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I learned growing up in Japan in the 90's that the Ainu are indigenous people of Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan. Okinawa and Hokkaido weren't really Japanese until recently. I think I remember learning that Hokkaido was like Australia, where the mainland sent Japanese prisoners/criminals to or something.

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The north coast of Hokkaido is home to the Abashiri Prison. The original building was built in the late 1800s by the prisoners, in pretty harsh conditions. We were told being sent there was like being banished to Siberia. It was used for Yakuza and political prisoners.

We were recently in Northern Hokkaido, but didn't have enough time in Abashiri to visit the prison museum. That part of the island is nothing like the rest of Japan.

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