|
|
<< Return to Cultural Diversity Home 15 familes keep ancient language alive in Japan
 "I think despite our diverse races and nationalities language has to be the most important aspect of any culture" Shigeru Kayano, Ainu, Japan
Shigeru Kayano feels honored to be among a group of just 15 families who speak Tsishima - a dialect of the Ainu indigenous minority of Japan. "My mother used to say to be Ainu is to bring pride to your people," says Shigeru.
Yet Shigeru's strong sense of identity is tainted with sorrow as he acknowledges that his language and culture are in steep decline. While there has never been a written Ainu language, once there were at least 19 dialects. Ten years ago that was reduced to two - Tsishima and Shigeru. Then the last speaker of Shigeru died in 1994.
Shigeru has dedicated his life to preserving the ancient oral traditions of his people, but it has been a lonely battle. With many of the younger generation choosing to speak Japanese due to the language's greater marketability, the Ainu language and its storytelling tradition is gradually dying. This is compounded by the fact that storytellers are ageing and there are limited opportunities for presentation. The training of successors is urgent.
The Ainu have lived in Japan since the beginning of history but arec now confined to the northern island of Hokkaido. Originally living on other Japanese islands, they began their involuntary move northward to Haikkaido nearly 3,000 years ago, after a long period of war with the Yamato/ Wajin people from the South.
One thousand years of battle was followed by many years of cultural struggle. Ainu men were encouraged to shave their beards and tie their hair, and the women's traditional practice of applying blue facial tattoos was banned. Laws were passed limiting the Ainu rights to natural resources and even their annual catch of ceremonial salmon.
Shigeru runs a language school and recently compiled a collection of Ainu folktales. Stories like Yukar (epics of the heroes), Kamui Yukar (stories of the Gods) and Uwepeker (old tales) are passed down orally from one storyteller to another. Each story has a designated intonation or tone and in communicating it orally, the entire expression is preserved.
The telling of these stories transmits the values of the community making them valuable teaching tools. "We learn to be responsible and respectful of everything around us. We Ainu believe everything in nature has meaning and purpose," says Shigeru. "I think despite our diverse races and nationalities language has to be the most important aspect of any culture", he continues.
Nature is a dominant theme in Ainu culture, with the natural beauty of Hokkaido, with its dramatic coastline, snow capped mountains and wide green valleys, providing the perfect setting and inspiration. "Our culture and language are inspired by nature and so is our art." says Shigeru.
The Ainu's unique worldview has been transmitted through original words and music, which were created from a very subtle and precise recognition of nature. These works also constitute the most valuable data on Ainu culture because they present the generation and history of their unique society. The cultural life and integrity of the community is therefore inextricably linked to the preservation of language.
The Ainu believe that everything is sacred. They assign gods to every living creature and even to manmade objects. "We believe these spirits are everywhere and they help us with our daily lives," says Shigeru. Men and gods help each other equally.
The Ainu language has been compared with other languages and language families, namely Polynesian, Hebrew and most recently the Indo-European group. But no clear link has yet been established.
|
|
Click on pictures
to read the stories
|
