Stories from Japan Soon to Leave Lithuania: Last Chance to Visit 'Man Among Worlds' Exhibition

An exhibition exploring the culture of the Ainu people of Japan, titled "Man Among Worlds. The Ainu Nation in Northern Japan and Ethnographer Bronislovas Pilsudskis," is concluding its run in Lithuania. The exhibition highlights the work of Bronislovas Pilsudskis, who, exiled by Tsarist Russia, became a significant ethnographer documenting the Ainu people using advanced technologies of his time, such as Edison's phonograph and camera.

His extensive collection of recordings and photographs of Ainu voices, language, customs, and daily life has become a crucial resource for reconstructing the Ainu language for new generations. Visitors can view authentic Ainu cultural artifacts, photographs, historical documents, and works by contemporary Ainu artists, offering a glimpse into a nation undergoing an active cultural revival. The exhibition was developed in close collaboration with the Ainu community, museums, researchers, and creators, presenting the narrative through the voices of the Ainu themselves.

As a farewell to the exhibition, two free film screenings will be held on July 25 at the House of Stories, complementing the exhibition's narrative. The films will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. At 12 p.m., Takeshi Fukunaga's 2020 film "Ainu Mosir" will be screened, telling the story of 14-year-old Kanto on Hokkaido island as he grapples with his father's death and embarks on a spiritual journey. At 1:30 p.m., the documentary "Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan" (2019) will be shown, focusing on four elder Ainu community members in Hokkaido who, having hidden their identity and language due to societal attitudes, became active leaders in reviving Ainu language and culture.

The international exhibition is organized by the Lithuanian National Museum and the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek. Financial support comes from the Biratori Municipal Government in Japan, the Japan Foundation, the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture, the Polish Institute in Vilnius, and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius. The news portal 'Delfi' is an informational sponsor of the 'House of Stories,' a division of the Lithuanian National Museum.