It has certainly been a landmark year for the national recognition of minority and indigenous communities across the globe. Japan, broadly regarded as uniquely homogenous, recently recognized the aboriginal Ainu as a "people in their own right" through a resolution passed through parliament. The first piece of legislation about the Ainu was passed in 1899, where they were defined as "aborigines in need of assimilation." Until this law was repealed in 1997, Japan officially denied having any ethnic minorities. Today only 24,000 call themselves Ainu, while only ten known native speakers are known to remain.
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Recognition for Japan's Ethnic Minority
Recognition for Japan's Ethnic Minority
Posted on July 14, 2008 in General | 0 Comments
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