The Ainu are the Indigenous Peoples of Japan who have traditionally lived in the northern island of Hokkaido, the north part of Honshu, and several islands and territories north of Hokkaido in what is now known as Russia. This online textbook aims to introduce (or deepen knowledge of) the Ainu to students of the Japanese language, and to invite students to reflect with care on the history and contemporary situation of both the Ainu and the Indigenous Peoples in other colonized cultures.
The e-text is divided into five main sections. The first section contains readings composed by the editorial team that briefly introduce the history of the Ainu. The second section introduces aspects of traditional and contemporary culture and way of life. Section Three contains abridged readings from the book The Spirit of Huci — Four Seasons of an Ainu Woman, written by Keira Tomoko, that describe experiences the author had while living with an elder and learning about aynupuri, traditional Ainu ways. Although the selections are challenging for beginning language students, they allow an Ainu woman to speak in her own voice and convey her own experiences. The fourth section introduces aspects of Ainu culture and arts, and the fifth section contains traditional kamui yukar stories, also called chants or songs in English, translated from Ainu to Japanese by Chiri Yukie. Several of the sections contain YouTube videos created by Sekine Maya, a young Ainu woman working to share both traditional and contemporary Ainu culture.
The creation and expansion of this e-text is an ongoing project. Readings and exercises will continue to be added by the author, and it is hoped that other instructors and students will engage with the material and make their own contributions to this Open Educational Resource.
- Japanese names are written in traditional order with last name first, except where the individual lives and works in countries that follow the Western tradition of first name followed by last name.
Cover Image: “ギョウジャニンニク” by Fushichiyo is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Allium victorialis, alpine leek.
