People of a dying race in Japan hope to learn something from Hawaiians through cultural exchange, and at least 25 people from Kaua’i are planning to go to Japan to learn about their customs and share our Hawaiian ways. There
People of a dying race in Japan hope to learn something from Hawaiians through cultural exchange, and at least 25 people from Kaua’i are planning to go to Japan to learn about their customs and share our Hawaiian ways.
There are similarities between the Ainu and Hawaiian people, both indigenous cultures overwhelmed by foreign influences, said the Rev. Noriaki Fujimori of the Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, who organizes the exchange.
Rev. Fujimori states four goals they hope to achieve through this program: To learn about multicultural society; to learn from nature; to learn from indigenous people’s lives; and to learn from the culture against consumerism.
“One of the practices we want to teach is to live a simple life,” Fujimori said.
“Some Japanese people came to visit me…through an exchange program we said we could establish peace in the world through living together in diversity,” Fujimori said.
Since 1998, people from Kaua’i have continued to learn from the Ainu people with the Kaua’i-Hokkaido Exchange program, which includes a home stay and study tour. Every other year, a group from Ainu-moshiri comes to Kaua’i.
Those who went to Hokkaido in 2000 brought pure water from Wai’ale’ale to offer to Ainu graves as a symbol of respect to their ancestors. In 2001, Ainu orphan children made gifts and handcrafts and presented them to Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, where they will be used as educational tools.
Ainu-moshiri, better known as Hokkaido, is the northernmost island of Japan and home to the Ainu, a culture under many changes. Technology, environmental problems, consumerism and racial discrimination are just some issues that threaten their way of life.
The Ainu were traditionally a sea hunting, fishing and trading people who are still centered on Hokkaido. During the Edo period (about 1600 to 1868), the Japanese governent pursued policies of cultural assimilation.
Only a handful of people – all elders – still speak their native language. Today, continued discriminatory treatment has caused younger Ainu to abandon their ethnic identity, according to the International Society for Educational Information’s Web site.
Fujimori said that a 1980s Japanese census estimated about 20,000 Ainu were living in Japan. There may be more, but “they are hiding,” said Fujimori. “Over here, people are proud and they say, ‘I am Native Hawaiian.’ In Hokkaido, (Ainu) are discriminated against. They don’t want to tell anyone ‘I am an Ainu,’ ” because saying so makes it harder to find a job and stability, Fujimori said.
This year there are two optional tours. The first option will include some interpreters and volunteers. The other is a homestay program, in which children and adults would stay in private homes. Kupuna may be more comfortable in the homestay program, though people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to join the cultural exchange.
Fujimori hopes everyone involved in the exchange will write a story about their experiences in Hokkaido; the group will make a booklet to be shared with the Kaua’i community and hopefully help the Ainu people.
“We are all connected in many ways…With our history, language, culture and living on this planet. An example of connectedness is in the words Kanakamaoli and Ainu, which we found to mean the same thing: human being.” wrote Puanani Rogers, who went to Hokkaido in 2000.
“The aim of this program is to promote friendship and cross-cultural understanding. In our last exchange program in 2001, we learned a lot from friends and Kaua’i natives. It was a good experience and we had many happy memories. You too, will have a rewarding experience and lots of fun with us in Hokkaido!” wrote Masako Yamada, who took charge of the home stay program in 2000.
Airfare will cost about $795. Spending money should be kept to a minimum. “The Ainu live in a simple culture so we don’t want to use plenty of money,” Fujimori said. All costs for the 11-day trip, including airfare should total about $1100. Those interested should contact Rev. Noriaki Fujimori at 332-1847 or via e-mail at fujimori@hawaiian.net by mid-May.
Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).
