AINU PURI

No one was doing Marek salmon fishing, when Shige revived the tradition in 2011. In this day and age, when living as Ainu is a choice, Shige is cultivating his own ways to maintain his Ainu identity and culture for the next generations. Every year, Shige has to get permissions from the Hokkaido government, the fishermen’s union, the organization that fosters salmon, and the police department before he can start Marek fishing. He’ll get caught as a poacher if he catches a salmon without those permissions, even though his sole purpose of this is to keep the tradition alive. Not minding the challenges he has to face as Ainu, Shige stays positive and keeps his practices in a stoic manner. Discrimination and prejudice against Ainu people have been weakening over time, which can be seen in Shige’s young son, Motoki being open about his Ainu identity to his classmates and eager to learn about Ainu culture through his father. Shige has no intention to force Motoki to do anything but hopes for him to nurture his Ainu identity in his own way. Ainu Puri explores one family's endeavor to live as Ainu in today's Japan.