Ainu language spoken area

• South Sakhalin
• Kuril islands
• Hokkaido
• North edge of Japan main island

The power struggle of Japan between Russia causes to move Ainu, now in sakhalin and kuril islands Ainu language is not spoken. The area is in Russian territory now.
In North edge of Japan main island,Aomori, it's said that Ainu language was spoken until 1950's, but now Japanese is spoken.

Now, In 1999,Ainu language is little spoken in Hokkaido.
But,in 10 years,the movement to revival Ainu language has occured language classes and speech contestes in many places.

Ainu language spoken area in historical archives

• Ainu might live with other people in North Sakhalin and Amur river area.(since 1300's)
  "Yuan Dynasty of China" ,founded by tatar, fight against several times the peoples who may be Ainu because the peoples invade area where "Yuan" controls.(AC 1264-1308)It may first archives about Ainu in china.
  The "Sin" age ,last imperial china,Ainu traded with china to go upstream Amur river. Now some people in Amur area have oral tradition which their ancestor is Ainu.
• In Japan main island , Ainu might live in north of the island, Aomori,Iwate,Akita.(in 700's)
  In the Shoku-Nihon-gi ,that means Japanese archive part2, the contact Ezo between Japan was recorded. It may be first detailed archive about Ezo, that name means barbaric peoples around Japan.
• The south limit of place name by Ainu language, it is said the Sirakawa Barrier and Nakoso Barrier(See black line on center Japan land). But the hypotheses exist that the place name by Ainu language left other many places.