The development of geographical studies on Ainus in post World War II, Japan
The purpose of this study is to clarify the history of geographical studies on Ainus in post W. W. II Japan, and to clarify the thesis of the possibilities of geographical studies on Ainus hereafter.Studies on Ainus have not been a main area of geography. Because the consumption of Ainu traditional mode of life and decline in population of Ainu cultural heirs, it is very difficult to study about Ainus based on fieldworks. In addition, cultural geography was minor domain of geography, while economical geography had been the most popular method of geography in post W. W. II Japan.The author classifies the studies into two categories: studies on traditional mode of life or current mode of life.The method of historical geography has been adopted to study on Ainu traditional mode of life. The distribution and location of Ainu settlements (kotan) were popular domains at first, however, some studies focuses on the mobility and renaming of the traditional mode of life. Japanese geographers were not interested in Ainu place names. However, we see possibilities for studies in Ainu place names based on physical geography.On the other hand, there are little geographical studies on Ainu current mode of life. In geographical education, teachers usually teach about Ainu traditional mode of life while they pay no mention to Ainu current mode of life.Geographical studies on Ainu traditional mode of life will develop by analyzing existent historical material. Especially, it is very important to study on subjective environment of Ainus in geographical area as environmental science.Geographers need to focus more on Ainu current mode of life. We see possibilities for studies in Ainu current mode of life based on life histories and behavioral geography. The author expects that geographical education will administer to the understanding of Ainus.