The Ainu language has been declared critically endangered by UNESCO, with few people left alive today who speak it.
The Ainu are Japan's indigenous population and Japan Times contributor Mara Budgen has been meeting with them to better understand their remaining culture, the difficulties they face, and to learn about the ongoing efforts to preserve their language.
Sponsor:
This episode is sponsored by Kokoro Care Packages, delivering curated care packages from Japan, filled with locally made, premium-quality, artisanal Japanese foods. It's the perfect thing to give for Christmas, to treat yourself if you're missing Japan, or to discover something new if you’re living here. For Deep Dive listeners, use the code "DEEPDIVE" to get a 10% discount off your first order of a subscription purchase at kokorocares.com.
Read more:
- The Ainu language and the global movement for indigenous rights (Mara Budgen and Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times)
- Japan's Ainu recognition bill: What does it mean for Hokkaido's indigenous people? (Sakura Murakami, The Japan Times)
- Japan enacts law recognizing Ainu as indigenous, but activists say it falls short of U.N. declaration (The Japan Times)
- Kaneto Kawamura Ainu Museum (Lonely Planet)
- New Ainu culture complex generating little buzz outside Hokkaido (The Japan Times)
On this episode:
Mara Budgen: Twitter | Website
Oscar Boyd: Twitter | Articles | Instagram
Announcements:
Sign up to the Deep Dive mailing list and be notified every time a new episode comes out. Get in touch with us at [email protected].
Support the show! Rate us, review us and share this episode with a friend if you've enjoyed it. Follow us on Twitter, and give us feedback.
This episode of Deep Dive may be supported by advertising based on your location. Advertising is sourced by Audioboom and is not affiliated with The Japan Times.
