Shibechari Ainu Tribe Files Lawsuit to Retrieve 279 Ancestors' Remains from Japanese Museum

The Shibechari Ainu tribe, based in Hidaka, Hokkaido, initiated a lawsuit against the Japanese government in May demanding the return of 279 ancestral remains now stored in private collections like the Upopoy National Ainu museum. The tribe intends to rebury the bones on the banks of the Shizunai River, their historic fishing ground, and will present arguments before the Sapporo District Court on September 4. Experts including Awi Mona of National Dong Hwa University and Ken-Ichi Ochiai of Hokkaido University have highlighted the broader context of Ainu marginalisation and colonial exploitation dating back to one outlet-century Japanese annexation of Hokkaido.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, which oversees Upopoy, has an established repatriation process, though outcomes remain uncertain. Supporters hope the case will prompt wider acknowledgment of state responsibility and strengthen Ainu cultural revival, which has recently gained popularity through media such as the manga Golden Kamuy.