The Community of the Indigenous People Ainu was moved!

by Kazu

I found a Caucasian couple watching around the museum and saying "These are very similar to those of the indigenous people  of Alaska Aleut, in other words, Unangan, in their language.  

Some bracelets were also made of  iron and other kinds of metals. The design of the crafts were so simple but created so relaxing and comfy impression to use.       

Needless to say, making the clothes of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu need cotton, textile, strings and other materials, in particular, in winter, to get over the fatal coldness. They had to exchange their products with Japanese people.  

 

Wood Carvings of Ainu !

by Kazu

The wood crafts carved by the famous and popular indigenous artists were displayed on the shelves in the corridor of the museum. It must require so long time to carve out such art works from the trunk of spruce, I think. 

The design of the textiles were so simple and wooden table wares were thick and robust. They did not cultivate crops but picked up the fruits of trees, wild grapes,Acorns, mushrooms, hunt deer, rabbit and brown bears and fish salmon and other kinds of fish.   

But they have the time for ceremony, to carve out the table wares form trees and to design the textiles and patterns.The wooden boxes drifted in the ocean reached the coast of Hokkaido and the nails of the boxes were used to make knives and swords by Ainu people.  

 

Cinema Stars' Costumes !

by Kazu

It seems that the costume above is for the antagonist of the drama "Golden Kamuy" played by Mr. Hirooshi Tamaki and below is for the protagonist of the drama Mr. Kento Yamazaki with scar face.  

I think it is very pretty design with hood but it is for male and worn by Mr. Goudon Maeda. It might be too tough to seek for something in Hokkaido with this coat, I think.

I've never heard of the technology for iron-manufacturing by Ainu but such kinds of swords were displayed in the museum. The grips and scabbards of swords were so decorated with sophisticated design.  

 

The Display in the Museum!

by Kazu

This is the main building of the Museum of Ainu Culture run by Biratori Town. 

The costumes of the main characters in the movie film "Golden Kamuy" were displayed in the main hall of the museum. 

these costumes were actually used in shooting the movie film "Golden Kamuy" which story is many stakeholders were seeking for the gold treasure hidden by the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu.

This is the costume for a Ainu female who helped the protagonist of the drama. The plaid-like traditional pattern of Ainu was used at the edge of the coat. I am not sure if such kind of design was popular in their real life or not but anyway, it's very nice design and pretty.

 

The real life of the Indigenous people in Hokkaido Ainu!

by Kazu

A small wooden cage was for a bear cub captured when the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu hunt a brown bear. The cub would be raised for a while and be used in their traditional ceremony to release the soul of the cub. Yes, the cub would be killed.

Ainu people believed that the soul of the cub would become a deity called "Kimun Kamuy" Their houses were made of wood and reed. Textile was made in the house called "Chise" in their language.

This is a warehouse of them. No mouse buster could be seen under the floor. Even in Hokkaido, there are many mice that can get over the cold weather in winter. The old warehouses on this globe have a same kind of shape to avoid the damage brought by animals an insects.

 

The Indigenous People in Hokkaido Ainu Museum in Nibudani!

by Kazu

Have you ever heard of the movie film and comic "Golden Kamuy" featuring the famous and popular actors such as Mr. Kento Yamazaki, Mr. Hiroshi Tamaki, Mr. Hiroshi Tachi, Mr. Goudon Maeda, Mr.Yuma Yamoto, Ms. Anna Yamada and so on? 

The real life of the indigenous people in Hokkaido Ainu was recreated on the upper side of the Nibudani, Biratori Town. This is the small house for some kind of animals and made of reed.

This is the hydraulic-power flour- maker called "Iyutapu" in Ainu language. There were about forty Iyutapu in Nibudani before, they said.They did not cultivate wheat nor rice crops but they have stone knife to take the grain from some kinds of wild crops.

 

Some people prefer Nibudani to Upopoi !

by Kazu

My wife and I visited the center of the indigenous culture of Hokkaido Ainu "Nibudani" where many indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu had lived before. When the dam in Nibudani Valley was built, the original community of the indigenous people in Hokkaido Ainu must have had been near Saru River and have been moved because a dam would be built.    

This is the overview of the dam and Saru River. The village of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu was moved from the riverside to the higher place where the current downtown of Biratori Town.

This is the inside of the traditional house of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu. "Chise" means house in their language. I am not sure the real size of their house but this is the house displayed in the area of the museum.

 

Wrap up with Chinese Chicken Burger!

by Kazu

It was so fine on that day as usual when we visited the shrine in Yunokawa Area of Hakodate City, Yukura Shrine. It was a little bit too hot for me lugging around a Boston bag and taking tram to reach there.

It was the day of the festival of the shrine, so many people worshiped and food vendors set up their stand on the premises of the shrine and on the pavement for pedestrians. 

After we worshiped, we picked up the famous and popular hamburger "Chinese Chicken Burger" of "Lucky Pierrot", the local hamburger chain that also runs "Hasegawa Store" selling grilled skewered  pork and leek "Yakitori Bento" meal package.

 

Worship : Hakodate Hachimanguu!!

by Kazu

The stairs to the main sacred house of Hakodate Hachimanguu Shrine might be a little bit to steep for the elders and kids. But many citizens visit and worship after crawling up the stairs. Other than that, automobiles are available to reach the  shrine unless the date of visits are not at the end or the beginning of years. 

The gate of the shrine on the main approach road seemed to be colored brown but I think originally, it was colored red. The name of the gate" Torii" derives from the Hebrew word which means "Gate".

The priest of the shrine is not living in this old wooden building but their house is near this shrine and easy to commute. cleaning up the premises and the buildings must be so tough for them and may have to hire the gardeners and cleaners.

 

Yachigashira Hakodate Hachimanguu !

by Kazu

Passing by "the Blue Blood Monument" for the soldiers who fought against the army sponsored by the European capitalists named "Red Shield" , I reached Hakodate Hachiman shrine in Yachigashira Area where my father had lived for a few years. 

An esteemed pine tree on the premises of the shrine stood so solemnly reflecting the sunshine. Aged and well-trimmed pine trees and spruces stood with dignity in and around the shrine. They were so beautiful and inspiring.

It must be tough to run and maintain the esteemed shrine and surroundings in Hakodate City but the premises and the wooden building seemed to have been well-trimmed and cleaned up. It was so beautiful with the godsend of the nature.