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Ainu remains returned to Japan from Britain after 160 years

Masaru Okawa, executive director of the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, meets the press at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on May 8, 2026, upon his return from Britain where remains of seven Ainu people were handed over to Japan by London's Natural History Museum. Four of the seven sets of remains were returned after 160 years.

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Ainu people hold ritual in Hokkaido

Indigenous Ainu people take part in a "kotan-nomi" ritual to celebrate the autumn harvest on Nov. 1, 2015, at a museum dedicated to the ethnic minority group in the Hokkaido town of Shiraoi, northern Japan.

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Ainu-themed museum in northern Japan

Yoshitaka Ito (R), Japanese minister for Ainu-related policies, visits Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on Nov. 21, 2024.

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Ainu-themed museum in northern Japan

Yoshitaka Ito, Japanese minister for Ainu-related policies, meets the press after visiting Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on Nov. 21, 2024.

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Ainu-themed museum in northern Japan

Yoshitaka Ito (2nd from R), Japanese minister for Ainu-related policies, visits Upopoy National Ainu Museum and Park in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on Nov. 21, 2024.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Photo taken July 15, 2023, shows the interior of Kawamura Kaneto Ainu museum in Asahikawa in Hokkaido, northern Japan, reopened the same day after renovation. Established in 1916, it is Japan's oldest museum dedicated to the Ainu indigenous people.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

"Kamuinomi," a ritual of the Ainu indigenous people, is performed in Asahikawa in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on July 15, 2023, ahead of the reopening of Kawamura Kaneto Ainu museum after renovation.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Photo taken July 15, 2023, shows Kawamura Kaneto Ainu museum in Asahikawa in Hokkaido, northern Japan, reopened the same day after renovation. Established in 1916, it is Japan's oldest museum dedicated to the Ainu indigenous people.

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Traditional Ainu dance performed at Ainu Museum

SAPPORO, Japan - Women perform a traditional dance of the indigenous Ainu people in a traditional house at the Ainu Museum in Shiraoi town in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Aug. 10, 2014, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the museum's opening.

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Women perform Ainu dance for 30th anniversary of museum

SAPPORO, Japan - Women perform a traditional dance of the indigenous Ainu people in a traditional house at the Ainu Museum in Shiraoi town in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Aug. 10, 2014, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the museum's opening.

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National center for ethnic Ainu culture to be built

SAPPORO, Japan - A national center for handing down the culture of the Ainu indigenous people of northern Japan to future generations is planned to be built in the tract of land where the Ainu Museum sits in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. The photo was taken in May 2014.

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'Ainu' traditional dried salmon

SHIRAOI, Japan - A woman holds dried salmon at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, as making of a traditional Ainu preservative food began at the museum. The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan.

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'Ainu' traditional dried salmon

SHIRAOI, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2010, at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, shows thousands of salmon hanging to dry as part of a process of making a traditional Ainu preservative food. The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan.

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Ainu-themed complex in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato (2nd from R) visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 17, 2021, to mark the first anniversary of its opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened on July 12, 2020.

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Ainu-themed complex in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato (C) visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 17, 2021, to mark the first anniversary of its opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened on July 12, 2020.

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Ainu-themed complex in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato (R) visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 17, 2021, to mark the first anniversary of its opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened on July 12, 2020.

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Ainu-themed complex in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato (facing camera)visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 17, 2021, to mark the first anniversary of its opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened on July 12, 2020.

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Salmons placed in cold wind for Ainu's preservative food

Photo taken Dec. 14, 2015, at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido shows salmon hung outside as part of a preserving proces. Smoked salmon is a traditional food of the Ainu indigenous people. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Salmons placed in cold wind for Ainu's preservative food

Photo taken Dec. 14, 2015, at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido shows salmon hung outside as part of a preserving process. Smoked salmon is a traditional food of the Ainu indigenous people. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu, indigenous people of Japan

An autumn Ainu festival is held at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Nov. 1, 2015. Ainu people from across Hokkaido took part in the event and offered prayers to thank gods. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu, indigenous people of Japan

A woman plays a traditional Ainu musical instrument made of bamboo at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Oct. 24, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu, indigenous people of Japan

Photo taken Nov. 22, 2015, shows Lake Poroto in the town of Shiraoi on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido. The Ainu Museum is seen on the lakeside at bottom right. A new national museum aimed at reviving Ainu culture is also scheduled to be built in the area in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu, indigenous people of Japan

Women wearing traditional Ainu clothes sing and dance before tourists at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido on Oct. 24, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ethnic minority Ainu's home re-created in Hokkaido Museum

A traditional home of the Ainu ethnic minority, re-created in the newly opened Hokkaido Museum in Sapporo on Japan's northern most main island of Hokkaido, is shown to the press on April 17, 2015, on the eve of its official opening to the public. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu people in northern Japan making smoked salmon

Scores of dried salmon are hung from a beam for smoking in a traditional house at the Ainu Museum featuring the ethnic minority in Shiraoi on Japan's northernmost main island Hokkaido on March 25, 2015. Smoked salmon is a traditional preserved food item for the indigenous Ainu people. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu Museum making smoked-salmon

Photo taken March 25, 2015, at the Ainu Museum in the northern Japan town of Shiraoi shows smoked-salmon, a preservative food, hanging from an open-timbered roof, and people performing a traditional dance of the Ainu indigenous people. Fillets of the salmon will be sold at the museum from early May. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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U.S. envoy to Japan visits ethnic Ainu museum in Hokkaido

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy (L) watches an ethnic Ainu woman weave a straw mat during her visit to the Ainu Museum Poroto Kotan in Shiraoi in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Feb. 3, 2015. It is Kennedy's first visit to Hokkaido as ambassador. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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U.S. envoy to Japan visits Ainu museum, meets Hokkaido governor

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy (L), wearing a traditional costume of the Ainu ethnic minority in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, meets with Hokkaido Gov. Harumi Takahashi during her visit to the Ainu Museum Poroto Kotan in Shiraoi on Feb. 3, 2015. It is Kennedy's first visit to Hokkaido as ambassador. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Ainu trying to hand down culture for generations

Shiro Kayano gives an interview to Kyodo News on March 1, 2017, in Biratori on Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, talking about how to hand down Ainu identity and culture for generations. Kayano now manages an Ainu museum founded by his late father Shigeru, the first Ainu parliamentarian. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Emperor views Ainu performance

SHIRAOI, Japan - Emperor Akihito (R) talks to performers after viewing a traditional dance of the Ainu indigenous people at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Sept. 11, 2011. (Pool photo)(Kyodo)

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Women perform Ainu dance for 30th anniversary of museum

SAPPORO, Japan - Women perform a traditional dance of the indigenous Ainu people in a traditional house at the Ainu Museum in Shiraoi town in Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on Aug. 10, 2014, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the museum's opening. (Kyodo)

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'Ainu' traditional dried salmon

SHIRAOI, Japan - A woman holds dried salmon at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, as making of a traditional Ainu preservative food began at the museum. The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan. (Kyodo)

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'Ainu' traditional dried salmon

SHIRAOI, Japan - Photo taken on Dec. 23, 2010, at the Ainu Museum in the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, shows thousands of salmon hanging to dry as part of a process of making a traditional Ainu preservative food. The Ainu are indigenous people of Japan. (Kyodo)

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Upopoi, a symbolic space for ethnic coexistence

A view of Poroto Lake from the Panoramic Lobby on the second floor of the National Museum of Ainu Folk Art in Upopoi, Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido. (Media preview)

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Exhibition of Ainu handicrafts

Photo taken Oct. 16, 2020, shows an exhibition of traditional handicrafts made by the Ainu indigenous people of northern Japan being held at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum in Tokyo.

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Exhibition of Ainu handicrafts

Photo taken Oct. 16, 2020, shows an exhibition of traditional handicrafts made by the Ainu indigenous people of northern Japan being held at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum in Tokyo.

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Exhibition on Ainu indigenous people's handicrafts

Photo taken Oct. 16, 2020, shows necklaces on display at an exhibition of traditional handicrafts made by the Ainu indigenous people of northern Japan being held at the Japan Folk Crafts Museum in Tokyo.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

A dance is performed at the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on July 12, 2020. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened the same day about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

People visit the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on July 12, 2020. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Koichi Hagiuda makes a speech during a ceremony at the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, on July 11, 2020. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened to the public the following day about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

The opening ceremony for the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, is held on July 12, 2020. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the indigenous Ainu people of northern Japan, opened about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

People attend a ceremony at the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 11, 2020, a day ahead of its public opening, while observing social distancing to prevent coronavirus infection. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, will open about three months behind schedule due to the virus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga delivers a speech at the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 11, 2020, a day ahead of its public opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, will open about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (2nd from L) visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 11, 2020, a day ahead of its public opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, will open about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (3rd from R) visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 11, 2020, a day ahead of its public opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, will open about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (2nd from R) visits the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 11, 2020, a day ahead of its public opening. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, will open about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga (foreground, L) visits the National Ainu Museum at the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 11, 2020, a day ahead of its public opening. The complex dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan will open about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

A tape-cutting ceremony is held for the "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 12, 2020, with attendees observing social distancing to prevent coronavirus infection. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, opened about three months behind schedule due to the pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

People line up to enter the just opened "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido on July 12, 2020, while observing social distancing to prevent coronavirus infection. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, opened about three months behind schedule due to the pandemic.

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Ainu museum in northern Japan

Photo taken on July 12, 2020, shows the just opened "Upopoy" Ainu-themed complex in Shiraoi on the northernmost Japanese main island of Hokkaido. The complex including the National Ainu Museum, dedicated to the Ainu ethnic minority of northern Japan, opened about three months behind schedule due to the coronavirus pandemic.