Community Responses
Language Preservation
The Ainu of the Hokkaido island have taken multiple steps to preserve their culture and language. Many have done their own programs such as starting radio broadcasts spoken in Ainu, written newspapers solely in Ainu and Japanese, and started museums to encapsulate the culture as a whole.
Language Nests
Local Broadcasts
STV Radiko has a program called, "Ainugo," that teaches beginner level Ainu to learners. The radio show began in 1987 by an Ainu culture researcher, Mr. Shigeru Kayano. Mr. Shigeru Kayano began the course to start revitilizing the language far before Japan even recongized Ainu as a ethnicity and worked with supervising the Ainu Folk Culture Foundation.
The radio show has also made itself into a podcast for ease of access to those who may not have access to the station or the programmed times. It gives a more universal ability for people to consume the content.
Now in 2020, the Ainu Language Radio course said on their website they are inviting Mr. Daiki Katsuno. They will be the one to start doing a begginners course for one year on the Shizunai Ainu dialect. This marks an important step in recognizing all different forms of the Ainu dialect.
Language Clubs
People like Teruyo Usa, the speaker in the below video, are apart of clubs to help unite likeminded Ainu. They are people that want to see their language survive and they do so by creating choirs and their traditional dances alive so they make those traditions going.
She says in the video:
"Thank you, everyone. My Name is Teruyo Usa. I run an Ainu restaurant called Harukor. In addition, I also participate in a club called Yairenka. The meaning is [of Yairenka] is "happy" or "joy." Anyway, we all [in the club] enjoy singing and dancing, and we participate in activities to introduce the fascinating Ainu culture to many people. I would like to keep the connection of history and culture that has been built by our predecessors for th future."
The Foundation for Ainu Culture
Programs like The Foundation for Ainu Culture, give a platform to unite all these different sites and public aids for ease of access to everyone. They showcase prospective learners programs that teach Ainu and also give brochures to the local events for Ainu culture.
The main site's goal is for the preservation of their language and culture. The image shows their mission statement in terms of what they see fit is acceptable on their site.
It is also representative of the grass roots support the Ainu have. The foundation is supported through donations and membership fees. Without it, the site cannot maintain itself.
https://www.ff-ainu.or.jp/web/english/index.html