Heading towards the Restoration and Transmission of Ainu Culture

When attaining puberty, I tried to hide that I was an Ainu by removing the hair on my hands and feet—‘hairiness’ is a feature said to be representative of the Ainu. I often heard negative ideas about the Ainu: the Ainu language has no written form; the Ainu have no sense of propriety; the Ainu are inferior to the ethnic Japanese. I am of mixed Japanese and Ainu background, but I had been troubled by my blood relationship with the Ainu for a long time. One day, I realised that the Ainu have inhabited this land, which is called Hokkaidō at present, since time immemorial, and that our ancestors handed down their wisdom for living in harsh winters, for example, how to make their houses, instruments of everyday life and clothing. This realisation connected me later with my job at the Hokkaidō Center for Ainu People. The Ainu Association of Hokkaidō is entrusted with the management of the centre by the Hokkaidō Government, and provides information on the history and culture of Ainu people for visitors. Before describing how I have revitalised Ainu embroidery (see Figure 11), I want to record some memories of my family.