Japan’s Original People: the Ainu
TOKYO — Japan’s Ainu people were recognized as the country’s original inhabitants Thursday when parliament voted to replace a century-old law that had forced them to assimilate.
The unanimous passage of the law by the lower house followed a precedent-setting court ruling in March favoring Ainu land rights and comments by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto recognizing the Ainu as Japan’s indigenous people.
“For the first time, the Ainu people are recognized as our country’s indigenous race under Japan’s legal system,” said Gov. Tatsuya Hori of Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido.
The United Nations recognized the Ainu as a native people in 1992, but they still face discrimination in Japan.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
