Japanese Ainu people live in harmony with nature

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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AP Television Hokkaido - December 2007 1. Wide of Cape Erimo and the Pacific Ocean 2. Mid of bamboo grass swaying in the wind 3. Wide of Hokkaido Kushiro Wetland 4. Wide of Ainu houses outside Nibutani Ainu Museum 5. Various of Ainu people building a traditional lumber cage 6. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Tsuyoshi Ozaki: "That is the cage we used to use for bear ritual" STILL - Courtesy of Nibutani Ainu Museum 7. Black and white photos showing bear ritual 8. Black and white photo of a sacrificed bear 9. Black and white photo of Ainu people sacrificing bear AP Television Hokkaido - December 2007 10. Wide of people talking with Shiro Kayano around the bear ritual cage 11. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Shiro Kayano, President, Nibutani Ainu Museum: "We take from nature what we need to live. That is why we never try to destroy it. If we do, it will make our lives very difficult. Nature cradles us and Ainu people are part of it. It is our common sense to appreciate nature. In the past, hurting mother nature would have threatened your own survival. In that sense, it is natural that Ainu people made their own rules to take only when and what is necessary from nature. I think they had such frame of mind." 12. Mid of wooden sculptures of owls displayed at Koji Kaizawa's studio 13. Close of wooden sculpture of fish 14. Close of Koji Kaizawa chiselling traditional Ainu patterns on wood 15. Various of Koji Kaizawa sculpting his work Ainu Kotan, Hokkaido - December 2007 16. Mid of totem pole standing in the village of Ainu Kotan near Lake Akan 17. Mid of Ainu women playing mukkur, musical instrument made of bamboo 18. Close of woman playing mukkur 19. SOUNDBITE: (Japanese) Shiro Kayano, President, Nibutani Ainu Museum: "Ainu people are part of Japanese people. They certainly do have the right to pass on their own language, customs, and traditions." 20. Various of Ainu women performing traditional dance called Sarorunrimse 21. Various of Ainu women performing traditional dances 22. Mid of traditional Ainu houses outside Nibutani Ainu Museum 23. Mid of interior of Ainu houses 24. Wide of Ainu canoe displayed at Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum 25. Mid of display of traditional Ainu fabric at Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum 26. Exterior shot of Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum LEAD IN: Japan has named a roster of far-flung cities to host ministerial meetings on everything from the environment to international finance during 2008's summit of the Group of Eight nations. The main summit of the nations' leaders in July will be held at the Lake Toya on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, known for its nature reserves and pristine forests. Hokkaido is also home to Japan's indigenous Ainu people. STORYLINE: The Ainu of northern Japan are a people whose culture, language and physical appearance set them apart from other Asians. Once a large trading and fishing people living across a broad region, the Ainu today number only about 24,000 concentrated on Japan's northernmost island, Hokkaido, according to figures from the Government of Hokkaido. Although their lifestyles have changed significantly with the times, the Ainu people have preserved the heritage of their own language and culture as well as the principles of living in harmony with nature. They have lived as farmers and hunter-gatherers in Japan's northern island of Hokkaido over thousands of years before other Japanese migrated into the area in the 15th century. Successive colonisation attempts by Japanese regimes their population and culture and consequently the Ainu descendants have struggled to preserve their cultural heritage. The Ainu or "human" in their language, fear and revere the power of nature. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/772fad25e11952e012f0c4ef2997943a Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork