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“‘All of the delegates participated in the visit to China freely as individuals, but from an Ainu perspective, we want to verify with our own eyes the actual situation of ethnic minorities in China, where we hear that they live without discrimination or abject feelings. Then we could use this as a reference when thinking about our own problems. I hope this will serve as a stepping stone for younger Ainu to follow,’ said Mr Kaizawa, the delegation leader” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 6-7, January 20, 1974, pp.1-2).

貝沢団長は「この度の訪中は”個人”としての自由参加であるが、アイヌとしての立場から、中国における少数民族が差別も卑屈感もなく暮らしていると聞く実情をこの眼で確かめ、我々の問題を考える時の一つの参考としたい。そしてそのことがアイヌの若い人たちがあとに続く踏台になればと思っている。」と語った。

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“During the discussion after the board meeting, one director raised a question about the Northern Territories Problem, ‘Now, [the Northern Territories issue] is a problem between Japan and the Soviet Union, so are there any concerns that Ainu might become political pawns?’ In response, the delegation’s leader Mr. Kaizawa said, ‘I don’t think so. We will take part in the event in a much more relaxed manner. My only hope right now is for every single member of our delegation to come back to Japan happily and safely after such a long journey” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 6-7, January 20, 1974, pp.1-2).

理事会後の話し合いのとき、ある理事より、北方領土問題につき、「今、日ソ間で問題になっているおり、アイヌが政治の具になる懸念はないのか」との質問があったが、これに対して貝沢団長は、「そんなことはないと思う。もっとかり〜い気持ちで行って参ります。今、思うのは長い旅行中、団員の誰も健康で帰ってこられればと思います。」

Mr. Kaizawa’s response suggests that even though the Ainu trip happened during a period of international political tension, the Ainu weren’t interested in joining those discussions. Instead, the Ainu trip was a chance to connect with China’s different ethnic minorities and assert an Ainu identity that was unique from mainstream Japan.

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“There are some Ainu who were apprehensive about what they would be able to say about ‘the Ainu people’ during the visit to China, but during their first meeting on the 16th, the Ainu delegation expressed a consensus that, ‘Although the concept of Ainu ethnicity as a unified group has not yet been established, we hope that this exchange and study with Chinese ethnic minorities will be a first step toward developing a concept of Ainu’” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 6-7, January 20, 1974, pp.1-2).

アイヌの一部には、訪中して”アイヌ民族”の何を語るというのかと言った不安を持つものもいるが、十六日の初会合では、訪中団の統一見解として、「アイヌの民族概念もまだ確立していないが、中国の少数民族と交流し、学び合って”アイヌ”の考え方を策く第一歩と捉えている。」

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“From the perspective of the Ainu, visiting China was a notable first, and it attracted attention from all quarters, especially the media. Even among Utari [Ainu], the trip was a matter of considerable discussion. Questions were raised about the selection of the 15 delegates and what they could or would say about the Ainu nowadays once they arrived. Some Ainu were concerned about the possibility of political manipulation, especially since the trip was facilitated by a particular political party, while others emphasized the importance of simply going for the experience. Both perspectives, whether being critical of the trip or advocating for the experience, highlight the complex situation the Ainu face as an ‘ethnic group’” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 9, April 20, 1974, pp.1-2).  

アイヌの立場からということでの訪中は初めてのことでありマスコミを筆頭に各方面から注視されたことでもあった。ウタリのなかでも様々に論議を呼んだことでもあった。十五人という人選の段階から、むこうに行って、今アイヌの何を語れると言うのかと言ったもの、更に特定の政党の仲介で行くことへの、政治的に利用される怖れはないのかなど、また、とにかく行ってみることだとするもの等々。それら、どちらの声も行ってみれば今のアイヌが”民族”として、複雑な場に置かられていることをも示すものと言えよう。

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“People from each of the ethnic groups would say, ‘we are the heroes of the nation.’ Everyone is high-spirited. At first, we were uneasy about the phrase ‘heroes of the nation’ but as we interacted over the course of days, we were able to see how the phrase was not unnatural at all. In fact, compared with us Ainu, we cannot and will not say such a thing, because our systems are different” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 9, April 20, 1974, pp.1-2).

どこの少数民族の人々もみな〃我々は国家の主人公だ”と言ってる。みんな生々している。主人公という言葉に最初異和感を持ったけどね、でもだんだん交流して日を重ねるなかでね、

波らが〃我々は国家の主人公”と堂々ということが少しも不自然じゃないって気がしてきた。果して我々アイヌとくらべたらね、私たちはそんなこと言えないし言えないって体制がちがうといえばそれまでだけど

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“Q. If we take Japan as an example, we can almost say that there is almost no existence of Ainu. You have mentioned it was due to the difference of systems.

A. I did mention earlier that it is because of the difference of systems, but I think it would be dangerous to attribute everything to a difference of systems. Even if we say that [the differing policies] stem from the difference between a capitalist state and a socialist state, this is valid, right? The reason it worked in China is because the ethnic minorities are regarded as human beings on the same level as the majority. On that point, in Japan people say that the Ainu people are ‘the same as other Japanese’ but they do not see us as the same ‘human beings’. There is no reason why it should be impossible in Japan. I do not think it is impossible due to a difference of systems” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 9, April 20, 1974, pp.1-2).

• たとえば日本の場合だとアイヌの存在ってのはぜんぜんっていい位ないんだよね。体制のちがいってさっき言ったけど…
• 体制のちがいってさっき言ってしまいましたが、体制のちがいということでかたずけてしまったら危険だと思います。たとえ資本主義国家と社会主義国家のちがいではあれ、でぎるんですよね。なぜ中国でできたのかというとね、それはやっぱり同じ人間だと見たからだ。その点、日本はアイヌを”同じ日本人”だとは言っても同じ“人間” だとは言わなかったということですよ。日本でもできないはずはない。体制のちがい.で無理だとは私は思わない

While they were on their trip, the Ainu delegates perceived that ethnic minorities in China were generally treated with respect. In contrast, back in Japan, the delegates experienced contradicting forms of oppression: their Ainu identity was ignored, but they also were treated less than human because they were Ainu. With this context in mind, the delegates concluded that China’s treatment of ethnic minority groups was a model that they needed to work towards.

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“We have heard voices praising China’s policies toward its ethnic minorities for a while, what did the delegation actually see and feel when it visited the country? Although only a few people from the delegation have expressed their thoughts at this stage, I think we will hear their voices in various forms in the future” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 9, April 20, 1974, pp.1-2).

かねてより、中国の少数民族対策が優れているとの声を聞いていた私たちだがそうした国への訪問で一行は何を見、そして何を感じて来ただろうか。まだ、訪中団の人々のそうした声は表出されているものは少ないが、これから様々なかたちでそれらの声を聞けるだろうとは思っている。

This quote shows that the Ainu in Hokkaido were highly anticipating the return of the delegation so that they could share all about their trip to China. Specifically, they were really looking forward to hearing about China’s ethnic minorities.

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“Yes, they showed us both the good and the bad facade, and I can only speak about what I have seen. However, the trip strengthened my desire to find a way for Ainu to truly live as Ainu, even as a ‘minority’” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 9, April 20, 1974, pp.1-2).