i don’t wanna be a killjoy but if you’re playing pokemon arceus please take the time to learn about the ainu people, their ongoing struggle to keep their culture alive, and the colonisation of hokkaido (the area the sinnoh region is based on)
the game itself has a good bit of colonialist themes and indigenous erasure, which means it’s up to fans to educate themselves and be mindful of what things they internalise. this isn’t a call out or guilt trip, i’m just asking people to be aware of the context behind the media they consume.
additionally, consider boosting ainu voices (especially about the game itself), donating to ainu individuals, and spreading awareness on the subject as allies.
アイヌに関する研究、アイヌ語やアイヌ文化の振興、アイヌの伝統等に関する普及啓発等が目的。イベント情報、関連団体の紹介。
The Foundation for Ainu Culture, it’s in English as well
Official website of Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Hokkaido, Japan. Includes visitor information and details about programs and eve
Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park, it’s in Japan but the website has information and links
https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/ainu-beyond-politics-cultural-coexistence
This was written in 1999 but has a lot of info about laws regarding the Ainu people in the 20th century
The Ainu people of Japan continue to call for recognition and change in Japanese government's policies through peaceful activism, education
This was written more recently and has lots of links as well as a list of Ainu associations at the bottom
Used these sites for a school project a while ago, but I’m not Ainu nor do I know anyone who is so if there are better resources or donation links please use those instead!
Hey wouldn’t you know, I’m Ainu :) Originally I didn’t want to write anything on this post because reading it the first time made me very upset, but I think I’m fine sharing my thoughts now
About that museum in Upopoy… Many of us Ainu don’t feel as though it’s fully reflective of Japan’s colonial past, and that the laws that have “given Ainu their rights back” are very toothless. You can read more about it in an article I’ll copypaste and link below the readmore, to not derail this post.
Onto the pokemon. I fully agree with this post, and after doing some research myself I can’t really say that any character is designed to look Ainu aside from the main characters, who look like they’re from a children’s book. I think that GameFreak could’ve included a plotline around Meiji era Japan and Ainu colonization without being so weird about everything. Some people on other sites have tried to claim that the starters are meant to be based on the 3 “main kamuy” but I don’t see it, really. Just feels like a grasp for straws.
And to be honest.. This isn’t the worst way that a plotline revolving around colonization have ever been depicted in media, but it’s still bad. Don’t just brush it to the side just because it’s badly written. Let your indigenous friends know about how the plotlines can be upsetting. Thank you for reading, under the readmore is the article I talked about earlier.
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Hey again. Got a lot of messages about this, and I wanted to clarify a few more things that I’ve talked over, primarily the bandit sisters, but also some other things.
The bandit sisters aren’t a mockery of Ainu women’s sinuye (tattoos). They’re just face-paint, something that has appeared in Pokemon games before. I personally do not care if you like them or not, and while at a first glance you could come to the conclusion that they’re mean to be a mockery, they really don’t look/come across as that tbh. Just feels like a reach for anyone who isn’t taking the time to look into anything outside of reblogging a post.
Another thing that I’d like to point out is that the main connection that this game even has to Ainu people is that it’s set in Hokkaido. Other than that, you could fill in the clans for any indigenous groups and it would still fit. Which is the reason why I said “warn your indigenous friends about the game”, and not just Ainu friends. Because this game hits very close to home for other indigenous groups as well.
As a final statement to all this, no I don’t care if you play the game/don’t play it/whatever. Just be critical about it and don’t act like this is an iredeemable game. Thanks.
