Ainu: “Homogenous” Japan’s Indigenous People

  • Sayaka Saito
Chapter
Part of the Transgressions: Cultural Studies and Education book series (TRANS, volume 107)

Abstract

Many Japanese believe that they live in a homogenous, monoethnic society, which they regard as a distinctive as well as a positive characteristic of Japan (Lie, 2001). This view is often expressed by scholars, the media and Japanese politicians. In 1986, Prime Minister Nakasone Yasuhiro claimed in his speech that for at least 2000 years, Japan has been a homogenous nation without ethnic minority groups.

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© Sense Publishers 2015

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  • Sayaka Saito

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