16/07/2025
The Ainu family in this photo was captured around 1908 in Yokohama, Japan, by a German photographer who lived and worked in the city at the time. The image offers a rare glimpse into the lives of a distinct indigenous group during a period when Japan was rapidly modernizing and assimilating its diverse cultures.
The Ainu are an ethnic group primarily settled in the southern part of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Their presence in the region dates back to the earliest human settlements in the Japanese archipelago. The Ainu people have a distinctive history that predates the Japanese settlement of the islands. Their roots trace back to the Jomon period (14,000–300 BC), making them one of the oldest ethnic groups in Japan. Historically, the Ainu lived in harmony with nature, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering for sustenance.
The Ainu people were once inhabitants of all four main Japanese islands. Their customary attire featured bark cloth adorned with geometric patterns. While the Ainu primarily embraced a lifestyle centered around hunting and gathering, certain individuals practiced shifting agriculture—a technique involving the temporary use of fields to prevent soil depletion. Over centuries, they developed a unique culture, language, and way of life distinct from the dominant Japanese population.
Ainu language bears no resemblance to other Asian tongues, and their physical features also set them apart—many have wavy brown hair, lighter eyes without the typical East Asian epicanthic fold, and a generally taller stature than the average Japanese person. Despite facing marginalization and cultural suppression for generations, the Ainu people have preserved their identity, and today efforts are being made to revitalize and honor their heritage.
Central to Ainu culture is their spiritual connection to nature, which is evident in their rituals, folklore, and art. The bear, considered a sacred animal, features prominently in Ainu mythology and ceremonies. Tattooing, an Ainu tradition, is not merely decorative but also holds deep spiritual significance.