ainu identity

 Ainu identity

Ainu suffered considerably during the Japanese colonial period (or from Meiji onwards).  They lost lands, livelihood, language, and were treated as sub-human.  

One way to understand the trouble Ainu suffered is by looking at two theories of identity.  Theory one says,  We are born into an ethnic group and this is part of our innate identity.  The important word is “innate.”  That is kind of of like saying culture and DNA are the same thing.  Culture is something we EXPLAIN rather then DESCRIBE.

Then there is theory two.  this theory says that the ethnicity is an artifact.  In this theory we see culture as something people create.  The culture functions to ensure social behavior helps the group survive.   It is almost an economic system as for a group to do well in a hostile environment, they must cooperate and work hard.  The group needs an ideology.  The group needs stories.  In this theory, identity is something that DESCRIBES the group.

Which theory was prevalent in the Meiji period?

Throughout history, racism has been used all over the globe to justify economic exploitation of others.