The Ainu People of Japan

Intro

The word Ainu means human being in the Ainu language. Over the last 120 years the traditions of the Ainu people has changed with the times. Nevertheless the culture has been painstakingly past down onto the younger generation from their grandparents. It is estimated that there are somewhere near 50,000 to 100,000 ainu people living in japan. The Ainu culture originates in the northern island of japan called Hokkaido. Currently everything about the Ainu people is the same as all the other Japanese people. The Ainu folklore falls into many categories Epics that last for many days and range from sunset till dawn. Another type of folklore is uway picara unlike the other epics they do not have melodies; it has many different stories with complicated plots. In the present day in life the Ainu no longer wear traditional garments as everyday clothes. The fabric of this traditional costume is woven with thread made form tree bark. Until the recent past both formal, and informal clothes were made from the bark of some kinds of elms and Japanese linden. Fabrics made from tree bark were embroidered with unique patterns made with pieces of cotton cloth and thread.

Food/ Sustenance Strategies

Obtaining a secure supply of food is one of the most important parts of life. Acquiring food and its preparation is changing with the times, but the age-old art of preparing a healthy diet from natural ingredients is being put to use even today. After harvesting wild vegetables, those which are not eaten right away are dried and stored. It is important to provide an ample supply of food, because the summers are short and the winters are long in Hokkaido. The Ainu have made it a rule not to pick more than necessary, and of what was collected all o...

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...s a result the has shown respect by offering prayers to gods. Humans worship gods and in return gods watch over the human world. Praying to the gods is called kamwi Nowi in the Ainu language. Kamwi Nomi is used to ask for favors in future events, to give thanks for blessings in the past, and to pray for other purposes. To offer prayers, prayer stick made of wood or niwow are placed at the alter, and sacrid sake is offered to the prayer sticks. Which is said to transmit the prayers to the gods. The Ainu folklore falls into many categories Epics that last for many days and range from sunset till dawn. Another type of folklore is uway picara unlike the other epics they do not have melodies; it has many different stories with complicated plots.

Works Cited

Batchelor, John. "Marriage and Divorce." Ainujin Oyobi Sono Setsuwa. Tōkyō: Kyōbunkan, 1901. N. pag. Print.