Strategic Goal 3

Strategic Goal Coordinator: Akamine Jun (Hitotsubashi University)

These three themes, commonly referred to as “historical theme,” “indigenous theme,” and “governance theme,” will collaborate closely to achieve the project’s goals. In promoting individual research, close cooperation with a group of studies under Strategic Goal 2 is anticipated. 

A significant distinction between the Arctic and Antarctic regions is the presence of eight nation-states in the Arctic, which are home to indigenous peoples and a diverse population. This distinction is central to the current strategic goals. For those living in temperate zones, the Arctic region and its indigenous inhabitants may seem to be distant. However, it is the indigenous peoples of the Arctic who are most affected by climate change, particularly global warming. Furthermore, in the wake of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and consequent shifts in the global security landscape, international politics in the Arctic region have become increasingly complex. In this context, themes concerning indigenous people and Arctic governance are contemporary research topics of considerable significance. Historically, even during medieval times, northern products, such as sea otter pelts, albeit in limited quantities, were imported to Japan and regarded as valuable commodities. In the early modern era, the importation of these northern goods expanded through trade with the Ainu. Notably, through the Ainu acting as intermediaries in trade, goods collected by indigenous peoples in the far north entered Japan. With the expansion of the Japanese state after the Meiji period, political and economic ties with northern indigenous peoples were strengthened.

By integrating the perspectives of indigenous peoples, governance, and history, the diversity and complexity of ties between Japan and the Arctic region have become evident. Simultaneously, it has become evident that the challenges currently facing the Arctic are also critical issues that Japan needs to address.