The Ainu (“human” or “people”) are an indigenous people in Japan native to the regions of Hokkaidō, Northern Tōhoku, and Karafuto, among others. As part of their ancestral tradition, Ainu women had the custom of getting tattoos on their bodies, including their lips. For the Ainu, the tattoo was perceived as a symbol of beauty, a talisman and an indispensable tool to prepare their body for after death. However, the traditional tattoo was legally prohibited by the Japanese government in 1871, in an attempt to force Ainu to follow a “Japanese lifestyle”. As the result, Ainu women reduced the use of tattoos on their bodies, progressively changing their concept of beauty and losing an important part of their ancestral tradition.

In this talk, Mayunkiki – who is an Ainu artist – talked about the sense of beauty among the Ainu based on her artwork and research, and how the traditional concept of beauty has changed after the imposition of a “Japanese lifestyle”.

This event was organized in collaboration with Hokkaidō Prefecture in order to promote the NATIONAL AINU MUSEUM, which will open in April 2020 in Shiraoi, Japan.

Listing image: Mayunkiki. Photo credit: Hiroshi Ikeda

About the contributors

Mayunkiki is an Ainu artist and musician. She was born in Asahikawa, on the island of Hokkaidō, Japan, and is based in Hokkaidō. She is Ainu culture coordinator for Sapporo International Art Festival 2020, and will participate in the 22nd Biennale of Sydney 2020. Mayunkiki is also a member of Marewrew, a female Ainu quartet which has been singing traditional Ainu songs since 2008, as well as being a teacher of the Ainu language.