Dr Munro graduated from Edinburgh university’s medical school, before becoming a cruise ship doctor then director of Japan’s Yokohama Juzen Hospital.
He became interested in anthropology and archaeology and moved to the village of Nibutani in Hokkaido to be among the Ainu community.
The Ainu lived in self-governing communities across the island and maintained their own traditions under Japanese imperial rule.
Dr Munro sent more than 2,000 artefacts, materials and samples of human remains back to the university and the National Museum of Scotland.
PhD student Nathan Sydenham said Dr Munro had “empathised” with the Ainu people and their struggle to preserve their culture.
He said: “He saw parallels between the Hokkaido Ainu and their plight and what was happening with the British empire
“Dr Munro had a real affinity with them. The Ainu were starting to lose their traditions and values. He was annoyed about that.”
The Ainu language is now recognised by UNESCO as “critically endangered,” with only a handful of fluent speakers remaining.
AloJapan.com