More than two years have passed since the first law recognizing the Ainu ethnic minority as an Indigenous people took effect in May 2019, with that legislation designed to protect and promote their culture through subsidies.
A total of ¥5 billion has been budgeted under the new law for grants to promote Ainu policies for fiscal 2019 to 2021, with 31 cities and towns, 30 of which are in Hokkaido, having received the subsidies.
But in reality, it is only the cities, towns and villages that were already actively working to preserve Ainu culture that have been making use of the financial assistance, widening the gap among local governments.