| Description |
The title ‘Traditional Ainu Dance’ is defined as dances and songs transmitted among the Ainu people of distinctive cultures in Hokkaido located in the northern area of Japan. Those dances and songs are derived from the life and religion of the Ainu people; some are performed at ceremonies and banquets in local communities, and others privately performed in daily lives. Neither of them is accompanied with musical instruments. They are performed along with songs and handclaps of dancers and participants on site.
The Ainu people used to live in a vast area including Hokkaido, the northern part of Honshu, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Currently, however, most of them live mainly in Hokkaido, and its population is estimated at approximately twenty-four thousand. The Traditional Ainu Dance is transmitted by the seventeen preserving associations established in fifteen cities and towns where the Ainu people live.
Allegedly the Ainu culture of today’s style was formed up approximately in the twelfth or thirteenth century. People at that time lived by fishing, hunting and gathering, and they also traded with other areas. In this way of life, the Ainu people have developed such a creed as they believe in deities which are omnipresent at anything related to their lives, namely the nature (the sun, rain, water, fire etc.) including animals and plants. Thus, they often conducted prayers and ceremonies in their daily life. The Traditional Ainu Dance can be performed at these prayers and ceremonies or banquets. ‘Iyomante,’ for example, is the biggest ceremony with the Traditional Ainu Dance for sending a deity disguised as a bear back to heaven. The Ainu people believe that a deity comes down to the human world in disguise of an animal or a plant which is a gift from the deity to be eaten by the human beings. Once people have physically eaten it up, they thank the remaining spirit of this invisible deity for its gift and hold a ceremony to send it back to heaven. During the ceremony people sing and dance. One of the features found in the Ainu performing arts is the imitation of calls and movements of animals and birds. During the ceremony of ‘Iyomante’ people repeatedly imitate calls and sounds accompanied with its movements of a bear, and words are inserted in such repetitions. On the other hand, performing arts which are privately performed in an Ainu daily life contain lullabies, improvisatory lyrical songs, incantations with melodies, and songs accompanied with movements of labours by several persons in a daily life.
As mentioned above, the Traditional Ainu Dance is performed at important ceremonies and banquets to the Ainu people and also in their daily life, through which the Ainu people reconfirm the identity and deepen a sense of continuity. Currently, in addition to such ceremonies as mentioned above, the Traditional Ainu Dance is demonstrated at newly projected festivals and events. It is one element of the intangible cultural heritage transmitted from generations to generations and is continuously developed and reproduced according to the situations of each era.
The traditional style of the Ainu dances is a big circle of many participants, proceeding right-handed with some fixed movements and singing together. They sing the same song together or in turns, otherwise they sing in a responding way between a chorus leader and the others. Some of those traditional songs are polyphonic; several women sit on a floor in a circle in surrounding a lid of a wooden container, make a rhythm in beating the lid, and sing the same melody with one sound successively delayed.
Because there are currently many opportunities to perform it apart from a daily life, some dances and songs have been formed up as independent repertoires in paying due attention to the traditional performing style. As overviewed, they are (i) the imitation of calls and movements of animal, namely ‘crane dance’, ‘fox dance’ and ‘swallow dance’: (ii) the imitation of insects, namely ‘grasshopper dance’: (iii) the ritual one, namely ‘sword dance’ and ‘bow dance’: (iv) the entertaining one: (v) the improvisatory one.
Thus, the Traditional Ainu Dance is simple and naive, and often retains the primordial quality inside. In this sense it can illustrate the origin of performing arts. |
| Social and cultural significance |
The title ‘Traditional Ainu Dance’ is defined as dances and songs transmitted among the Ainu people of distinctive cultures in Hokkaido located in the northern area of Japan. Those dances and songs are derived from the life and religion of the Ainu people; some are performed at ceremonies and banquets in local communities, and others privately performed in daily lives. Neither of them is accompanied with musical instruments. They are performed along with songs and handclaps of dancers and participants on site.
The Ainu people used to live in a vast area including Hokkaido, the northern part of Honshu, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. Currently, however, most of them live mainly in Hokkaido, and its population is estimated at approximately twenty-four thousand.
Allegedly the Ainu culture of today’s style was formed up approximately in the twelfth or thirteenth century. People at that time lived by fishing, hunting and gathering, and they also traded with other areas. In this way of life, the Ainu people have developed such a creed as they believe in deities which are omnipresent at anything related to their lives, namely the nature (the sun, rain, water, fire etc.) including animals and plants. Thus, they often conducted prayers and ceremonies in their daily life. The Traditional Ainu Dance can be performed at these prayers and ceremonies or banquets. ‘Iyomante,’ for example, is the biggest ceremony with the Traditional Ainu Dance for sending a deity disguised as a bear back to heaven. The Ainu people believe that a deity comes down to the human world in disguise of an animal or a plant which is a gift from the deity to be eaten by the human beings. Once people have physically eaten it up, they thank the remaining spirit of this invisible deity for its gift and hold a ceremony to send it back to heaven. During the ceremony people sing and dance. On the other hand, performing arts which are privately performed in an Ainu daily life contain lullabies, improvisatory lyrical songs, incantations with melodies, and songs accompanied with movements of labours by several persons in a daily life.
As mentioned above, the Traditional Ainu Dance is performed at important ceremonies and banquets to the Ainu people and also in their daily life, through which the Ainu people reconfirm the identity and deepen a sense of continuity. Currently, in addition to such ceremonies as mentioned above, the Traditional Ainu Dance is demonstrated at newly projected festivals and events. It is one element of the intangible cultural heritage transmitted from generations to generations and is continuously developed and reproduced according to the situations of each era.
Some dances and songs have been formed up as independent repertoires in paying due attention to the traditional performing style. As overviewed, they are (i) the imitation of calls and movements of animal, namely ‘crane dance’, ‘fox dance’ and ‘swallow dance’: (ii) the imitation of insects, namely ‘grasshopper dance’: (iii) the ritual one, namely ‘sword dance’ and ‘bow dance’: (iv) the entertaining one: (v) the improvisatory one.
Thus, the Traditional Ainu Dance is simple and naive, and often retains the primordial quality inside. In this sense it can illustrate the origin of performing arts. |
| Transmission method |
The Traditional Ainu Dance is transmitted by the seventeen preserving associations established in fifteen cities and towns where the Ainu people live.
Traditional Ainu Dance has been designated as Important Cultural Property of Japan since 1984 because it was transmitted for a very long time within the Ainu communities. Those dances and songs are derived from their daily life and their beliefs.
The effort to preserve and transmit Ainu culture began in 1970s by Ainu people. Hokkaido Prefecture and Cities in Hokkaido, where most of Ainu people live, developed safeguard measures and made records of various Ainu cultures in some case with financial support by National Government. Transmission of Ainu Culture, such as a Traditional Ainu Dance was well documented through these projects and in 1984 the Traditional Ainu Dance was regarded as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.
Nowadays, following measures are taken to preserve and transmit the Traditional Ainu Dance and the Ainu Culture.
▶Law for the Promotion of the Ainu Culture and for the Dissemination and Advocacy for the Traditions of the Ainu and the Ainu Culture
In 1975, this law was established and enacted in view of maintaining and preserving the Ainu culture which is the pride of Ainu people. The law aims to promote Ainu culture, to ensure a better understanding and respect for the culture and to contribute to the development of cultural diversity within Japan.
The Foundation for Research and Promotion of Ainu Culture (FRPAC) was also established in 1975. Based on this law, the National Government and local governments in Hokkaido subsidize the Foundation’s work of training successors, undertaking publicity and the promotional activities of Ainu traditions.
▶Measures with national support
(1) Projects for protect and preserve Ainu Intangible Folk Cultural Property
Hokkaido Board of Education has organized classes for preserving Ainu traditional performing arts as well as Ainu language and other traditions since 1981 with the subsidy by the National Government.
(2) Survey of Ainu Cultural material
The project for producing Ainu Dance films are conducted by the Hokkaido Board of Education between 1986 and 1989 with subsidy by the National Government. Also Hokkaido Board of Education conducted an investigation of Ainu Dance between 1990 and 1992 and its report was completed and published. The National Government subsidized for the project.
▶Measures by Hokkaido Prefecture without national subsidy
The Hokkaido Utari Association is organized by the Ainu people in Hokkaido and the Association holds annual Ainu Cultural Festival at various locations in Hokkaido to increase the understanding of Ainu culture. Hokkaido Prefecture fully subsidizes the cost of Ainu Dance performance at the festival.
▶Projects by Municipalities without national subsidy
13 cities and towns subsidize the cost for preservation and transmission of Ainu culture. 8 cities and towns subsidize for the associations for preservation of Ainu Traditional Dance.
Projects by Foundation for Research and Promotion of Ainu Culture based on the Law for the Promotion of Ainu Culture
(1) “High level practical seminars” are held to nurture instructors of Ainu Dance.
(2) In “Domestic Cultural Exchange program”, the foundation subsidizes the programs which aim to invite practitioners of Ainu culture to provide opportunities to study, view and experience the Ainu Dance in various parts of Japan.
(3) The Ainu Cultural Festival are held in Hokkaido and in other parts of Japan to increase awareness and understanding of Ainu Culture and Ainu Dance. |
| Community |
Hokkaido Federation of Preservation Associations for Traditional Ainu Dance |
| Type of UNESCO List |
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity |
| Incribed year in UNESCO List |
2009 |
