The Meaning of Tattoos for Ainu Women

The Ainu (“human” or “people”) are an indigenous people in Japan native to the regions of Hokkaidō, Northern Tōhoku, and Karafuto, among others. As part of their ancestral tradition, Ainu women had the custom of getting tattoos on their bodies, including their lips. For the Ainu, the tattoo was perceived as a symbol of beauty, a talisman and an indispensable tool to prepare their body for death. However, the traditional tattoo was legally prohibited by the Japanese government in 1899. In this talk, Mayunkiki, an Ainu artist, talked about the sense of beauty among the Ainu based on her artwork and research, and how the traditional concept of beauty has changed after the imposition of a “Japanese lifestyle”. Music: “ものしりのそらへ“ by mekoisu ()