113 km away
The variety spoken across Hokkaido. A relatively young dialect shaped by 19th-century settlement, mostly close to Standard Japanese but with Tōhoku and coastal influences.
Ainu
A language isolate of the indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido and historically Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands. Critically endangered with only a handful of native speakers; subject of an active revitalisation effort.
Shareable facts
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Frequently asked questions
What language is Ainu?
Ainu is a dialect of the Ainu language.
Where is Ainu spoken?
Ainu is primarily spoken in Japan.
Which region is Ainu associated with?
Ainu is part of the East Asia region on DialectAtlas.
Is Ainu endangered?
Ainu is critically endangered. Only a small number of mostly elderly speakers remain, and the variety is at imminent risk of being lost.
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