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Yahoo Auctions Sold Ainu 'Family Register' Before Listing Was Removed

Ainu groups warn that publishing ancestral names risks fresh discrimination rooted in Japan’s assimilation policies.

Overview

  • The document, presented as a family register tied to a Hokkaido elementary school, was purchased on December 7 for ¥63,000.
  • Listing photos showed a cover reading “旧土人戸籍写 豊栄尋常小学校” and pages with handwritten pupil names, parents’ names, sex, and birthdates.
  • LINE Yahoo said it deleted the auction page on December 9 after being contacted by affected individuals, calling it prohibited personal information or certificates.
  • Ainu individuals and organizations condemned the sale, saying the exposure of identifiable ancestry could fuel discrimination and cause personal anxiety.
  • Reporters noted the names were viewable on the listing for at least several days, while the buyer’s identity, the document’s provenance, and its exact age remain unclear.