Description

■Tour Info
Time: Starts at 11:00 am on Sunday, December 5th, Japan Standard Time
(GMT+8) Check your Local Time

Length: The tours are usually between 1h and 2h depending on conditions and Virtual travelers participation
Price: It’s FREE !
Who can participate: Everyone! The tour is family friendly and interesting for all ages.
Language: English
Necessary equipment: Any internet capable device with a steady connection.

Live Ainu poly-phonic chant - Experience the soul-stirring "Upopo" from the Ainu, indigenous people of Hokkaido, Japan.

■ Introduction of the program
This virtual live tour will bring you to experience the culture of Ainu, indigenous people of Hokkaido. The theme of this tour is Ainu chaunt.

Rie Kayano, a young upholder of Ainu, who belongs to a female vocal group with playing traditional Ainu chaunt, will be the guest in this live tour.

Let's experience the soul-stirring Ainu "Upopo" composed of various rhythm patterns and rounds at LIVE.

[What is Upopo]
Upopo means chaunt in Ainu Language. Upopo are representative songs of Ainu music and sing in groups during celebrations and festivals.

Upopo are characterized by the singing method called "Ukouk ".
"Ukouk " is the way which the tune is staggered one beat at a time while the sound is played and the time signature is taken.

[About Ainu culture]
Ainu people are indigenous people around the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, especially Hokkaido. Ainu people has their own unique culture.
They have Ainu language which is different from Japanese, religious view which believes that all things in natural world have soul, traditional dance which is danced at festivals and home events, Ainu pattern which can be found in crafts such as embroidery and wood carving.
Nowadays, more and more people are trying to revive traditional dances from old records and creating new Ainu music.

■ Guest
Rie Kayano
Her grandfather, Tasuke Yamamoto is an Ainu scholar and translator of Ainu mythology. She grew up with the environment of Ainu culture such as Ainu folk dance.
She was the first recipients of the "Ureshpa Club" which is aimed to nurture the leaders of Ainu culture.
She learned Ainu culture herself and is also active as a member of the vocal group "MAREWREW" that sings in Ainu language.
She is now working at a guesthouse in Biratori, Hokkaido, where she has a child with her husband, who is of the same Ainu blood.
She strives to spread the Ainu culture around the world.

■Navigator
Rino Kimura
Surround by with Ainu culture from an early age, she inherited Ainu songs, oral literature, wood carving, and embroidery in her hometown Nibutani.
She is active on introducing the charm of Ainu culture.

Roy (Ryoei AOKI)
The former director of Otaru Museum. Operating mainly in Hokkaido, he now works as a guide for tourists to Japan.
He hopes to show visitors from all over the world the unique, charming aspects of Hokkaido and Japan.

■Tour Highlights
1. Virtual live tour with the theme of Ainu poly-phonic chant "Upopo”
2. Rie Kayano , member of Ainu vocal group "MAREWREW", will be the welcoming guest.
3. Experience soul-stirring "Upopo" at traditional Ainu house, named as "Chise".

■Nibutani Kotan
Nibutani Kotan is a place to study the culture and history of Hokkaido's aboriginal Ainu people.
There we can see Ainu people's current lifestyle, and imagine our shared future together. In the Ainu language, "kotan" means village, or settlement.
The Nibutani Kotan is made up of restored traditional Ainu houses called "Chise", giving visitors a chance to experience the traditional craftsmanship of the Ainu people and their spiritual culture.

■How to join the trip
　・Select "Attending" on the event page. Possible up until the day before the trip.
　・Gather on the "LIVE" page 10 minutes prior to departure.
　・Once it's time for departure, the trip will begin.
　・You can directly ask the tour guide questions through text comments during the trip.
　・Once the trip is over, a broadcasting a summary of the trip through this account is planned.
　・After the virtual travel experience has finished, please let us know what you think via a survey!
　・You don't need a ticket to join our tour, but you do need access to an internet connection.

■Points to be aware of
　・Usable devices: PC / smartphones / tablets
　・Necessary connection environment: More than 1.5Mbs / 1.5Mbs (Upload/download)
　・Depending on the state of the connection at the destination, unexpected images, or unclear sound may occur
　・Reuse or distribution of this content is strictly prohibited.
　・Live streaming will begin 10 minutes before the departure of the virtual tour. Please confirm your local viewing conditions before departure.
　・If the stream doesn't begin even after the scheduled departure time comes, please try reloading the page.