together! Very informative, and helped me understand their culture. Oh and Ms. Ito, I absolutely loved your class! Thank you for making sociology so fun!

[@KinkoIto]

What a nice surprise to get a review from my student!! Thank you so much!!

[@daileydose7657]

A very informative and well organized piece! It is great that their stories have been recorded for future reference.

[@user-hu5ro5ns1c]

Dr. Ito! Thank you for the video. It was informative and gave me a better understanding of the Ainu elders and organizations. I also appreciate the information on assimilation, which helped me understand the interviewees' experiences. Plus, it made Mr. Tomeji's statement, "we can proudly say that we are Ainu," even more meaningful. Thank you once again! 🤗💖

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Maribeth! Thank you so much for watchin my film and commenting! I am glad the film could help you deepen your understanding of Japanese culture and society!!

[@damified2u]

It’s very interesting to learn about a new culture but it also sad that many don’t know of the Aniu. Like the Native Americans this indigenous culture has so much to teach our progressive society, if we would only listen. Dr. Ito did a great job in the documentary with the firsthand accounts of their experiences and her $99.00 camera. Her work doesn’t surprise me as it is always high quality and very informative.

[@marisanya]

This is a very thorough look into the Ainu for someone who's completely new to hearing about them. Good job!

[@KinkoIto]

Dear Marisa, Thank you so much for watching my video and commenting! You made my day! You are so kind!!

[@kokopelli314]

What a touching film. Thank you for teaching us about the Ainu people.

[@tadeuszkolak4937]

I watched an anime where the Ainu has a big part in it. Golden Kamuy, that is where I became fascinated with the Ainu.

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Damian! I am glad to hear that you got interested in the Ainu because of a popular manga/anime!! I have been doing research on manga for decades!

[@tsukikolua]

great! i'm studying about ainu and their oral tradicional narratives. I'm a student of UFPR in Brazil. I'm not good at english, but i'll try to undertand all that you talk about the ainu! thank you!

[@INDIOcomvoce1]

Lua Bueno Cyriaco a língua deles tem ligação com as nativas americanas? Achei o som parecido..

[@KinkoIto]

Obrigada!! I am happy you are studying the Ainu, too! My book "Today's Ainu: Tales from Hokkaido" is now available at Amazon.com (author name Kinko Ito). You might be interested in it!

[@alexeimuraki3420]

Hello KZbin community, I am an Ainu from Russia, Sakhalin. We are the native population of northern Japan and southeastern Siberia. We are descedants of a South Siberian population which migrated to northern Japan more than 30,000 years ago. (One of the Jomon people). These South Siberian population were also related to paleolithic Europeans and other West-Eurasians. Thus we have the "European look". But this does not mean that we are Europeans. We are not. We are Ainu, and only Ainu. We share a common ancestors with Europeans. So we could also say, Europeans have the Ainu look. To sum up: We Ainu people came from southern Siberia and are descedants of a paleolithic population which is also related to Europeans. I am happy that other people are interested in the Ainu history, culture and people. Thank you. :)

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you so much for sharing your story and history! Muraki sounds like a Japanese name, but you live in Sakhalin. Your comments are so valuable to my research.

[@alexeimuraki3420]

@@KinkoIto Yes, most Ainu have a Japanese family name. But many Russian Ainu were assimilated into the Russian ethnic group. They now speak only Russian and have Russian names. At least in Hokkaido (Japan) there is a revitalization project.

[@KinkoIto]

@@alexeimuraki3420 Thank you so much for the information!!

[@marcobaretta1116]

@@alexeimuraki3420 Hi I am a foreign guy who is very interested in your culture. Is it true that you Ainu immigrated to the United States of America and in America you were classified as Japanese

[@marciok.2185]

Thank you for share all these informations with us. I'm from Brazil and I'm reading the book Sakhalin Island by Tchekhov. In many parts of the book it talks about the Ainu people and also about the Giliaks, who lived in this region, so I got interested to know more about them.

[@WalkwithRoberto]

Wonderful video! Thank you for sharing!

[@shawnnalewis5420]

As I complete my studies I look back on all of the cultures that I have been able to learn about and experienced secondhand. It has broadened my perspective and knowledge of the world. As I watch this documentary I see so many similarities between the Ainu and other people around the world who has been forced out of their homes and forced to adapt culture’s and specifically have your entire identity ripped from you. When I think about what I’ve learned about The Ainu, The Aboriginals of Australia, and native Americans my first thought is to feel bad for them or sympathy towards them, but what your documentary shows is that a culture can never die if it is respected and held dear by its people. I can really appreciate the love, respect, and appreciation the people have for your project. Something that I can truly appreciate is how understanding and knowledgeable they are, specifically during the 57 minute mark of the documentary where the treatment of The Ainu during war were compared to the experience of African-Americans during war in contrast comparing the democracies of the two countries.

[@jacobeksor6088]

I’m Montagnards indigenous Central highland of Vietnam I have never heard about indigenous japan . This is very interesting documentary , Their culture and their language so beautiful.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for your comment and sharing the information about yourself!

[@wewenang5167]

i think its about time the indigenous of the highland of vietnam stop using that word montagnards...because its a french colonial words. You guys should used local native language instead.

[@epicsim123]

This was a great video Dr. Ito! Very informative and well put together! I am going to recommend it to some friends of mine! Also, this is Simeon Ridgell

[@contiflex]

I enjoyed watching and listening to the elders of the Ainu talking about their way of life. Thank you. I'm from the UK.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you for watching and taking time to comment! I have been to England several times (I love their accent), and I also visited Scotland in the summer of 2018. They have a wonderful national museum in Edinburgh (admission is free), and their Ainu exhibit is great! You might be interested in it. Dr. Neal Munroe was a British physician/anthropologist who lived with the Ainu in Hokkaido (specifically in Biratori where I shot my film!), and he collected various ethnological items.

[@devonrussell1496]

What a great film! It was very interesting to hear the Ainu people speak about themselves, and to hear about their culture. I didn't know much about the Ainu people, but after watching the documentary I feel like I've learned a lot. 10/10 would recommend

[@ThePragart]

I loved this so much! I noticed at the beginning, the older the people were who were asked about the Ainu, the more they seemed to know. I think this has got to be a testament to the importance of this kind of ethnographic work. It’s fascinating to watch your process. I loved the legend about switching the baby names. How very interesting. But I’m not sure what an arm cover is. I like how the Ainu language is so old that they don’t have words for some stuff. Very cool. It’s so sad that they were forced to speak Japanese...it reminds me of how indigenous children here in the US were forced to speak English as well as abandon their mother languages. I wish our government paid for language schools for our indigenous. Even though the harm can never be repaid, sometimes a contrite gesture can spark palpable change. Also, is there a stereotype about drinking alcohol like there has been in the USA among indigenous peoples? The foreign idea of private land...so much of this reminds me of here. It’s sad how we don’t appreciate things until we fear losing them. Thank you so much for this very special work.

[@KinkoIto]

Hi, Tim! Thank you for watching my film and commenting on it! I am very happy that you are able to reflect on your own society as you watch the Ainu people talk!

[@eriksmith1218]

Great Movie Dr. Ito, around the 50minute part and up i realize the resolution of the filming was great and that your voice was very professional like. Shame that some of the ainu elders may not know people of other culture outside Japan now know their story.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Erik!! You make me happy!

[@symonesharee6069]

I really did enjoy this video Dr. Ito. I found it very sad that the Ainu people could not be themselves and how they couldn’t speak their own languages. There was so much discrimination towards them but it just makes me think of the world today. Stuff like this is still happening and it is very sad. Thank you for sharing -Symone Allen

[@christinalucas6107]

I loved learning about the Ainu through this film. The part that blew me away the most would have to be the tradition of changing the last name of the brothers because of an Ainu legend that they would be healthier. Very intriguing 😊.

[@chickennugget6233]

The same things happened to Ainu as happend to us natives here in the us... it's hard to swallow. Watching the same things being repeated all around the world...

[@arrietys]

This was very educational, thank you for sharing this knowledge with us. I hope ainu people continue to pass down their culture to the newer generations with pride.

[@KinkoIto]

Thank you, Eileen, for watching my film and your comment!! The Upopoy Ainu National Museum and Park opened in Hokkaido last year, and I am sure it will contribute to our understanding of the Ainu. You might go to Japan one day and visit the museum!!

[@juliehenderson1672]

Excellent video. Well-done. Thank you for sharing.

[@catnekokotyonok5180]

Thank you, Dr Ito!