Can AI Revive the Language Japan Once Tried to Erase?

More than a century after colonization, the Ainu language is critically endangered, with only a few native speakers left. Historically spoken by Indigenous Ainu communities in northern Japan, the language’s decline accelerated due to oppressive government policies, decreasing from about 15,000 speakers in the 1870s to just 350 by 1917. However, recent legislative recognition of the Ainu as Indigenous people and emerging revitalization projects, including the use of AI, offer hope for the language’s future. Maya Sekine, a young Ainu advocate, grew up listening to her ancestors’ stories on cassette tapes and now runs a YouTube channel promoting Ainu culture. With 700 hours of archived recordings, researchers leverage AI to improve language preservation efforts. Despite some community skepticism about AI’s accuracy, Sekine and others believe in fostering a deeper connection to the Ainu language and culture through education, ultimately aiming to encourage more young people to embrace their Ainu heritage.

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