Indigenizing Japan

"Who are the Ainu and why have they been largely invisible in Japanese history and culture both inside and outside of Japan until recent decades? Joe Watkins addresses that question through examination of archaeological, biological, and historical sources guided by fifteen years of collaboration with Ainu people and archaeologists in Hokkaido. Through a comparative analysis of colonial engagements with and resilience of Indigenous communities in five global regions, Watkins places the Ainu struggles for recognition and self-determination into the global context where readers can appreciate their achievements and better understand their journey as a people rooted in the deep past of northern Japan." — Ben Fitzhugh, co-editor of Maritime Prehistory of Northeast Asia

"This work is the first in English to offer a general introduction to the Ainu people and their contemporary issues, including groundbreaking chapters on the genetic origins of the populations of Japan and an overview of the archaeology of northern Japan, which argue convincingly for the identity of the Ainu as an indisputably distinct ethnic group and Indigenous residents of Hokkaido. The book's fine attention to the complexities of Ainu identity could only be written by someone who is himself Indigenous, as Choctaw author and professional archaeologist Dr. Joe Watkins is. This volume is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Ainu issues, the issue of Ainu rights, or, just anyone interested in gaining a brief introduction to the archaeology of Japan." — Jeff Gayman, Hokkaido University, Japan

"Who are the Ainu and why have they been largely invisible in Japanese history and culture both inside and outside of Japan until recent decades? Joe Watkins addresses that question through examination of archaeological, biological, and historical sources guided by fifteen years of collaboration with Ainu people and archaeologists in Hokkaido. Through a comparative analysis of colonial engagements with and resilience of Indigenous communities in five global regions, Watkins places the Ainu struggles for recognition and self-determination into the global context where readers can appreciate their achievements and better understand their journey as a people rooted in the deep past of northern Japan." — Ben Fitzhugh, co-editor of Maritime Prehistory of Northeast Asia

"This work is the first in English to offer a general introduction to the Ainu people and their contemporary issues, including groundbreaking chapters on the genetic origins of the populations of Japan and an overview of the archaeology of northern Japan, which argue convincingly for the identity of the Ainu as an indisputably distinct ethnic group and Indigenous residents of Hokkaido. The book's fine attention to the complexities of Ainu identity could only be written by someone who is himself Indigenous, as Choctaw author and professional archaeologist Dr. Joe Watkins is. This volume is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Ainu issues, the issue of Ainu rights, or, just anyone interested in gaining a brief introduction to the archaeology of Japan." — Jeff Gayman, Hokkaido University, Japan

Joe E. Watkins is a senior consultant for Archaeological and Cultural Education Consultants (ACE Consultants), based in Tucson, Arizona. His study interests concern the ethical practice of anthropology and anthropology's relationships with descendant communities and populations on a global scale.