The Ainu were indigenous people of northern Japan and surrounding area. It would seem most likely that “Ainu” is a somewhat generic term which groups together many different tribes, clans, or communities spread out over a vast distance. They were noted as occupying parts of Honshu, Hokaido, Southern Russia, and islands in the Sea of Okhotsk such as the Kuril Islands and the Kamchatka Peninsula.

The Ainu were hunters, gatherers. They existed outside Japanese rules and rice agriculture until forced into assimilation by the Japanese in the 18^th-19^th centuries.

Their swords or knives were believed to embody their god Tomi-Kamui, who answered the prayers of Ainu men who carried them.

Ainu blades are generally decorated with various designs of scroll work of water, animals, animal skins and hair, and clouds as in this example. I read once that bear penis skins were used to cover the scabbards of some blades to summon the bear spirit.