The Ainu have had a long and complex history in Japan and while there are many topics one can research in relation to the Ainu, in this thesis I will be focusing on research relating to the representation of Ainu in Japan. In the case of minorities and indigenous peoples like the Ainu, representation is important because it can create the way others view them, significantly influencing their standing in society and their way of life. After presenting the meaning and significance of representation of minorities the thesis will provide a chronological historical overview of Ainu representation. First, the thesis will present the earliest recorded representations, followed by the period of exploitation and the period of colonization and assimilation. Lastly it will provide an overview of Ainu representation in contemporary Japan. In the conclusion I will provide a summary of my analysis on the previous chapters and present my findings on the changes in Ainu representation and the effects it had on the Ainu.
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