- This event has passed.
From Art to Anime: Myths and Perceptions of the Ainu in Japan and the West
GEB 233 • Craig Auditorium • 1:30 PM
From Art to Anime: Myths and Perceptions of the Ainu in Japan and the West
Talk by Dr. Jennifer Welsh
Since the earliest records of the Ainu, Hokkaido’s indigenous people, have often been viewed through myths rather than reality.
Early Japanese accounts depict the “Ezo” as dangerous, uncivilized, and easily tricked. In the late 19th century, Isabella Bird’s writings depicted them sympathetically but still framed their culture through Western ideas of noble savages. Today, increased awareness and revival efforts, including cultural centers and portrayals in manga like “Golden Kamuy,” aim to present the Ainu more accurately. This presentation examines how the Ainu have been portrayed across myths and historical sources.
About Dr. Jennifer Welsh
Dr. Welsh is a professor at both University of Alaska Southeast and also assistant professor of history at Eastern New Mexico University.
Image: Shiraoi-cho, Hokkaido, Japan: Ainu woman making traditional clothes at the open-air Shiraoi Ainu Museum.