Ainu Culture Days

On July 2–3, the House of Histories of the National Museum of Lithuania will host a series of lectures on the history and culture of the Ainu people. The lectures will be delivered by representatives of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum (Japan), offering visitors a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about Ainu traditions, history, cultural preservation efforts, and contemporary life. PROGRAMME July 2 (Thursday) 16:00 Screening of the documentary "Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan" (in Japanese with English subtitles). 17:30 Lecture on the activities of the Upopo Team, the research and revival of Ainu singing techniques (Sayaka Kawakami) Sayaka Kawakami, a researcher at the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, has been dedicated to promoting Ainu art and culture since childhood. After graduating from Sapporo University, she delved into various aspects of Ainu culture at the Ainu Culture Foundation. She later joined the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, where she is responsible for teaching Ainu dance and traditional musical instruments. In her lecture, she will present the activities of the Upopo Team, research on traditional Ainu singing techniques, and the process of their revival. 18:30 Memory of the Land. The Path to Upopoy (Masahiro Nomoto) Masahiro Nomoto, Director of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, was born in the town of Shiraoi to a family of Ainu descent. Since 1985, he worked at the Poroto Kotan Ainu Museum, serving as its director from 2012. He actively contributed to the establishment of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum and has been serving as its director since 2025. In his lecture, he will present the history of the former Poroto Kotan Ainu Museum, the connection of the Shiraoi area with Ainu culture, and the activities of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum. July 3 (Friday) 14:30

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