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“During the discussion after the board meeting, one director raised a question about the Northern Territories Problem, ‘Now, [the Northern Territories issue] is a problem between Japan and the Soviet Union, so are there any concerns that Ainu might become political pawns?’ In response, the delegation’s leader Mr. Kaizawa said, ‘I don’t think so. We will take part in the event in a much more relaxed manner. My only hope right now is for every single member of our delegation to come back to Japan happily and safely after such a long journey” (Anutari Ainu, Vol. 6-7, January 20, 1974, pp.1-2).
理事会後の話し合いのとき、ある理事より、北方領土問題につき、「今、日ソ間で問題になっているおり、アイヌが政治の具になる懸念はないのか」との質問があったが、これに対して貝沢団長は、「そんなことはないと思う。もっとかり〜い気持ちで行って参ります。今、思うのは長い旅行中、団員の誰も健康で帰ってこられればと思います。」
Mr. Kaizawa’s response suggests that even though the Ainu trip happened during a period of international political tension, the Ainu weren’t interested in joining those discussions. Instead, the Ainu trip was a chance to connect with China’s different ethnic minorities and assert an Ainu identity that was unique from mainstream Japan.