The Ainu people were the original inhabitants of Hokkaido before recorded history. They have faced long-term discrimination as the indigenous people of Japan despite having a distinct physical appearance and culture from the Japanese, including traditional hunter-gatherer practices, body modifications, and worship of bears. The annual Marimo Festival in Hokkaido celebrates the endangered algae found in Lake Akan and provides an opportunity to experience performances of Ainu dance and folk songs, helping to preserve their endangered culture and language.