1. Today's Japanese words
## Japanese Vocabulary about the Relation to Culture (Romaji included)
**General:**
* **Dento (でんとう):** Tradition
* **Geijutsu (げいじゅつ):** Art
* **Reigi (れいぎ):** Etiquette, manners
* **Shūkyō (しゅうきょう):** Religion
* **Minshoku (みんぞく):** Folk customs
* **Waka (わか):** Japanese poetry (classical)
* **Haiku (はいく):** Japanese poetry (short form)
* **Manga (まんが):** Comics
* **Anime (アニメ):** Animation
* **J-pop (ジェイポップ):** Japanese pop music
**Specific aspects of Japanese culture:**
* **Chado (ちゃどう):** The Way of Tea
* **Shodo (しょどう):** Calligraphy
* **Ikebana (いけばな):** Flower arrangement
* **Budō (ぶどう):** Martial arts
* **Kabuki (かぶき):** Traditional theater
* **Noh (のう):** Classical theater
* **Matsuri (まつり):** Festivals
* **Kimono (きもの):** Traditional dress
* **Onsen (おんせん):** Hot springs
* **Ryokan (りょうかん):** Traditional inns
**Words related to cultural exchange:**
* **Wa (わ):** Harmony, peace
* **Mottainai (もったいない):** What a waste!
* **Omotenashi (おもてなし):** Hospitality
* **Ganbatte (がんばって):** Do your best!
2. Today's topic
## The Ainu: Japan's Indigenous People
The Ainu are the indigenous people of Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. They also have historical and cultural ties to parts of Russia's Sakhalin Island and Kuril Islands.
Here's a summary of the Ainu in Japan:
**History:**
* The Ainu are believed to have inhabited Hokkaido for millennia, predating the arrival of Japan's majority Yamato people.
* They developed a distinct culture and way of life centered around fishing, hunting, and gathering, with strong spiritual beliefs connected to nature.
* Their history was marked by periods of interaction and conflict with the Yamato people, leading to assimilation and marginalization of the Ainu in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
* In 2008, Japan officially recognized the Ainu as an indigenous people, a significant step towards their cultural revitalization.
**Culture:**
* The Ainu have a rich and vibrant culture expressed through traditional music, dance, storytelling, and handicrafts.
* Their artwork features geometric patterns and motifs inspired by nature.
* Their spiritual beliefs center around the veneration of kamuy (spirits) present in animals, plants, and natural phenomena.
* Traditional attire showcases intricate embroidery and beadwork, often made from bark cloth and animal skins.
**Current Situation:**
* Today, approximately 25,000 people in Japan identify as Ainu, though estimates vary due to historical assimilation policies.
* They face challenges related to cultural preservation, discrimination, and economic disparities.
* However, there's a growing movement for cultural revitalization and recognition of the Ainu's unique heritage. This includes efforts to revive the Ainu language, celebrate traditional practices, and advocate for land rights and economic opportunities.
3- Today’s news
Film ‘Kamui no Uta’ traces Ainu woman’s quest to translate poem
His view was that few works cast light particularly on the history of discrimination against the Ainu, although the hit manga “Golden Kamuy,” starring an Ainu heroine in the closing days of the Meiji Era (1868-1912), has led to growing public interest in the ethnic group and its culture.
Shii steps down as Communist Party head after 23 years
The Japanese Communist Party has replaced its longtime familiar face and leader for the first time in 23 years, who gives way to the first woman to head the party.
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