January 14 & 15, 2012: Ainu Design Exhibition

The Kanto Utari Association, one of the four Ainu associations in the Tokyo area, will be holding an exhibition of their works of Ainu traditional designs.

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Ainu Design Exhibition

Date & Time:

January 14 (Sat)  13:00 – 20:00

January 15 (Sun)  10:00 – 20:00

Venue:

Ouji Hokutopia B1F Exhibit Hall B

*5 minute walk from Ouji Station

Admission: Free

Inquiries:

080-3471-0953 Maruko

090-6472-0586 Yahata

090-9389-6491 Kitahara

Organized by:

Kanto Utari Association

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REPORT: Forest Gallery & Concert @ Haponetay

Haponetay (Mother Forest) is a forest in Shimizu, Hokkaido (near Obihiro) that is run by two Ainu women – the mother-daughter pair of Rumiko & Utae Ehara. Haponetay is the venue for the yearly “Forest Gallery” which display works by Ainu and other artists in a forest setting. Other events such as workshops and concerts are also held at the forest during the period of the exhibit.  

This year, the artists on display were Shogo Yoshino and sayo, two young Ainu artists that are former members of the AINU REBELS and are currently AINU PRIDE PRODUCTIONS featured artists, as well as Koji Yuki of Ainu Art Project. The works of Ague, a silversmith who incorporates the Ainu designs of his wife Emi Toko, and Atsushi Hirata, a “Jomon”-inspired artist were also included in the exhibit.

A piece by Shogo Yoshino

A series by sayo

The concert held this year featured traditional dancing and singing by the Hunpe Sisters, a trio of Ainu women who in their own words look like hunpe (whales), and the rock-infused Ainu music of Ainu Art Project. Other local performers and a group of schoolchildren learning Ainu traditional dance also joined the concert as well.

Hunpe Sisters in action

(More photos are available on our Facebook page)

Next year’s event is already being planned, please contact us if you would like to learn more about Haponetay or the featured artists – or visit Haponetay’s website (in Japanese only) or follow them on twitter.

Jan 8, Feb 12, & Mar 4, 2012: TOKYO Ainu Film Showing in Nakano

New dates have been added to the ongoing mini-showings of the documentary film "TOKYO Ainu" in Nakano, Tokyo. The English version (edited and supervised by AINU PRIDE PRODUCTIONS) will be shown at 14:00 on February 12. All other scheduled showings will be in Japanese only.

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Mini-showings of TOKYO Ainu in Nakano

Dates/Times:

January 8 (Sun)  14:00

February 12 (Sun)  14:00 (w/ English subtitles), 17:00 (w/o English subtitles)

March 4 (Sun)  14:00

Tickets: 1500 yen (no presale)

*you may use supporter tickets sent to you by the production committee

Reservations: Reservations required, as seating is limited.

Please make reservations through the online form.

Venue: Multi-space "Jukan"

2-17-9 Arai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo

*13-minute walk from JR/Tozai Line Nakano Station

*10-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Line Numabukuro Station

Organized by "TOKYO Ainu" Screening Committee

(Contact via Mail Form)

Web: http://www.2kamuymintara.com/film/schedule.htm#jukan

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Update on “Haruzo: A Life Among The Spirits” – Flyer, Trailer, and Screening!

As previously mentioned, one of the new projects that AINU PRIDE PRODUCTIONS is involved in is the documentary film “Haruzo: A Life Among the Spirits” (website, facebook, twitter).

The film is set for release in spring 2012, and they have released flyers for the film which have arrived for AINU PRIDE PRODUCTIONS to distribute (contact us if you want one!):

The back of the flyer is designed by the Ainu artist sayo, who is one of the featured artists of AINU PRIDE PRODUCTIONS. The icons and illustration on the movie’s website are also her designs.

A preview trailer for the film has also been released, and AINU PRIDE PRODUCTIONS is preparing now to work with the film’s producers in creating English subtitles for the movie (and perhaps an English preview clip as well?). Enjoy the Japanese version for now:

With the release of the trailer, the producers are organizing a special screening (no English subtitles) on December 25, 2011 at Kamuymintar, the “gathering place of people from around the world” run by the star and subject of the film, Haruzo Urakawa.

Details are as follows:

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Special Screening of "Haruzo: A Life Among The Spirits"

Date: December 25, 2011 (Sunday)
Time: OPEN 11:00 / START 13:00 (116 min)

Amission: 1000 yen
*Includes deer stew (ohaw), red beans with mochi, rice ball
(served from 11:00)

Venue: Kamuymintar
3-1 Kiwadahata, Kimitsu-shi, Chiba
*By train, go from Tokyo Station to Kisarazu Station and
take the Kururi Line and get off at Kazusa Kameyama Station.
From there, take the community bus (Kameyama Line "Seseragi-Go" or "Kazekko-Go")
and get off at Nakanodai bus stop.
For additional access info (in Japanese) -
http://www.2kamuymintara.com/access.htm 

Inquiries:
Cycloid
TEL/FAX 03-6413-9590
email  info@kamuytoikiru.com
http://www.kamuytoikiru.com/screen.html

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December 20, 2011: Citizens' Coalition for the Decade of Indigenous Peoples 2011 Seminar

The Japan Citizens' Coalition for the UN International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples will be hosting a seminar to discuss the government’s policies on the Ainu people and how Japanese civil society should face this issue.

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Citizens' Coalition for the Decade of Indigenous Peoples 2011 Seminar

Ainu Policy and Civil Society –Building a New Relationship–

 

Currently, the “Ainu Policy Promotion Panel” (Chair: Chief Cabinet Secretary) is considering the future of Ainu policy. The panel was formed in December 2009 upon the issuance of the “Final Report of the Advisory Council for Future Ainu Policy (July 2009).” Under the panel, the “Working Group on the Creation of Space Symbolizing Ethnic Co-Existence” and “Working Group on Survey of Ainu Outside of Hokkaido” were formed, and released their reports in June 2011. Then, on August 31, in order further study the reports from both working groups and work towards their realization, the “Working Group on Policy Promotion” was formed. Thus the second term of the Ainu Policy Promotion Panel has begun. Using the “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” as a guide, we hope to share ideas for what we must do for the realization of an indigenous peoples policy in Japan. We hope you will join us.

Speakers:

*Hiroyuki Nomoto (Co-Director, Ainu Education Joint Research Group; “Ainu Peoples” Political Group Preparation Committee Secretariat; Tokyo Metropolitan University)

*Hideaki Uemura (Director, Citizens' Diplomatic Center; Keisen University)

Date/Time: December 20 (Tue), 18:30 – 20:30

Venue:

Ainu Culture Center

3F Urban Square Yaesu

2-4-13 Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

*4-minute walk from Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit

Admission: 500 yen (cost of materials)

Inquiries:

Citizens' Coalition for the Decade of Indigenous Peoples Secretariat

Tel/Fax: 03-5932-9515

E-mail: postmaster@indy10.sakura.ne.jp

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December 17 & 18, 2011: ToyToy Workshop & Mini-Concert in Sapporo

“Pure Ainu Artist” ToyToy will be holding a Ainu design paper-cutting workshop (December 17) and performing with his tonkori at a mini-concert (December 18) in Sapporo as a part of the “Come, See, Feel” event put on by Sapporo Style from December 13 through 18. The Sapporo Style event includes various other products displays and workshops as well.

*Please note that the previously publicized paper-cutting workshop for December 17 as part of the regular series at Promise Sapporo Customer Service Plaza will not be held.

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Ainu Design Paper-Cutting Workshop

Date: December 17 (Saturday)

Time: 15:00 – 17:00

Admission: 2100 yen (including cost of materials)

Capacity: 8 people

Please bring a pencil, eraser, scissors you are used to using, and any origami or paper that you would like to use.

All ages are welcome!

ToyToy will teach you the simple yet deep spirit of the Ainu forebears embodied in the designs.  Won't you try making Ainu designs? And perhaps send them as a gift to the disaster-stricken areas?

Reservations and Contact: ToyToy-Ya

Email: toytoy-ya@hb.tp1.jp; TEL/FAX: 011-827-9436

 

ToyToy Mini-Concert

Date: December 18 (Sunday)

Time: 14:30

Admission: Free

Venue (for both Workshop & Concert):

Sapporo Style Passege 2011

Daimaru Fujii Central 7F Skyhall

2, Nichi 3-chome, Minami 1-jo, Chuo-ku, Sapporo

Inquiries:

Sapporo Style Exhibit 2011 Executive Committee

Masayuki Motomura, Tel: 011-789-8880

Web:

http://www.sapporostyle.jp/events/201110/passeges2011/

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December 17, 2011: Marerew's Year-End Party

Ainu song quartet Marewrew will be having a year-end concert in Tokyo featuring a wide array of special guests, including tonkori master OKI!

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Marerew's Year-End Party

Date: December 17, 2011

Time: OPEN 17:00 / START 18:00

Featuring:

Marerew

With special guests:

OKI (tonkori)

Shigeri Kitsu (song/shamisen/taiko) & Kasumi Watanabe (koto)

Yoshie (belly dance)

Salam Unagami (DJ)

Alaya Vijana

<Daikichi Yoshida (sitar), Junko Sato (vocal), Akira Fujieda (guitar), Ayako Ikeda (tabla)>

Sitar Oji (cheer)

Venue: CAY

SPRIAL B1, 5-6-23 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

http://www.spiral.co.jp/f_guide/cay/

Tickets: 2000 yen

Info/Reservations:

Chikar Studio – email: mail@tonkori.com

CAY – Tel: 03-3498-5790, email: e.mCay@spiral.co.jp

*When emailing, please put “12/17 Reservations” as your subject line and include your name, number of people, and telephone number in the body of your email.

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