A Historical Study on the Actual Situation of Ainu People's Social Participation in Modern Japan

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00952
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido Museum
• Principal Investigator: Ogawa Masahito 北海道博物館, 研究部, アイヌ民族文化研究センター長 (10761629)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 近代アイヌ史 / アイヌ教育史 / 近代北海道史 / 先住民族の近現代史 / 社会への参画

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study investigated the history of efforts aimed at social participation by the Ainu people in modern Japan, and analyzed their actual conditions and characteristics.
Through this research, I have clarified the actual situation of activities in Japan society that seek the right to public education, activities that aim for higher educational attainment, activities that aim to secure land to establish their own livelihood base, and activities that aim to enhance the social infrastructure of the region.
I paid particular attention to the fact that activities such as the development of local social infrastructure (e.g., the establishment of schools) are realized through considerable efforts by the Ainu people, while securing larger areas of land and political rights (e.g., being involved in Hokkaido and national politics) are not realized despite the efforts of the Ainu people.

Free Research Field

近代アイヌ史、アイヌ教育史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

・近現代日本におけるアイヌ民族の社会への参画を目指す意志や活動の実態について多くの具体的な事例を明らかにした。
・「その意志や活動が生じるに至った歴史的背景」「周囲のアイヌ民族や、マジョリティの人々、行政の対応」「その意志や活動がどのように実現したか／しなかったか」の諸点に着目して実態を分析することにより、厳しい歴史的条件のもとでのアイヌ民族の意志や活動の実態と、それらが置かれていた社会的環境（アイヌ民族を包囲する多数者の意識や行政の態様）を明らかにした。
・特に、1920～30年代以降における地域の生活基盤の確保を目指す活動や、自分たちで伝統文化の客観化を目指す活動などについて新たな知見を得た。