Exhibition
Ainu Culture Days
About this event
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), giving visitors a unique opportunity to learn firsthand about Ainu traditions, history, efforts in cultural preservation, and contemporary life.
PROGRAM
July 2 (Thursday)
4:00 PM
Screening of the documentary "Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan" (film in Japanese with English subtitles.)
5:30 PM
Lecture on the activities of the Upopo Team, research into Ainu singing techniques, and their revival (Sayaka Kawakami)
Sayaka Kawakami, a researcher at the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, has been dedicated to fostering Ainu art and culture since childhood. After graduating from Sapporo University, she delved into various aspects of Ainu culture at the Ainu Culture Foundation. Later, she began working at the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, where she is responsible for teaching Ainu dance and the performance of 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.
6:30 PM
Memory of the Land. The Road 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, and from 2012, he served as its director. He actively contributed to the establishment of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum, and since 2025, he has served as the director of this museum.
In his lecture, he will present the history of the former Poroto Kotan Ainu Museum, the connection of the Shiraoi area to Ainu culture, and the activities of the Upopoy National Ainu Museum.
July 3 (Friday)
2:30 PM
Screening of the documentary "Ripples of Physis" and a meeting with the film's producer Sanae Kawai (film in Japanese with Lithuanian subtitles)
4:30 PM
Lecture on Bronisław Piłsudski and the Sakhalin Ainu people (Masato Tamura)
