What the Minister Akaba watched around in Upopoi !

by Kazu

After the briefing from the curator of the National Ainu Museum, Minister AKABA looked around the display that showed the lives and culture of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu. The attires of Ainu people may have the similarity with that of the people living in the Norther Islands and the east end of the Eurasian Continent.

Basically the spiral patterns of Ainu design derive from the face of owl and the vortex of the river. The Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Naomichi SUZUKI set the goal of one million visitors per year to this facility but it may be a tall order.

The Cabinet Secretary of Japan Mr. Yoshihide SUGA also visited this Ainu National Museum when it was officially opened. He has a special relationship with Governor SUZUKI as the alumni of Hosei University. 

Ainu Culture !

by Kazu

Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism in Japan Mr. Kazuyoshi AKABA was given a briefing on the display in the Ainu National Museum established in Shiraoi Town.  Brown bears in Hokkaido was called "Kimun Kamui"  in the language of Ainu people.

Sometimes Ainu people caught a cub of brown bear and raised in their villege called "Kotan" in order to use it in the ceremony in which they released the soul of the bear from the body.

Basically, brown bears are bigger and mnore dangerous than black bears in the main island of Japan. Brown bears that have golden hairs are much bigger and more dangerous. There seems to be some critical comments on the Ainu National Museum but it was opened officially after the twice postponement. We have to make the most of the facility anyway.  

Displays in the National Ainu Tribe Museum Upopoi !

by Kazu

Welcome notes were extended by the people on the wall in English, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Thai and other langusages. I  thought the way of the display was like that of the Alberta Royal Museum in Edomonton in Alberta, Canada.

Different from the North America, the number of the Ainu tribes is not so huge but each tribe has its own pattern on the clothes and trays. Precisely speaking, each family had its own pattern for themselves.It might be very difficult for the novices to find the difference of the designs.

Therre had been a very famous Ainu sculptor Mr. Takeki FUJITO before. His son is also a sculptor. He is \living in Akan Area in the eastern part of Hokkaido. Mr. Takeki Fujito made a huge wooden sculpture of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and gave it away to Sovirt Union.

Watching Lake Poroto !

by Kazu

After getting the perspective of the place of the Ethnic Harmony "Upopoi" which means "to sing together" in the language of the indigenous people in Hokkaido Ainu, Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism Mr. Kazuyoshi AKABA lokked around in the National Museum of Ainu culture.

Traditional Ainu attires and the tools for their traditional ceremony were displayed in the showcases of the museum. Ainu people did not have the custom of mining. They used the iron nails used for the wooden boxes that were cast ashore on the coast of Hokkaido, in order to make their swords and knives.

The accessories, coat, head band, sword, bow and arrow, fur cushion, hand-made crafts, strings, organs and their tools used in their traditional lives were displayed in the showcase.  The visitors to the facility might be able to image their lives easily, I thought.

National Ainu Tribe Museum !

by Kazu

Both of the building of the Exchange Hall and the National Museum of the Indigenous People of Hokkaido Ainu on the premises of the Space for Ethnic Harmony Upopoi have big windows facing Lake Poroto.

Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism Mr. Kazuyoshi AKABA and Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Naomichi SUZUKI entered the main building of the National Museum.

From the big window on the second floor of the museum, they could get the perspective of the facility. The Chairperson of Ainu Tribe Culture Foundation explained the outlook of the facility to the Minister.

Hokkaido Tourism Seminar in Upopoi !

by Kazu

Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism Mr. Kazuyoshi AKABA delivered a congraturatory speech at  the beginning of the Hokkaisdo Tourism Seminar in Upopoi, the Space for Ethnic Harmony, the National Museum of the Indigenous People of Hokkaido Ainu.

The youngest Governor in Japan, Mr. Naomichi SUZUKI, Governor of Hokkaido also expressed his appreciation and expectation on the facility and the increase of the tourists visiting Hokkaido.

He also referred to Adventure Travel World Summit to be hosted by Team Hokkaido in Sapporo next year and his hope to accommodate as many as rich tourists in Hokkaido.

Minister's Visit to Upopoi !

by Kazu

The Chairperson of the Ainu Tribe Culture Foundation Mr. Teruki TSUNEMOTO delivered opening remarks followed by the President of the Japan Tourism Industry Association Mr. Nobuaki SAKAMAKI. 

Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism Mr. Kazuyoshi AKABA delivered a congraturatory speech after the opening remarks.

So many key players of the tourism industry in Hokkaido got together with a hope of revitalizing Hokkaido tourism. So far, fifty five thousand students of grade schools, junior and senior high schools are expected to visit the facility and registered.