General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: No, racism and sexism don't "go both ways" [View all]dumbcat
(2,120 posts)that racism requires some sort of action, manifestation, or discrimination. Racism requires merely a belief.
Racism is a belief in racial (or maybe genetic) superiority and inferiority. Period. Everything else is something else. Hatred is something else. From your description, it seems like the Japanese were racist about the Ainu. If the Ainu hated their oppressors for their attitude and behavior, I would not call that racist. I would call it hate for the oppressor's attitude and behavior. On the other hand, if the Ainu thought the Japanese were an inferior tribe and had no business oppressing them, then that would be racist, even if they couldn't do anything about it.
Since we seem to have the ability to define words as we wish, that's the way I define mine, along with most dictionaries.
I am not as familiar with the racial history of Japan as I would like to be. I am more knowledgeable of the Chinese cultural history, which is more than enough to keep me occupied. My wife's roots are indigenous Taiwanese, more akin to Polynesian than ethnic Chinese, but there has been a lot of assimilation on Taiwan.