*First broadcast on December 23, 2021.
The Ainu are an indigenous people who live in and around northern Japan. Traditionally, they are hunter-gatherers who share a close relationship with the natural world. In the first of two episodes about the Ainu, we look at the National Ainu Museum. The facility opened in 2020 as a hub for the protection and promotion of Ainu traditions. Our guest is its Executive Director, Sasaki Shiro. He introduces several exhibits, and talks about the museum's goals.