Ainu as Objects
For many centuries Ainu were depicted in ways that drew on discriminatory stereotypes, treating them as objects of ethnographic curiosity and exoticization. These pages explore materials related to Ainu from the eighteenth century to the early twentieth century, created by non-Ainu individuals. Though at times problematic, these holdings provide insight into Ainu lives and culture as they were documented by Japanese during these periods. Viewers should be aware that some materials featured here contain offensive imagery rooted in their historical viewpoints.
