In the mid-1970s, I took my first college course regarding environmental issues on Grizzly Bears in the Yellowstone Basin. It was based on Frank and John Craighead’s ecological research, now known as the Craighead Institute. Bears are fascinating creatures no matter what your cultural background. Still today there are Asiatic black and Ezo brown bears in the higher elevations of central and northern Japan. The bear population is estimated to be about 10,000. The brown bears of Hokkaido are related to the Grizzly Bears of North America. The Ainu, an ethnic group that is distinct from the Japanese are now living on the major northern island of Hokkaido. These indigenous people were hunter-gatherers and fishermen. They hunted bears and other wild animals and fished for salmon and other sea-faring creatures. Currently there are several archaeological and anthropological research studies looking at the Ainu people and their culture of bear-worship. Vintage Humorous Bear Carrying a