Have you heard of the Ainu, an indigenous people of Japan (and parts of Russia) and their language? Are you speaking and learning their language? Or are doing research on their language and culture?
Even though according to official numbers there are only 10 real native speakers left, that doesn't mean, that the Ainu culture is extinct, because there are efforts to revive the Ainu language. As the Ainu were suppressed and discriminated against in Japan, they assimilated into the Japanese culture, taking on Japanese as their mother tongue and hiding their identity as Ainu. Only in the year 2008 were they officially recognized as indigenous people in Japan.
Information about the Ainu:
The Ainu. Reviving the indigenous spirit of Japan: https://www.tofugu.com/japan/ainu-japan/
This Youtube channel features storytelling videos in Ainu with Japanese subtitles and in Japanese with Ainu subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYAJeilz1GcZdgOiqgum7ZA
Here are some interesting documentaries about Ainu culture today.
Japan's Ainu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNmpd7mhMOw ;
Have you heard about the Ainu? Elders of Japan's indigenous people speak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q6cYEQUpBg
Hokkaido. The Sacred Sound of the Ainu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjhZHSCn-zE
About traditional and contemporary Ainu music:
Ainu music cultural heritage:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cyi2znWj4Y
Umeko Ando: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aDasQJxMgI
Marewrew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA1j6FMvVAc
Moshili: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNmpd7mhMOw
Oki Dub Ainu Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ByiXt0TUr0
Ainu Rebels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwMhjY5uI9U
With imperial court and later with feudal lords (of the same culture) fighting with each other. And trying to conquer China in a pause:)
This 'single culture'perception may come from Japanese voluntary isolation before 19 century: 'isolated then single'. But seems like at least in Middle Ages it was a bit more towards British Islands, with England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales etc.
If I were a Japanese, I'd feel less lonely this way. I love diversity.
Some people say "no diversity" means equality and no wars, but later history shows it is never the case.
See here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emishi
Actually
when I first learned about this (to my shame, just 5 years ago) I was
shocked and immediately wanted to tell everybody:) As if I made a mathematical discovery or something. Image of Japan as a 'unitary' entity (even historical and cultural) is something ingrained since early childhood.
@Henry
Thanks a lot for shedding a light on the Ryukyuan languages! This is really something totally unknown about Japan. Here on italki you can choose "Japanese (Okinawan)". Interestingly, when you switch to German on italki, it suddenly turns to Japanisch (Ryukyu-Sprachen), which means "Ryukyuan languages"... But when you go to the discussions, they are all about Standard Japanese. So, users don't realize that they actually chose the wrong language.
@KP
Another suppressed minority in Japan are the Burakumi, who are actually not an ethnic minority but Japan's outcasts: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burakumin
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryukyuan_languages
In fact within the Ryukyuans there are people using diverse languages, having cultural distinctions, but now their characteristics are going to be extinct.
