National Ainu Museum’s 12th Special Exhibition Kosonte and Ruunpe Opens September 2026

The National Ainu Museum at Upopoy will hold its 12th special exhibition, titled Kosonte and Ruunpe, from September 19, 2026 through November 23, 2026, tracing how textile design connects Ainu culture and mainland Japan.

Exhibition theme

The Ainu word Kosonte derives from kosode, the mainland Japanese robe worn historically by samurai-class women. In Ainu culture the same garment took a different role as ceremonial dress for men, and its fabric was reworked into the motifs and decoration of the Ruunpe garment. The exhibition traces the material and design lineage between the two traditions.

What visitors will see

• Kosonte garments from Hokkaido.
• Ruunpe garments including a loan piece from the Kushiro City Museum.
• Contextual material on fabric selection, colour combinations and motif construction by individual makers.
• Contemporary works showing how techniques and expression have been passed on.

Why it matters

The exhibition frames Ainu textile art as part of ongoing dialogue with mainland Japan rather than as an isolated tradition, and highlights the design creativity of individual makers.

For international readers

Textile scholarship on Ainu clothing has been growing internationally. Kosonte and Ruunpe consolidates recent museum work into a public-facing show at Japan’s national Ainu institution.

Source: National Ainu Museum press release, July 1, 2026.