National Ainu Museum Opens 11th Special Exhibition on 150 Years of Expositions

The National Ainu Museum at Upopoy opened its 11th special exhibition, Ainu People and Expositions – 150 Years of Experience, on June 20, 2026, co-organised with the National Museum of Japanese History in Sakura, Chiba Prefecture. The exhibition runs at Upopoy through August 23, 2026 and then travels to the National Museum of Japanese History from October 6 to November 29, 2026.

Exhibition premise

Since the 1851 London World Exposition, expositions have unfolded against a backdrop of imperialism and industrial promotion, and Ainu people have been involved in many of them in various roles. Their participation carried a mix of intentions and choices, but also friction. The exhibition traces 150 years through the lens of Ainu participants, exhibitors and intermediaries, and the shifting relationship between viewer and viewed.

Exhibition structure

• Chapter 1: The early era of Ainu craft display leading into expositions.
• Chapter 2: Ainu presence as exposition participants.
• Chapter 3: The era of showing Ainu culture.
• Chapter 4: The future of Ainu participation in expositions.

Practical details

• Venue: National Ainu Museum special exhibition room, Shiraoi.
• Admission: Free to view the exhibition once inside Upopoy (standard park admission applies).
• Duration at Upopoy: 65 days.

Why it matters

The exhibition is one of the first major shows to examine the exposition experience from the Ainu perspective – both as a subject of display and as active participants and intermediaries – making it a landmark project for Ainu museum history.

Source: Upopoy press release, March 12, 2026.