Ainu Teachings

Photographer

Sawamaru Pokir

Category

People Photography - Portrait

Company

Sawamaru Pokir

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2022

Country / Region:

Japan

Countless tattoos engraved on the body, hoping for the blessing of Kamuy(gods). The gods for the Ainu are all things in nature. There are countless gods everywhere, in homes, in the forest, in the sea. Thus, the gods are not absolute, and sometimes the Ainu protest their actions through prayer and speech. This is mutualism. This idea also applies to their relationships. The Ainu don’t have a written language, and when trouble occurs they hold discussions to solve the problem together. In this way, everyone is working to build a fair and peaceful society. The Ainu way of life offers a great hint to those of us who are worried about slander on SNS and other problems with relationships in our modern society.