Ainu Remains Returned to Japan from London Museum After Century
The remains of seven Ainu individuals were officially returned to Japan from the Natural History Museum in London on Friday, May 8, 2026, ending more than a century of separation. This repatriation marks the fourth such return of Ainu ancestral remains held by foreign institutions for anthropological study. Four of the sets, excavated in Hokkaido's Yakumo and Mori regions, had been held for 160 years, while two originated from the Kuril Islands and one has an unknown origin. The handover ceremony in London was attended by Hitoshi Kikawada, Japan’s minister for Ainu-related policies, and Masaru Okawa, executive director of the Ainu Association of Hokkaido. The remains will now be housed at the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. This event is part of the Japanese government's broader effort to secure the return of indigenous remains scattered across global museums. Previous repatriations included remains from Germany, Australia, and Scotland. The return underscores ongoing initiatives to respect Ainu cultural heritage and address historical injustices faced by the indigenous community, primarily located in northern Japan.
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Ainu Remains Returned to Japan from London Museum After Century
The remains of seven Ainu individuals were officially returned to Japan from the Natural History Museum in London on Friday, May 8, 2026, ending more than a century of separation. This repatriation marks the fourth such return of Ainu ancestral remains held by foreign institutions for anthropological study. Four of the sets, excavated in Hokkaido's Yakumo and Mori regions, had been held for 160 years, while two originated from the Kuril Islands and one has an unknown origin. The handover ceremony in London was attended by Hitoshi Kikawada, Japan’s minister for Ainu-related policies, and Masaru Okawa, executive director of the Ainu Association of Hokkaido. The remains will now be housed at the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. This event is part of the Japanese government's broader effort to secure the return of indigenous remains scattered across global museums. Previous repatriations included remains from Germany, Australia, and Scotland. The return underscores ongoing initiatives to respect Ainu cultural heritage and address historical injustices faced by the indigenous community, primarily located in northern Japan.
The Mainichi