Ainu recognition opens the door to diversity*多様性
The preface*2 to the first edition of "Ainu Shinyoshu" (Collected songs of the Ainu godss), published 85 years ago, begins: " A long time ago, this big land of Hokkaido was land of freedom for our ancestors." Yukie Chiri(1903-1922), an Ainu who rendered*伝承する a collection of mythical Ainu songs into Japanese, called herself and her people a "dying race." She was in poor health, but forced herself to keep going, determined to save at least a small part of Ainu culture.
Chiri was a child prodigy*天才児 who could go back and forth between her mother tongue and standard Japanese with ease. She was discovered and groomed*訓練する by Kyosuke Kindaichi(1882-1971), an eminent linguist. Chiri died at tender age of 19, dreaming of the day when her compatriots-the Utari-would no longer be threatened by mainstream Japanese culture and be able to "fall into step*足並みを揃える with the rest of the world toward progress." Her book was published after her death.
On June 6, the Diet unanimously*満場一致で voted for resolution recognizing the Ainu as indigenous* people of Japan's northernmost region. The resolution noted, "Many Ainu were discriminated against and forced to live in poberty, even though they were Japanese citizens under the law." The resolution demands the government further implement履行する initiatives that will protect their right.
Until 11 years ago, this country had a law that referred to the Ainu people as Kyu-dojin-literally, former aboriginals. That law in effect had acknowledged the historical fact of their indigenous status. Given*考慮に入れると the international trend toward respecting the rights of indigenous peoples, it is Japan's non-Ainu society that ought to "fall into step" with the Ainu people. The new resolution represents the first move in that direction.
Society gains depth through encounters with foreign cultures and customs. In contrast* any society that believes in the fiction of a "single ethic entity" breeds misguided arrogance. The acknowledgment of diversity must always be fundamental to existence of any society.
The Kamui(god) of owl in Ainu mythology sings as it flies: "Silver drops fall, fall, all around; gold drops fall, fall, all around; This is the opening line in the collection of Ainu songs that Chiri translated into Japanese. The owl god dodges arrows of gold shot bu rich children, choosing instead to be pierced by wooden arrows shot by poor children. The Ainu were gentle, warmhearted people who lived amid mature and survived as hunters, fishers and farmers. I want to learn from the Ainu lifestyle and philosophy, which Chiri tried to teach us. (Herald Asahi, June. 16, 2008)
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Chiri was a child prodigy*天才児 who could go back and forth between her mother tongue and standard Japanese with ease. She was discovered and groomed*訓練する by Kyosuke Kindaichi(1882-1971), an eminent linguist. Chiri died at tender age of 19, dreaming of the day when her compatriots-the Utari-would no longer be threatened by mainstream Japanese culture and be able to "fall into step*足並みを揃える with the rest of the world toward progress." Her book was published after her death.
On June 6, the Diet unanimously*満場一致で voted for resolution recognizing the Ainu as indigenous* people of Japan's northernmost region. The resolution noted, "Many Ainu were discriminated against and forced to live in poberty, even though they were Japanese citizens under the law." The resolution demands the government further implement履行する initiatives that will protect their right.
Until 11 years ago, this country had a law that referred to the Ainu people as Kyu-dojin-literally, former aboriginals. That law in effect had acknowledged the historical fact of their indigenous status. Given*考慮に入れると the international trend toward respecting the rights of indigenous peoples, it is Japan's non-Ainu society that ought to "fall into step" with the Ainu people. The new resolution represents the first move in that direction.
Society gains depth through encounters with foreign cultures and customs. In contrast* any society that believes in the fiction of a "single ethic entity" breeds misguided arrogance. The acknowledgment of diversity must always be fundamental to existence of any society.
The Kamui(god) of owl in Ainu mythology sings as it flies: "Silver drops fall, fall, all around; gold drops fall, fall, all around; This is the opening line in the collection of Ainu songs that Chiri translated into Japanese. The owl god dodges arrows of gold shot bu rich children, choosing instead to be pierced by wooden arrows shot by poor children. The Ainu were gentle, warmhearted people who lived amid mature and survived as hunters, fishers and farmers. I want to learn from the Ainu lifestyle and philosophy, which Chiri tried to teach us. (Herald Asahi, June. 16, 2008)
