Last month, a civic group protested a lecture and panel exhibition organized by the “Ainu History Learning Association,” accusing the event of promoting hate speech against the Ainu people. The event took place at the Shiroishi Ward Citizens’ Center in Sapporo, Hokkaido, a region historically inhabited by the Ainu.
The lecture, titled “Reviewing Ainu Supplementary Textbooks! Let’s Learn Together!” was led by Dr. Mitsuaki Matoba. It encouraged families, including parents with young school children, to attend.
The accompanying panel exhibition claimed that the Ainu are distinct from Indigenous peoples globally, drawing comparisons to Australia’s Aboriginal peoples and Native Americans in the U.S. It also asserted that the Jomon people, who lived in Hokkaido over 10,000 years ago and are considered common ancestors of ethnically Japanese people, predated the Ainu in the region.
In response, approximately 30 members of the civic group C.R.A.C. North gathered outside the venue to protest. They held signs and banners with messages such as “Ainu Denial is Hate Speech” and “Discrimination Against Ainu is Illegal.” The protesters called for an end to historical distortions and the spread of misinformation that undermines the Indigenous identity of the Ainu.
Table of Contents
ToggleA history of discrimination
The Ainu, recognized as an Indigenous people of Japan, have endured centuries of discrimination and marginalization. Their distinct culture, language, and traditions were systematically suppressed, particularly during Japan’s assimilation policies following the Meiji Restoration. The government banned Ainu cultural practices, seized their lands, and forced many into labor and poverty.
Additionally, the Ainu became a focus of academic and scientific interest by colonizers. This is partly explained by the historical disputes over land ownership between Russia and Japan in the northern islands.
The Ainu Promotion Act

In a 2009 report, an expert panel under the Chief Cabinet Secretary defined Indigenous peoples as groups with unique cultures and identities distinct from the majority ethnic group. These groups have maintained their distinctiveness even before the establishment of state governance. The report explicitly recognized the Ainu people as Indigenous to Japan.
On May 24, 2019, the Ainu Promotion Act came into effect, marking the first legal recognition of the Ainu as Indigenous people. The act introduced measures such as grant programs to support regional development based on Ainu culture. It aims to create a society where Ainu people can live proudly in their ethnic identity, with that pride being respected. The government implemented policies to preserve Ainu culture, including allowing tree harvesting in national forests and salmon fishing in rivers.
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However, five years later in 2024, the Ainu criticized the act, gathering at the National Diet building to demand its revision. Elder Kimura Fumio from Hokkaido condemned the absence of officials and ruling party representatives. He called the law an “empty shell,” lacking provisions for Indigenous rights or penalties for violations.
Tsuyoshi Okitsu argued that the act marginalizes the Ainu, treating them as tourism resources rather than key stakeholders. Many criticized the law for not granting Indigenous rights, such as salmon fishing, and for lacking enforcement against hate speech.
Discrimination is still prevalent
Despite these measures, discrimination against the Ainu remains prevalent. According to NHK, a survey by the Hokkaido government revealed that approximately 30% of Ainu individuals have experienced discrimination due to their ethnicity, with online abuse being the most common form.
In October 2024, a government survey of 11,450 people gathered responses from 472 Ainu individuals aged 15 and older. Of these, 29% reported personal experiences of discrimination, while 38% knew someone who had faced discrimination. Social media accounted for 42% of reported incidents, followed by workplace discrimination (13%) and bias in educational settings (10%).
The survey also identified the main causes of discrimination. “Racial prejudice” was the most cited reason (70%), followed by “lack of understanding of the Ainu’s historical and social background” (55%) and “lack of understanding of Ainu culture” (46%).
During a Hokkaido prefectural assembly meeting, Hiroyuki Yakuhama, director of Ainu policy, stated, “It is clear that unjust discrimination against Ainu people still persists. The prefectural government will continue to promote a better understanding of Ainu culture and traditions and ensure that the pride of the Ainu people is respected.”
Not an isolated case
This recent incident reinforces the ongoing challenges faced by the Ainu in combating discrimination.
Earlier this year, a Nippon Kaigi symposium titled, “Why Do the Ainu Insist on Being Indigenous?“ at the Hokkaido Prefectural Citizens’ Activity Center in Sapporo sparked similar protests. The event, held in the same building as the Hokkaido Ainu Association featured controversial topics such as “The Rampant ‘Indigenous Peoples Theory’” and included speakers like former Hokkaido Assembly member Hide Onohara.
Protesters from C.R.A.C. North displayed banners denouncing the symposium for promoting hate speech, with messages such as “Discrimination Against Ainu is Illegal.” One protester remarked, “Denying the Ainu’s status as Indigenous and blaming them for isolated wrongdoings is hate speech.”
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Broader Implications: National debate on Ainu Rights
National attention was also drawn to discriminatory remarks made by Mio Sugita, a member of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in 2016. Sugita mocked Ainu people and their traditional attire in a blog post after attending a UN conference, writing:
“Even cosplay ladies in chima jeogori (traditional Korean clothing) and Ainu traditional costumes showed up. Completely lacks dignity.”
The comments led to complaints from the Ainu community. In 2023, the Sapporo Legal Affairs Bureau officially recognized Sugita’s remarks as a violation of the Ainu people’s human rights.
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Sources
「アイヌ民族へのヘイトスピーチ」講演会・パネル展に市民団体が抗議 朝日新聞
「ヘイトスピーチ」に市民団体抗議、アイヌ民族テーマのシンポめぐり 朝日新聞
約3割が“アイヌを理由に差別受けた“ 道のアンケート調査で NHK
「私たちを観光資源としか見てない…」5年経ったアイヌ施策推進法は「抜け殻のような法律」東京新聞