Shizue Ukaji was born in March 1933 in a small southern coastal area of Hokkaido known as Urakawa.

Facing the Pacific, Urakawa is known for its fisheries, especially sea tangle harvesting.

For the first 20 years of her life, Ukaji struggled with poverty and discrimination at the hands of "wajin" (Japanese) in her small community — because she is Ainu.