Yukara: Epos Of The Ainus

Yukara: Epos Of The Ainus

by Kiyoko Miura


The Ainu are Japans' largest ethnic minority. They are known for Shamanistic beliefs and practises which are considered part of the Siberian tradition. Shamanism is probably one of the sources of Shinto, the indigenous religion of the ethnic Japanese. This book contains the Yukara. The "yukara" in the Ainu language means the singing voice, and the book has several stories told in prose.