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Significance of Grassroots Museums and Ainu Culture in Japan

Significance of Grassroots Museums and Ainu Culture in Japan
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Author(s): Shunsuke Tanaka (The University of Tokyo, Japan)
Copyright: 2025
Pages: 26
Source title: Impacts of Museums on Global Communication
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Maiko Sawada (Sophia University, Japan)and Frederic Andres (National Insitute of Informatics, Japan)
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3693-2129-4.ch009

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Abstract

This chapter explores the history of Japanese grassroots museums by focusing on the establishment of museums dedicated to the challenges and distinct culture of the Ainu who are indigenous to northern Japan, including the Hokkaido Island. Recently, the Japanese government has intensified its focus on Ainu-related policies. This includes initiatives, such as the opening of new national museums in Hokkaido. However, the government has faced criticism owing to its failure to fully recognize and protect the rights of the Ainu. The arrest of Ainu individuals practicing traditional fishing methods, political rhetoric from the government, and denial of the existence of the Ainu people by ruling party officials indicate that the approach and policies concerning the Ainu have remained largely unchanged from historically discriminatory practices. There is growing criticism that current Ainu policies primarily view the Ainu as mere “tourist attractions” rather than a community with distinct rights and cultural heritage.

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