Cultural Dynamics of Northeastern Asian Peoples　　　Takashi Irimoto

　Northern regions are currently undergoing dramatic environmental, political and economic changes, and the culture of northern peoples is also changing rapidly. Such changes are now recognized as international issues, rather than problems of ethnic groups or individual nations. Elucidation of the cultural trends affecting northern peoples in Northeastern Asia, an area closely associated with Japan historically and geographically, is becoming an important issue.
　A research project entitled "A Comparative Study of Northern Peoples in Northeastern Asia" was conducted from 1996 to 1999 with the Grant-in-Aid for International Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture. Furthermore, research on the cultural trends affecting northern peoples was promoted in 1998 and 1999 with the Special Grant-in-Aid for the Promotion of Education and Science in Hokkaido University, also from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture.
　Based on cultural anthropological data gained from field investigations from 1996 to 1999, the dynamic relationships between the ecology of northern peoples in Northeast Asia and their world views were classified and analyzed. As a result, common shamanistic world views and rituals were observed in the cultures of ethnic groups in Northeastern Asia, even though natural conditions and forms of pastoral economy were different. These groups include the Yakut of the Sakha Republic who breed horses and cattle in northern forests, the Mongols of Inner Mongolia who graze horses, sheep, goats and cattle on northern prairies and the Koryak of northern Kamchatka of the Russian Federation who graze reindeer on the northern tundra.
　It was also revealed that the revival of traditional rituals is promoted in these areas based on this shamanistic world view and that it is closely connected with the formation of their cultural identities. In the case of the Yakut, the revival and performance of their most important ritual, Ysyakh(midsummer festival) has been the centerpiece of the revival of their shamanism and culture as a symbol of the Yakut's ecology and world view, as well as the basis of their ethnic identity. The Koryak are striving to maintain and reproduce their traditional culture, through hunting and herding rituals based on the shamanistic world view. In Inner Mongolia, shamanism is practiced in the form of singing and dancing for healing, and it can be pointed out that it is closely related to their world view and the reproduction of the identity of the Mongols.
　For research on northern peoples, basic academic research should be promoted and accumulated. Looking to the future, conducting joint research with academic institutes overseas, attending international symposiums and publishing academic books should be encouraged and the most advanced research and education should be promoted both domestically and internationally. Hokkaido should play a role as an information center to transmit the results of such activities, and research on cultural trends affecting northern peoples will form the main component of this center. To make the most of Hokkaido's regional characteristics and to reflect the uniquely important position of the island in the international society, the improvement and promotion of northern research will be vital in the future.
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