Grown Up

For almost 7,000 years, the Ainu people have lived in Japan's Northern islands as indigenous people. Unfortunately, the Japanese government has oppressed their traditional way of life since the Meiji era. The Ainu were forced to move, their land was plundered, and their traditional practices were banned. The Ainu people, who have different customs and appearances than the Japanese, continue to face discrimination today. In response, young Ainu musicians have formed groups to spread awareness about their identity and discrimination. They aim to promote their traditional culture and message through rap and song.