Although the lives of Hokkaido's Ainu have generally improved, the ethnic group as a whole still lags behind other Hokkaido residents in terms of education and employment, according to a recent survey by the prefectural government.
According to the survey, which was conducted last October, 23,767 Ainu lived in Hokkaido -- 63 fewer than the number recorded in the previous study in 1993.
Of this figure, 3.72 percent were receiving welfare benefits, the survey said. While the figure was 0.16 percentage point lower than that in the 1993 survey, it remains roughly double that of the 1.84 percent average of the communities they reside in.
There was little difference in the percentage of children who attend high school, with the Ainu figure at 95.2 percent and the local average at 97 percent.
However, when it came to university enrollment, the figure plunged to 16.1 percent for Ainu, compared with 34.5 percent for other Japanese.
Roughly 28 percent of Ainu said they felt discriminated against or knew someone who encountered discrimination when looking for work or getting married.
The survey defines Ainu as people with Ainu blood, their spouses and adopted children who live with them. Those who do not wish to be recognized as being a member of the minority are not included, according to prefectural officials.
The survey began in 1972, and its results are used in determining welfare policies for the Ainu.