Anthropology of Japan Series: Stoking Academic Colonialism or Nurturing Indigenous Futures? Japan’s Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Polarizing Conversations 2024.04.17

Associate Professor of Pacific and Asian Studies, University of Victoria

In 2020, amidst the global pandemic, Japan inaugurated its first national museum dedicated to the Ainu community—the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park. This groundbreaking institution, while welcomed by many Ainu, has concurrently sparked divisive discussions regarding the representation of Ainu knowledge and expertise. Situated in Shiraoi, a historic "tourist town" rooted in Imperial visits during the early 20th century, the museum prompts critical reflections on its potential role as a new form of settler and intellectual colonialism. This presentation delves into the multifaceted implications of the museum's establishment, addressing issues such as the polarization among local Ainu stakeholders, the ecological impacts of settler presence, and the museum's connections to imperial histories. Additionally, it explores whether the museum serves as a platform for Indigenous Ainu curators to actively shape discussions around Ainu futurity. Thus, the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park emerges not only as a cultural institution but also as a focal point for complex dialogues surrounding representation, Indigenous agency, and the enduring legacies of settler colonialism.