Shunwa Honda, a renowned scholar of indigenous ethnic groups, emphasizes that the Japanese people need to create a stage for the nation's indigenous Ainu, who "still suffer from not having their voices heard properly in society."

Though he looks Caucasian and uses the pen name "Henry Stewart," Honda identifies himself as Japanese. He has lived in the country since his teens and holds Japanese nationality.

Through his 40-year academic career, Honda's main research focus has been the Inuits in Canada and the Aleuts of the Aleutian Islands. He has authored and coauthored countless books and academic articles on anthropology, especially on indigenous ethnic groups worldwide.