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The National Museum of the Ainu People was established to respect the dignity of the Ainu, the indigenous people of northern Japan, and to promote a correct understanding of Ainu history and culture both at home and abroad, as well as to contribute to the creation and development of a new Ainu culture.

The museum's permanent exhibits are organized under the following six themes: "Our Language," "Our World," "Our Life," "Our History," "Our Work," and "Our Interaction," from the perspective of the Ainu people. The museum introduces a wide range of materials related to the history and culture of the Ainu people, as well as materials related to the various ethnic groups with which the Ainu people interact. There is also an "Exploration Exhibition: Tenpa Tenpa" where visitors can experience the Ainu culture through hands-on activities, which both adults and children can enjoy. In the special exhibition room adjacent to the basic exhibition room, special exhibitions and themed exhibitions are held for a limited time.

The materials on display include ethnic materials, historical materials, documents, archaeological materials, paintings, modern arts and crafts, photographs, videos and other visual materials, audio materials, and books. The basic exhibition room displays about 800 items (as of December 2021), and the exhibits are changed periodically. The museum's collection consists of approximately 10,000 items.

国立アイヌ民族博物館外観　提供：（公財）アイヌ民族文化財団

Ainu Collection at the Vienna World Exposition of 1873