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Ainu is officially written with a version of the Japanese katakana syllabary. A Latin-based alphabet is also used. The Ainu also have a rich oral tradition, including Yukar (sagas of heros), Kamui Yukar (stories of the gods) and Uwepeker (old stories).
Mar 28, 2024 · Animism was the traditional religion. The most important ritual took place over several years and involved the capture of a bear cub that was then raised as a member of the family; at a designated time, the bear was ritually killed.
In addition to the original notations, various information that can aid learning the Ainu language including the colloquial translation, Modernized Roman character transcriptions and katakana transcriptions of the Ainu word, interpretation (glossary) and English translation, etc., are provided.
. Ainu Men in Traditional Dress - Credit: Bronislaw Pilsudski. Nevertheless, the island of Hokkaido is steeped in Ainu history. The island's capital, Sapporo, got its name from the Ainu language and you'll find many Ainu symbols and sculptures dotted around the city.
This people's most widely known ethnonym, Ainu (Ainu: アィヌ; Japanese: アイヌ; Russian: Айны), means 'human' in the Ainu language, particularly as opposed to kamui, 'divine beings'. Ainu also identify themselves as Utari ('comrades' or 'people'). Official documents use both names.
The Ainu languages ( / ˈaɪnuː / EYE-noo ), [1] sometimes known as Ainuic, are a small language family, often regarded as a language isolate, historically spoken by the Ainu people of northern Japan and neighboring islands.
The word ainu means "human being" and is the name used by the Ainu to refer to themselves. In contrast, kamuy means "god". The Ainu think that all existence that has mind and plays a role in this world are kamuy. [5] . Sparrows or standing trees are kamuy. [5] .
