The Ainu are the indigenous peoples of Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, and surrounding areas, who have their own language, and beliefs, including that spirits reside in all things.
In this series, we visit areas in Hokkaido with deep connections to the Ainu living there and showcase their prayers, dances, and traditional ceremonies passed down through generations.
The first episode is in Hokkaido’s Asahikawa City surrounded by the natural splendor of Ishikari River and the Daisetsu mountains, home to over 300,000 people as the second largest city in Hokkaido.
In Autumn, Asahikawa welcomes a season of worship with various traditional Ainu tribal ceremonies taking place. This year, an Ainu home called “Cise” is being rebuilt for the first time in 13 years, requiring the gathering of materials, construction and the “Asir Cise Nomi” a sacred traditional ceremony in which life is breathed into the “Cise,” including an ancient dance performed afterward.
The program also features facilities in Asahikawa such as the Kawamura Kaneto Ainu Memorial Museum with over 100 years of history and showcase how “The strong Ainu people are forging the way in a new era, with their own strength,” through how they live in Asahikawa and their rich history.
First aired on NHK WORLD-JAPAN/jibtv on 2022/12/9.
‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥
JIB produces a wide variety of programs about Japan
for broadcast on NHK WORLD-JAPAN/jibtv.
About Us: • About jibtv
Official website: www.jibtv.com/en/
Official X: / jibtv_alljapan
‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥‥