 As of 2011, there has been an increasing number of second-language learners, especially in Hokkaido, in large part due to the pioneering efforts of the late Ainu folklorist, activist and former Diet member Shigeru Kayano, himself a native speaker, who first opened an Ainu language school in 1987 funded by Ainu Kyokai.The Ainu Association of Hokkaido is the main supporter of Ainu culture in Hokkaido.Ainu language classes have been conducted in some areas in Japan and small numbers of young people are learning Ainu.