The Japanese government has decided not to amend the Ainu policy law, which recognizes the Ainu people as Japan's indigenous people, despite criticism regarding its provisions on discrimination, indigenous rights, and the return of human remains.
The Japanese government has declared that it will not amend the Ainu policy law, which acknowledges the Ainu as Japan's indigenous people. There have been significant criticisms from the Ainu community regarding deficiencies in the law, particularly concerning rights to natural resources like salmon fishing, the prohibition of discrimination, and guidelines for the return of ancestral remains. Despite these concerns, the government maintains that the current laws adequately address these issues and has no urgent plans for reform.
The Ainu Policy Promotion Law, enacted in 2019, includes a provision that mandates a review of its implementation after five years, with adjustments to be made if necessary. Based on this, the government has held a series of discussions with the Ainu community and other stakeholders from September 2024 onward, totaling 20 sessions aimed at evaluating the law's effectiveness. Ainu Policy Minister Hitoshi Kogawada reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting Ainu policies to foster a society that respects the pride of the Ainu people but firmly denied any plans for legal amendments.
While the law stipulates the prohibition of discrimination against the Ainu, it lacks any punitive measures for violations, a point highlighted by critics. Kogawada stated that due to the variety of discrimination forms, it is currently difficult to define specific penalties. Nonetheless, incidents of discriminatory remarks continue to arise, particularly on social media. In 2023, a former member of the House of Representatives, Mio Sugita, received a Human Rights Bureau designation for her derogatory blog post about Ainu people, illustrating the ongoing challenges faced by the community in combating discrimination effectively.
