Upopoy

Upopoy Upopoy is the national Ainu museum and cultural park located in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, Japan, established to commemorate and revitalize Ainu heritage. It serves as a focal point for indigenous Ainu people, regional Hokkaido identity, and international indigenous exchange, linking collections, performances, research, and public programming. The complex integrates exhibitions, ceremonial spaces, and educational outreach, engaging with communities such as the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, researchers from institutions like the National Museum of Ethnology, and policymakers from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan).

Overview

Upopoy functions as a combined national museum and park designed to present Ainu history, material culture, and contemporary cultural practice through immersive exhibits, outdoor reconstructions, and performance venues. It brings together stakeholders including the Hokkaido Prefecture, the town of Shiraoi, Hokkaido, the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, academic partners such as Hokkaido University and the University of Tokyo, and international actors like the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. The site emphasizes repatriation dialogues with institutions including the British Museum, the National Museum of Ethnology (Osaka), and the Smithsonian Institution, while fostering collaboration with cultural bodies such as the Japan Foundation and the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan).

History and Development

Planning began amid broader postwar and contemporary policy shifts affecting Ainu recognition, including legislative moments like the Ainu Policy Promotion Act and political developments surrounding the Ainu Cultural Promotion Act debates. The project emerged from consultations involving the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Prefectural Government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Japan), and researchers from Rikkyo University and Waseda University. Architectural and landscape design drew on proposals from firms with experience working on sites such as Moerenuma Park and civic projects linked to Sapporo Dome. Construction and exhibit development engaged curators from the National Museum of Ethnology and conservation specialists with prior collaborations at the Tokyo National Museum and the Kyoto National Museum. Opening ceremonies included representatives from the Japanese Diet and cultural figures associated with NHK broadcasting, while scholars from SOAS University of London and the University of Cambridge contributed comparative indigenous studies expertise.

Facilities and Exhibits

The complex comprises a national museum building, an outdoor cultural park, a ceremonial plaza, and performance halls designed to host traditional music and dance. Collections present material culture such as garments, tools, and ritual items alongside multimedia presentations developed with partners including the National Film Archive of Japan and the NHK Broadcasting Center. Exhibits have been curated in collaboration with community elders from groups like the Ainu Association of Hokkaido and with conservation input from the National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, Tokyo and the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan). The park area includes reconstructed structures reminiscent of settlements documented in ethnographic work by scholars associated with Hokkaido Museum and field studies conducted by researchers at Kyushu University and Tohoku University. Educational facilities host workshops with practitioners linked to ensembles such as the Ishikari Ainu Dance Troupe and visiting artists from organizations like the Japan Folk Crafts Museum and the National Theatre of Japan.

Cultural Programs and Events

Programming at the site ranges from seasonal festivals to scholarly symposia and includes performances of traditional Ainu song and dance, craft demonstrations, language revitalization sessions, and academic conferences. Events have featured collaborations with the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, cultural delegations from indigenous groups represented at the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs, and visiting curators from institutions including the Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia and the National Museum of the American Indian. Language programs draw on research networks connected to Hokkaido University and the University of Alaska Fairbanks, while festivals align calendar-wise with regional observances tied to Shinto-influenced seasonal practices and local commemorations promoted by the Hokkaido Prefectural Government and Shiraoi town office.

Governance and Funding

Administration involves coordination among national bodies such as the Agency for Cultural Affairs (Japan), the Ministry of Environment (Japan), and the Hokkaido Prefectural Government, with advisory input from the Ainu Association of Hokkaido and academic partners including the National Museum of Ethnology and Hokkaido University. Funding sources combine national appropriation by the National Diet with prefectural allocations and private sponsorships from corporations active in Hokkaido development, philanthropic contributions from foundations like the Japan Foundation, and project grants coordinated through agencies such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Japan). Governance structures include committees for repatriation, ethical stewardship, and community engagement modeled on practices at institutions like the British Museum and the Smithsonian Institution to ensure stakeholder participation and transparency.

Category:Museums in Hokkaido