The Ainu (アイヌ), also called Aynu, Aino (アイノ), and in historical texts Ezo (蝦夷), are indigenous people or groups in Japan and Russia.
Historically, they spoke the Ainu language and related varieties and lived in Hokkaidō, the Kuril Islands, and much of Sakhalin.
Today, it is estimated that fewer than 100 speakers of the language remain,[62] while other research places the number at fewer than 15 speakers – the language has been regarded as “endangered”.[63] As a result of this the study of the Ainu language is limited and is based largely on historical research.
Most of those who identify themselves as Ainu still live in this same
region, though the exact number of living Ainu is unknown. This is due
to confusion over mixed heritages and to ethnic issues in Japan
resulting in those with Ainu backgrounds hiding their identities. In
Japan, because of intermarriage over many years with Japanese, the
concept of a pure Ainu ethnic group is no longer feasible.[3] Official estimates of the population are of around 25,000, while the unofficial number is upward of 200,000 people.[1]
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