Remains of Ainu people in Edinburgh to be repatriated to Japan

Ainu indigenous remains brought from the University of Edinburgh were returned home to Japan, marking the third such repatriation following prior efforts in Germany and Australia. The donation by Scottish physician Neil Gordon Munro highlighted his deep connection to the Ainu culture and language, with the Japanese government requesting the return for cultural preservation. During a ceremony at the university, local leaders expressed their heartfelt farewell as the remains will be placed at a museum in Hokkaido, symbolizing a long-overdue recognition of their history and emotional closure for the community.