■Tour Info
Time: Starts at 10:00 am on Sunday, July 3rd, Japan Standard Time
(GMT+8) Check your Local Time

Length: The tours are usually between 1h and 2h depending on conditions and Virtual travelers participation
Price: It’s FREE !
Who can participate: Everyone! The tour is family friendly and interesting for all ages.
Language: English
Necessary equipment: Any internet capable device with a steady connection.

■ Introduction of the program
This virtual live tour will bring you to experience the culture of Ainu, indigenous people of Hokkaido. The theme of this tour is to experience Ainu wood carving and local culture through the life story of DEBO, an artist who inherits Ainu culture and creates wood carving art works from driftwood that has washed up in the sea.

1. Live tour with the theme of traditional Ainu wood carving culture.
2. Feel the local culture through the life story of Ainu woodcarver Debo Akibe.
3. Complete a work of art created from driftwood.

[About Ainu culture]
Ainu people are indigenous people around the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, especially Hokkaido. Ainu people has their own unique culture. They have Ainu language which is different from Japanese, religious view which believes that all things in natural world have soul, traditional dance which is danced at festivals and home events, Ainu pattern which can be found in crafts such as embroidery and wood carving. Nowadays, more and more people are trying to revive traditional dances from old records and creating new Ainu music.

■Guest
Debo Akibe
Wood carving artist born in Lake Akan.
He owns a shop in Lake Akan Ainu Kotan, which exhibits and sells art works such as driftwood carved with Ainu patterns.

■Navigator
Roy (Ryoei AOKI)
The former director of Otaru Museum. Operating mainly in Hokkaido, he now works as a guide for tourists to Japan.
He hopes to show visitors from all over the world the unique, charming aspects of Hokkaido and Japan.