during and after the yayoi period they were attacked by the early japanese people. the ainu and relative tribes lost most of their land in honshū, many were killed or ensalved by the yayoi-japanese. after the rise of the yamato, few ainu were left in honshu. after the meiji restoration in the late 1800s, the japanese began to colonize hokkaido, sending their own people to live there. they forced the ainu to leave the warm coast of hokkaido and try to live in the mountains in the middle of the island. the ainu were not allowed to fish for salmon or hunt deer. the ainu were required to speak japanese and use japanese names. japanese scientists and treasure hunters would dig up ainu graves and steal the bodies and artifacts.