The Nov. 8 editorial "A shameful statement on Ainu" reminded me of my experiences overseas and made me think of living in peace with differences.
Any time I am traveling or staying in another country, one of the most often asked questions I get is "Could you explain Ainu people, please?" I am ashamed to confess that I have not been able to answer the question very quickly and in a convincing way, since I am ignorant about their language, culture and history.
Since I am Japanese, people overseas try to learn something about Japan through me. And when I began saying that Japan is a homogeneous country, then friends start asking about the Ainu. They have taught me that if we look at Japan very closely, it would be correct to say that Japan is heterogeneous.
Now I know that I shouldn't be blind to not only Ainu people, but also to other people living in Japan who have different backgrounds.
This time, in particular, I must learn that "... indigenous people are equal to all other peoples, while recognizing the right of all peoples to be different, to consider themselves different and to be respected ..." — as stated in the 2007 U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.
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