On the Foundation of the Northern Studies Association (NSA)　　　Takashi Irimoto

　The Northern Studies Association (NSA) was founded on October 1, 1990. The aim of the association is to contribute to the understanding of mankind through the study of various northern cultures of Eurasia and North America and through international exchange.
　The Northern Studies Association has two functions; it is an association for regional studies and also an association for studies of man, that is, anthropology in a broad sense. In terms of regional studies, the northern region is the subject of the study, including Eurasia and North America, two important areas where sufficient studies and information have not been accumulated. Japan has historical, ecological, and cultural characteristics indicative of its location on one end of the Eurasian continent. When one looks at Japan as part of the northern Pacific rim region, however, a close relationship between North America is evident. Therefore, it is important to study Eurasia, Japan, and North America as a continuous and unified northern region.
　Northern culture is a unique way of life, in terms of technology, ecology, society, and world view, found only in northern regions. The evolutionary history stretches back to the time modern men (Homo sapiens sapiens) advanced into northern Eurasia and spread into North America. Northern culture is a whole body of cultures which have changed, descended, and developed up to today.
　In the evolutionary history of men, the paleolithic culture of Japan is not unrelated to that of northern Eurasia, and some northern characteristics are also recognized in the Jomon culture which followed paleolithic culture, There are many ethnological aspects which northern Eurasian cultures, North American cultures, and Ainu culture have in common. For example, the world view behind the Ainu Bear Festival is based on the succession of reciprocity between men and gods−that is to say, their logic behind it is that their game animals are divinities wearing flesh and hide sent to men as gifts, and divinities are worshipped by men, receive hospitality and gifts, including inau, wooden sticks with shavings, and go back to their divine home, while being invited to visit the human world again. In addition, the shamanistic view of the world plays an important role in northern culture in connecting nature (gods) and men.
　In ecological studies in northern regions, the man subject is how men live in northern climates. For example, snow shoes, technologically related to regions with snow accumulation, are most developed among the American boreal forest Indians, but are also found in Japan. Breeding and herding reindeer are characteristic of Eurasia, but are traditionally not conducted in North America. In the latter region, the caribou (American reindeer), which belongs to the same biological species as the reindeer, occupies this niche only as game animals. This cultural difference stems from ecological and historical conditions. Thus, comparative studies of northern regions should be important methodology to study the cultural history of men.
　These various cultures of northern regions described in ethnographies have changed up to today. Comparative studies of the current northern regions are as important as studies of prehistoric cultures and ethnographies. For example, Hokkaido has a natural environment similar to Scandinavian nations, CIS, USA, Canada, and other northern nations. These regions have a common aim, that is, to live comfortably during the long winter. Furthermore, changes in the environment greatly influence the northern ecosystem. Such changes should not be viewed as the problem of one nation, but should be seen as a problem common to all northern regions. Historically, northern countries also have many aspects in common. For instance, Canada’s multipolar diplomacy and multiculturism should be comparatively studied as one politico-cultural model of the future in rapidly changing northern societies and international relationships.
　Study of northern regions is also study of man in a broad sense. Northern ecology, society, and world view, and study of the interrelationships of these aspects, should lead to an understanding of the theory and of the entire human being, when they are compared with those of other regions (e.g. Africa and Oceania). Assuming that the northern regions are one cultural region and assuming that the Eurasian continent and the North American continent are one such region, one may be able to further the study to clarify whether its cultural characteristics are unique to northern regions, or whether they are common to all men, by constantly making comparisons with other regions. This is because we will be able to find out where to place northern cultures among all human cultures, and at the same time, to find a better answer to the question, “What is man?”
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