Synopsis

The Ainu, the native people of Japan, today primarily reside in Hokkaido, the nation's northernmost main island. For generations, they have cultivated a unique culture and language; however, few now speak the tongue. In an interview for Japanophiles, Peter Barakan speaks with Anna Bugaeva, a Russian linguist who has dedicated two decades to documenting and studying the Ainu language. Through this extended engagement with Ainu culture, she offers a glimpse of the knowledge she has gained.