on the language of the Ainu. The effort is a collaborative and cooperative program for individuals wishing to learn about Ainu languages. This includes performances which focus on the Ainu and their language, instead of using the dominant Japanese language. Another form of Ainu language revitalization is an annual national competition, which is Ainu language-themed. People of many differing demographics are often encouraged to take part in the contest. Since 2017, the popularity of the contest has increased. The Ainu language has also been featured in the manga and anime Golden Kamuy. On 15 February 2019, Japan approved a bill to recognize the Ainu language for the first time and enacted the law on April 19, 2019. Outside of Japan, there have also been efforts to revive the Ainu culture and language in other countries, including Australia and Russia. Sample text Below is a sample text from a traditional Ainu folktale, in Ainu, Japanese and English. References Bibliography Further reading Miyake, Marc. 2010. Is the itak an isolate? External links Literature and materials for learning Ainu The Book of Common Prayer in Ainu, translated by John Batchelor, digitized by Richard Mammana and Charles Wohlers Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Ainu in Samani, Hokkaido A Grammar of the Ainu Language by John Batchelor An Ainu-English-Japanese Dictionary, including A Grammar of the Ainu Language by John Batchelor "The 'Greater Austric' hypothesis" by John Bengtson (undated) Ainu for Beginners by Kane Kumagai, translated by Yongdeok Cho Radio lessons on Ainu language presented by Sapporo TV A talking dictionary of Ainu: a new version of Kanazawa's Ainu conversational dictionary, with recordings of Mrs. Setsu Kurokawa Ainu languages Critically endangered languages Languages of Japan Subject–object–verb languages