Ainu

Ainu is a group of aboriginal that lived in the north of the Japan. In the past, they depended on the natural resources to fishing and hunting. Also, they collected the fur from animals they hunted, herb they got from the mountain to trade with other tribes of people. It seems that their living environment was rule orderly. During the visit in Ainu museum, we watched the show about how they play with their special instruments, how they prey for the bear’s soul. It is interesting to learn those types of thing because they are kind of Japanese ancestor; their history is a part of Japanese culture.

I spent a lot of time to learn the process of development from a newborn baby. It is interesting that although they thought everything happened in their lives was connected with god and the birth of new life is a happy occasion, they didn’t have any special celebration for new births. Because they thought the new baby are too weak that the pretty clothes and celebration would attract evil to come. Child usually started help to release the burden from their parents since they reach 7 years old. They played at spare time, but most of the games they played also were types of training for their future use, such as hunting and fishing. They changed their hair styles since they were 12, and then they can join different kinds of ceremonies. Girls can get tattoo after they changed their hairstyles, and after 4 or 5 years they are allowed to marry to men. The child can start their new life if they can live independently, then they have the right to support his family members. For some of senior managers in the tribes, the top ruler usually takes care of people who don’t have any other relatives in the world. It may shows Japanese’s collectivism have existed from that period of time, or even older.

People are prey for bear's soul.