Hokkaido Utari Association
Encyclopedia
The is an umbrella group of which most Hokkaidō
Ainu
and some other Ainu are members. Originally controlled by the government
with the intention of speeding Ainu assimilation and integration into the Japan
ese nation state, it now operates independently of the government and is run exclusively by Ainu.
It was established in 1930 under the name . Since 1961 utari has been used instead of "Ainu". The group has been influential in raising public awareness of Ainu issues. It is announced that the organisation's name will be changed back to Hokkaido Ainu Associationhttp://www.asahi.com/national/update/0516/TKY200805160292.html. From 1964 to 1996, its executive director was Giichi Nomura
.
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
Ainu
Ainu people
The , also called Aynu, Aino , and in historical texts Ezo , are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia. Historically they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin...
and some other Ainu are members. Originally controlled by the government
Politics of Japan
The politics of Japan is conducted in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic monarchy, where Prime Minister of Japan is the head of government. Japanese politics uses a multi-party system. Executive power exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in the Diet, with...
with the intention of speeding Ainu assimilation and integration into the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese nation state, it now operates independently of the government and is run exclusively by Ainu.
It was established in 1930 under the name . Since 1961 utari has been used instead of "Ainu". The group has been influential in raising public awareness of Ainu issues. It is announced that the organisation's name will be changed back to Hokkaido Ainu Associationhttp://www.asahi.com/national/update/0516/TKY200805160292.html. From 1964 to 1996, its executive director was Giichi Nomura
Giichi Nomura
Giichi Nomura was an advocate and activist for the Ainu people of Japan. Born in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, Nomura, of Ainu descent, became a career fisheries executive. In 1960 he joined the Hokkaido Utari Association, an Ainu advocacy group...
.