Ainu Stories Exhibition at Japan House London
An enjoyable visit to Japan House today. It’s always a pleasure to wander around the shop and discover new and unusual objects and materials, admirable for their craftsmanship.
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A bonus is that until April 2024, there is an exhibition, Ainu Stories, featuring the present-day culture and crafts of the Ainu people from Hokkaido, historically persecuted, now enjoying a revival of interest and calls for the protection of their language and lifestyle.
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The exhibition combines videos and artefacts, including kimonos, woodcarvings and wooden sculptures. I was drawn to a collection of exhibits of sticks thinly shaved to form curled patterns, like locks of hair, still attached to the source wood.
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The exhibition is compact and takes, at most, an hour to fully enjoy. Combined with the shop, this is a worthwhile stop when visiting London. One day, I will have to try their restaurant.
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P.S. I find the illustration on the wall at the entrance to the toilets amusing.
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