An Ainu-language expert illuminates their worldview

Over the last few years, however, there has been an unprecedented “Ainu boom,” with a sudden increase in publications presenting introductory or general information on the Ainu people, as well as the reissuing of out-of-print books. A catalyst of this phenomenon is the manga series “Golden Kamuy,” for which Nakagawa serves as Ainu-language supervisor. Set in early 20th-century Hokkaido and Karafuto, “Golden Kamuy” recounts a battle for survival among a diverse group of men seeking a legendary gold nugget. With a cumulative printing figure of 17 million copies, the series has been a major hit with the public. Its most distinctive feature is undoubtedly its detailed attention to various aspects of Ainu life in the period depicted — hunting methods, cooking, village appearance, rituals and so on — through the lens of the story’s heroine, an Ainu girl called Asirpa.

The manga’s creator, Satoru Noda, has roots in Hokkaido, and this is one factor in his extraordinary enthusiasm in researching the history and Ainu culture of the period, as well as his impressively vivid portrayal of Ainu people.

Today, more and more young readers are discovering Ainu culture through “Golden Kamuy.” At the “Citi Exhibition: Manga,” held at the British Museum in 2019, the social significance of transmitting an ethnic minority’s culture through the genre of manga was evaluated highly. In fact, an illustration of Asirpa was used as the main visual for the entire exhibition.

Nakagawa said, “The first thing that really impressed me about ‘Golden Kamuy’ was the masterful storytelling — as well as the fascinating portrayal of the heroine, Asirpa, as an Ainu woman looking toward the future. I was also surprised by the precise and detailed depiction of ceremonies, hunting clothes and other aspects of Ainu life.” Amazed by the manga’s high quality, Nakagawa readily accepted the role of language supervisor and has translated and supervised all Ainu proper names and conversations between Ainu characters arising in the creation of “Golden Kamuy.”

“At first I felt a little hesitant. Since I’m not a native Ainu speaker, I knew that if I wrote sentences in Ainu, I’d end up creating some new expressions,” he said. “On the other hand, an inherent part of language is that new expressions are always emerging. A popular manga like ‘Golden Kamuy’ will spread awareness of the Ainu language, and new interpretations and discoveries will come up within the story. I think this is the kind of thing that will help make Ainu a ‘living language.’”

One of the new interpretations proposed by Nakagawa is that of the word “kamuy,” which represents the foundation of Ainu thinking. The Ainu believe that spirits dwell in all things. They revere animals and trees, implements, stones, fire — all the things that surround human beings — as kamuy.