Ainu Culture Festival Comes to Kitakyushu on October 31 With Traditional Dance, Music and Oral Literature

The Ainu Culture Festival (Fukuoka venue) will be held on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at J:COM Kitakyushu Performing Arts Center (J:COM北九州芸術劇場) in Kokurakita Ward, Kitakyushu. The Foundation for Ainu Culture (公益財団法人アイヌ民族文化財団) holds the festival at venues across Japan so that the general public can experience Ainu culture through Ainu dance, music and traditional crafts. It will be the second time the event is held in Kitakyushu, and the first time in 20 years since 2006 (Heisei 18).

Admission is free and no advance registration is required, so visitors can join freely. Only the workshop requires a reservation in advance.

Stage Program: Dance, Songs and a Keynote Lecture

On stage, the Akan Ainu Cultural Preservation Society (阿寒アイヌ民族文化保存会) will perform traditional Ainu dance (アイヌ古式舞踊), which is inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, along with songs passed down through the generations. The program also includes a keynote lecture by 大矢京右, a curator (学芸担当主査) at Hakodate City Museum (市立函館博物館) who has ties to Kyushu, and an oral literature performance by 平村晴美.

The stage program runs as follows.

1. Upopoy promotion
2. Keynote lecture "The Kuril–Sakhalin Exchange Treaty and the Ainu" (千島樺太交換条約とアイヌ) by 大矢京右
3. Ainu culture performances
   • Oral literature: 平村晴美
   • Ainu dance: Akan Ainu Cultural Preservation Society
   • Music performance: Akan Ainu Cultural Preservation Society
4. Finale

大矢京右

平村晴美

Akan Ainu Cultural Preservation Society (阿寒アイヌ民族文化保存会)

Lobby Program in the Foyer

In the foyer, visitors can see a wood carving demonstration, take part in a workshop, and view panel exhibits. The lobby program includes the following.

1. Wood carving demonstration
2. Panel exhibition
3. Workshop (tree bark strap), by advance reservation only
4. Monitor video display
5. Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park) promotion corner

Event Overview