©The Foundation for Ainu Culturee ©The Foundation for Ainu Culture The Permanent Exhibition Room in the National is particularly true of the orally- Ainu Museum is centered around 14 glass cases transmitted Ainu language, which featuring exhibits representative of Ainu culture. is entirely different from Japanese. Though the sounds are familiar to people living in Hokkaido because some 80% of the names of the islands municipalities come from Ainu, no more than 10 people are The Cultural Exchange Hall presents performances of traditional said to be able to speak the language Ainu dance and music. today. The purpose of Upopoy is to serve The museum contains some 700 can be listened to via a free-of-charge not only as a venue for visitors to exhibits. Divided into six sections, app, enabling people worldwide to directly experience Ainu history and named Language, Universe, Lives, enjoy the exhibits by audio and text culture while learning about the History, Work, and Exchange, the at home (for details, go to https:// Ainu views of the world and nature, Permanent Exhibition Room is the ainu-upopoy.jp/en/guide/). but also as a home for the heart and ideal place to gain an overview of One noteworthy aspect of the soul of the Ainu people. Conceived Ainu history and culture. The park National Ainu Museum is the fact as a symbolic space for ethnic is actually an interactive open-air that in collaboration with the Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) lies next to Lake Poroto. The beautiful natural surroundings give visitors a fi rsthand sense of how Ainu life and culture developed in harmony with nature. (image only) harmony,” Upopoy is an Ainu word center comprising a traditional Ainu museum staff and scholars, Ainu meaning singing together in a large village (kotan) of reconstructed people themselves have also selected UPDATE group—an activity typical of the houses (cise) and stages for the exhibits and display methods, emotionally expressive Ainu culture. traditional dance. There you can and have written the descriptions. By providing visitors from Japan and enjoy demonstrations of hunting Their own participation and Experience the Ainu World, elsewhere with the opportunity to and fishing tools, performances of involvement in the museum aims experience and appreciate the traditional songs and dances, and to revitalize the Ainu culture through richness of that culture, Upopoy aims participation in interactive programs interaction with visitors from all over Living in Harmony with Naturee to contribute to its further expansion of Ainu cuisine and crafts.* the world, which should further and revitalization. Descriptive panels, signage in expand cultural diversity. Owing Upopoy, a national center for the learning and promotion of the history and Upopoy consists of the National the museum as well as the audio to its contribution to that process, Ainu Museum and the National guides are available in up to eight Upopoy will surely become a symbol culture of the Ainu, an indigenous people of Japan, opened in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, Ainu Park in the core lakeside area, languages, including Ainu, Japanese, of a vibrant, inclusive society. in July . Named after an Ainu word meaning singing together in a large along with a hilltop Memorial Site. English, and Russian. Audio guides group, Upopoy offers visitors an eciting firsthand encounter with Ainu culture. lessed by an abundance of (National Ainu Museum and Park) 3 Lake Poroto 4 natural beauty, the town of has been established as a new B Sapporo New Chitose Shiraoi is surrounded by mountains, facility dedicated to revitalizing and Airport lakes, and the Pacific Ocean, yet developing Ainu culture.* Shiraoi 2 lies only a 40-minute drive away The Ainu, an indigenous people 6 from New Chitose Airport, the main who have long inhabited the northern The kotan (traditional Ainu village) contains several 5 gateway to Hokkaido, and a one- part of the Japanese archipelago, reconstructed Ainu houses (cise). Visitors can enter the houses, hour drive from Sapporo, which is particularly the island of Hokkaido, take part in ceremonies, and try on traditional clothing.* 1 the largest city in the prefecture. The have a distinctive language, religion, cold winters, the Ainu developed foundations of the towns history and culture. Today, the Ainu live a rich culture of their own that were laid by the Ainu people, and in all parts of Japan, and are an encompasses food, clothing, shelter, 1 National Ainu Museum 2 Cultural Exchange Hall 3 Workshop many still live there and are said invaluable part of its diverse society arts, and crafts, all predicated on Exhibits history and culture of Ainu Presents traditional dancing and Visitors can taste Ainu cuisine and to make up about one-tenth of its and culture. Historically making a the notion of living in harmony from their own perspective other performances play Ainu musical instruments population of 16 thousand. On the livelihood by hunting and gathering with nature. With modernization, 4 Kotan 5 Crafts Studio 6 Cikisani Square shore of Lake Poroto, a short walk in the harsh natural environment, however, that culture has been The Memorial Site honoring the remains of deceased Ainu Traditional Ainu village Demonstrations and workshops of Welcomes visitors with displays of from downtown Shiraoi, Upopoy which is particularly severe in the on the verge of extinction. This people. wood carving and embroidery traditional dancing and clothing * As of July 2020, in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, entry to Upopoy facilities is 18 19 permitted by reservation. Some activities are also subject to change or cancellation..