The God Bears of Northern Japan with David Laichtman / Sophia University

In Episode 23 of the podcast we head north into Tohoku and onto the largest of Japan’s main islands, Hokkaido. Historically considered wild and untamed, places of different people, cultures and deities, it is here that we encounter the god bears of northern Japan. In this episode I speak with David Laichtman, a doctoral candidate at Sophia University in Tokyo, about the historical and contemporary practice of bear worship in Japan. David explains that bear worship is one of mankind’s oldest forms of religion, practiced in many areas of the northern hemisphere to this day including the uplands of Japan – a region roughly corresponding with that of the snow country.

We discuss the practice of bear worship in Japan by cultures including the Matagi in Tohoku and Ainu in Hokkaido. In doing so, this episode draws attention to the often-overlooked fact that Japan is home culturally and ethnically distinct people, many of whom are most identifiable in the snow country.

Source: David Laichtman - taxidermy Hokkaido brown bear cub adorned with ponpake and sarambe. Upopoy National Ainu Museum, Hokkaido, March 2023

Source: David Laichtman - wooden ‘Ikupasuy’ with carved bear motifs. Kushiro City Museum, Hokkaido, March 2023.

Source: Wikimedia Commons - Ainu woman with facial tattoos and bear cub, circa. 1922. Image is in the public domain.

This episode deals with traditional practices including bear hunting and the ‘Kuma-matsuri’ of the Matagi and ‘Iomante’ ceremony of the Ainu, which result in the physical death of bears. We discuss how that occurs including ritualistic aspects of the death and the consumption of the bear. Given the nature of our conversation, this episode may not be suitable for all audiences and for that reason, I ask for your discretion as to whether you want to listen to it. I do not intend it to be voyeuristic or sensational, but with a genuine belief that it is of value in drawing attention to the important stories of minority cultures within Japan, many of which are most visible in the snow country. I hope it also motivates you to learn more and to visit the snow country to experience these cultures firsthand.

Source: Wikimedia Commons - painting in ink and colours on linen of the Ainu Iomante, bear spirit sending ceremony in Hokkaido, Japan. Made by Hirasawa Byozan, 1875. Image is in the public domain.

David and I discuss peoples including the Matagi and Ainu cultures. Neither of us are Matagi or Ainu and we do not speak on their behalf. My questions are asked from a place of true interest and it is my sincere intention that all questions are appropriate and engaging, while David’s answers are based on his own research and observations.

Source: Wikimedia Commons - painting of the Ainu bear ‘Iomante’, circa. 1870. Image is in the public domain.

Should you be interested to learn more, Mataginoyu and Matagi Museum, both in Akita Prefecture, profile the culture of the Matagi. Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Hokkaido is the largest public facility dedicated to the promotion of Ainu culture however as discussed, it has its controversies. As David suggests, it might be best to visit Upopoy in conjunction with or prioritise a visit to Nibutani Ainu Culture Museum, along with the Kayano Shigeru Nibutani Ainu Museum. David also recommends the following reading:

Knight, John. Waiting for Wolves in Japan: An Anthropological Study of People Wildlife Relations. Honolulu: University of Hawai’i Press, 2006.

Shigeru, Kayano. Our Land Was a Forest. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, Inc., 1994.

Walker, Brett L. The Lost Wolves of Japan. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2008.

David will be a guest speaker at the workshop event ‘New and Critical Perspectives on Global Studies’, presented by the Graduate School of Global Studies (GSGS) Sophia University on February 16th 2024. Taking place from 09:00 to 16:35, it will be held in Room 301, Building 10 on the Yotsuya Campus of Sophia University. No registration is necessary and admission is free.

I’d like to say a big thank you for David for making time to speak with me, including providing reading material prior to our interview and some of the images used on this page. You can follow him on X and as mentioned above, should you be on Tokyo on February 16th 2024 he will be speaking at the above event, listed as David “Danger” Laichtman. My type of academic. I hope you enjoy!