蝦夷 Might Contribute to Japan Genetically

choi

(1) DNA Study Challenges Thinking on Ancestry of People in Japan. RIKEN, Aug 14, 2024.
https://www.riken.jp/en/news_pub ... 240815_1/index.html

Quote:

"The researchers used a technique called whole-genome sequencing, which reveals an individual’s complete genetic makeup—all three billion DNA base-pairs. It provides roughly 3,000 times more information than the DNA microarray method, which up until now has been used more widely.

"Jomon ancestry, for instance, is most dominant in the southern, subtropical shores of Okinawa (found in 28.5% of samples) while lowest in the west (just 13.4% of samples). By contrast, people living in western Japan have more genetic affinity with Han Chinese people—which Terao’s team believes is likely associated with the influx of migrants from east Asia between the year 250 and year 794, and is also reflected in the comprehensive historical adoption of Chinese-style legislation, language and educational systems in this region.   Emishi ancestry, on the other hand, is most common in northeastern Japan, decreasing to the west of the country")

, which is summarized from

(2) Liu X et al (the last author was Chikashi Terao), Decoding Triancestral Origins, Archaic Introgression, and Natural Selection in the Japanese Population by Whole-Genome Sequencing. Science Advances, vol 19, issue 16 (Aug 17, 2024).
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adi8419

Note: I found them out only today.
(a)
(i)
(A) Chikashi TERAO 寺尾 知可史 (1979- ; MD (2004), PhD (2011) -- both from Kyoto University) is now a researcher working at RIKEN in Yokohama.
(B) The noun chikashi is 近し, whose corresponding adjective is chika-i 近い.
(C) Japanese-English dictionary:
* natsu-chikashi 夏近し 【なつちかし】 (n): "near summer; end of spring" (Another example: 秋近し is 晩夏 (which is kanji). )
* 性相近し、習い相遠し 【せいあいちかし、ならいあいとおし】 (exp[ression]) (proverb) (from the Analects of Confucius): "by human nature we are close, through practice we grow apart; by nature, near together; by practice far apart"  
* Compare ri-kagaku 理化学 【りかがく】 (n): "physics and chemistry"
   with butsu-ri-ka-gaku 物理化学 【ぶつりかがく】 (n) "physical chemistry"  (The "butsu" is Chinese pronunciation of kanji 物.


(D) 知可史 itself has no meaning, which is just several kanji his parents selected for their sound: 知, 可, 史, each having Chinese pronunciation corresponding to chi, ka, shi. This is similar to the Chinese name for Trump can be any combination of Chinese characters each soumding the same as similar to each syllable of Trump.
(ii)
(A) Riken 理研 (abbreviation of Institute of Physical and Chemical Research 理化学研究所; a research institute of Japan government)
(B) "Founded in 1917, it now has about 3,000 scientists on seven campuses across Japan, including the main site at Wakō, Saitama Prefecture [埼玉県 和光市], on the [northern] outskirts of Tokyo."  en.wikipedia.org for Riken.
(iii) The American company 23andMe uses a DNA microarray (also known as a SNP chip) to analyze the DNA in the saliva sample (which contains cells from the host; DMA are extracted from inside these cells).
(iv) American Association for the Advancement of Science (1848- ; based in Washington, DC; a nonprofit) published magazines: Science (1880- ) and Science Advance (2015- ; free and online only).
(v)
(A) DNA Microarray Technology Fact Sheet. National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institute of Health (NIH), Aug 5, 2020
https://www.genome.gov/about-gen ... croarray-Technology

Read only section 3 How does a DNA microarray work?
(B) Compared with DNA sequencing, the advantage of DNA microarray is cost effective and high throughput.
(vi) In (2), Result stated in the opening paragraph that the research conducted whole genome sequencing on 3,256 living Japanese: "All regions except for Okinawa are located on the main islands of the Japanese Archipelago, commonly known as Hondo [本土], while the term Okinawa in this study indicates the Ryukyu islands."


(b)
(i) What is amazing about (1) is that the "west" in (1) includes Kyoto, or Kansai region 関西地方. By itself, (1) did not specify west, so I had assumed that (1) meant Kyushu.
(ii)
(A) In (2) again, paragraph 2 said that this group of researchers, like previous studies on origin(s) of Japanese by other groups, determined two origins. On further scrutiny, as reported in paragraph 3 this group found a third origin: Emishi.
(B) According to (2), origins of Japanese started from three geographical places: "Okinawa, Northeast, and West, respectively,: of Japan. Another way to say it -- in terms of ethnic groups rather geographical places -- is Okinawans, Chinese and Emisu. Culture-wid, the first two ethnic groups represented, respectively, Jomon and Yayoi (two periods that archaeologists had established long ago).
(iii) The (2) in its own words:

Discussion: "Previous studies [conducted by other groups of researchers] have suggested that Japanese carry Jomon and EA ancestry (represented by Han Chinese) (34, 40). * * * One limitation, however, is that the number of ancient genome samples, particularly those from Yayoi and Kofun periods, remains limited. * * * Okinawa has a higher genetic affinity to Jomon, while West, or regions near West, is genetically closer to the Chinese compared to other regions in Hondo (33, 34, 40). * * * The observation that West had a closer genetic affinity to Chinese is potentially associated with a substantial influx of people with EA [East Asian] ancestry during the post-Yayoi period, with historical evidence indicating continued migration from the Korean Peninsula through the Kofun and Nara periods (250 to 794 CE) (76, 79). This continued influx may have played a role in the formation of Japan’s first centralized imperial state during the Kofun period, which was established in West (in present-day Nara Prefecture) (80). This period also witnessed a substantial technological and cultural influx, characterized by Chinese influence. This is apparent in the comprehensive adoption of Chinese-style legitimation, language, and educational systems (81). * * * Historical records indicate that [Japan's] Northeast was inhabited by the so-called Emishi people, literally translated as 'shrimp barbarians' (82) [蝦夷, a term first mention in China in 478 as 毛人 in 宋书 (about 南北朝 刘宋)]. The origin of Emishi is somehow understudied and remains a matter of debate, but it was proposed that they might be related to NEA (83, 84) [Northeast Asian]. In addition, it has been suggested that the Emishi people might have spoken a distinct Japonic language, akin to the historical Izumo dialect (85) [spoken in Izumo Province 出雲国]. * * * Northern Kyushu, where evidence suggests that rice farming was first introduced in Japan (86) [from China; via Korea]

(iv) list of time periods
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_time_periods
(section 7 Asian periods, section 7.4 Japanese periods:
• Jōmon period (10,501 BC – 400 BC)
• Yayoi period (450 BC – 250 AD)
• Kofun period (250–600) )
(A) Jōmon period 縄文時代
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jōmon_period
("The first Jōmon pottery is characterized by the cord-marking that gives the period its name"_
To the right of this text is a photo with caption: "Incipient Jōmon pottery (14th–8th millennium BC) Tokyo National Museum, Japan" 東京国立博物館

Meaning straw rope, 縄 has Chinese pronunciation jō and Japanese pronunciation nawa (as in Okinawa).
(B) Yayoi period 弥生時代
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_period
("The period is named after the neighbourhood of Tokyo where archaeologists first uncovered artifacts and features from that era in the late 19th century. * * * The Yayoi followed the Jōmon period and Yayoi culture flourished in a geographic area from southern Kyūshū to northern Honshū. Archaeological evidence supports the idea that during this time, an influx of farmers (Yayoi people) from the Korean Peninsula to Japan overwhelmed and mixed with the native predominantly hunter-gatherer population (Jōmon people)" )
• "Yayoi pottery, like earlier Jōmon ware, was unglazed. Pottery of the Early Yayoi period (c. 300–100 bce) was characterized by knife-incised surface decoration. During the Middle Yayoi period (100 bce–100 ce) pottery objects with comb-mark decorations appeared. Forms of this warm russet-coloured ware included * * * " Encyclopaedia Britannica for "Yayoi culture."
• Yayoi period
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yayoi_period
shows one such pottery.
(C) Kofun period  古墳時代
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kofun_period

(c)
(i)
(A) It stands to reason that Emishi constitutes an origin of Japanese. See history of Japan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Japan
(a map with caption: "Territorial extent of Yamato court during the Kofun period")
(B) "The Yamato Kingship (ヤマト王権 [or 大和王権]) was a tribal alliance centered on the Yamato region (Nara Prefecture) * * * At the same time as the rise of the Nara Kingship, there were probably several or even dozens of power centers in the Japanese archipelago."  en.wikipedia.org for "Yamato Kingship."
(ii) The (2) does not mention Ainu. Probably Emishi in ancient times begot Ainu in modern times.