Celebrate Ainu Culture in NYC
Celebrate Ainu culture with presentations, demonstrations, workshops, and film screenings at Japan Society
Ainu Summer Festival: The Stories, Culture, and Traditions of the Indigenous People of Northern Japan
Wednesday, July 22 and Thursday, July 23
Wednesday, August 12 and Thursday, August 13
Japan Society – 333 E. 47th Street (between 1st and 2nd Avenues)
For the first time, Japan Society is bringing more than 25 Ainu performers, artisans, and educators to the United States. Years in the making, this exciting series of events is a collaboration between Japan Society and the town of Biratori in Hokkaido. The events are co-programmed by filmmaker Naomi Mizoguchi, director of the film Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan.
The Ainu have a long history of persecution and erasure in their homeland, but their culture is now being revived with a renewed interest in their traditional art forms and cuisine.
Presentations and Demonstrations
Sinot: The Dances of the Sar River
Wednesday, July 22 and Wednesday, August 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Discover the cultural significance of traditional Ainu dance and its strong connection with nature. Followed by a reception.
Ipe: The Culinary Heritage of the Ainu
Thursday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Learn about the sustainable food culture of Hokkaido, featuring an on-stage cooking demonstration and a tasting of select Ainu foods.
Ikarkar & Itak: Ainu Embroidery and Language
Thursday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Explore the history of Ainu fabric art and learn about the projects currently underway to preserve their critically endangered language.
Workshops
Inuye=an ro!: Woodcarving Workshop
Thursday, July 23 at 4:00 p.m.
Learn intricate Ainu carving techniques from the Nibutani Craft Cooperative Association and take home your own creation.
Ikarkar=an ro!: Embroidery Workshop
Wednesday, August 12 at 4:00 p.m.
Discover specific appliqué stitching designs passed down through generations and take home your own embroidery.
Itak=an ro!: Language Workshop
Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Take part in an introductory class to help preserve the critically endangered Ainu language.
Sinot=an ro!: Ainu Dance Workshop
Thursday, August 13 at 4:00 p.m.
Join a rare, interactive session to learn the basics of Ainu dance directly from Biratori performers.
Screenings
Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan
Wednesday, July 22 at 5:30 p.m. SOLD OUT
Thursday, July 23 at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m.
Filmmaker Naomi Mizoguchi started visiting Biratori in 2008 and felt a great urgency to record the Ainu’s history, language, and culture on film. In this work, four Ainu elders tell their stories in one of the only films that present modern-day Ainu life. Followed by a Q&A with Mizoguchi.
Ticketing
Presentations, demonstrations, and workshops are $20 for the public, $17 for students and seniors, and $15 for Japan Society members.
A Series Pass with access to all presentations is $60 for the public, $50 for students and seniors, and $45 for Japan Society members. Workshops are not included in the Series Pass and must be purchased separately.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit Japan Society’s website. To purchase tickets for individual events, please click the specific event’s thumbnail.
JapanCulture•NYC followers can use discount code ARTSAINU50 for a 50% discount upon checkout for any of the main auditorium events:
Sinot: The Dances of the Sar River
Ipe: The Culinary Heritage of the Ainu
Ikarkar & Itak: Ainu Embroidery and Language
Please note: Workshops are not included in the discount.
Tickets for all Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan screenings are free with RSVP.
About the Ainu
The Ainu are an indigenous people who have lived in the northern part of the Japanese archipelago, particularly Hokkaido, for centuries. They have inherited their own unique culture, including the Ainu language, which is different from Japanese. In 1869, Japan incorporated the Island of Hokkaido into its territory and integrated the Ainu into Japanese culture. As a result, various Ainu traditions, customs, names, language, and history were lost as part of this assimilation in the early Meiji era.
In 2019, the Japanese Diet passed a law to recognize the Ainu as an Indigenous People with their own unique language, religion, and culture. Currently, efforts are underway to revitalize the Ainu culture and language, which UNESCO has designated as a critically endangered language. Key to this movement is the small village of Nibutani, part of the Town of Biratori. Nibutani is home to the highest percentage of Ainu residents in Japan, and it was home to Shigeru Kayano (1926-2006), a leader who worked to keep Ainu culture alive and the first Ainu politician to sit in the Diet of Japan.
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What’s the Latest at Expo 2025 in Osaka?
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our ongoing Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Expo 2025 Talk #6: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton
Thursday, October 2 at 9:00 p.m. ET | 6:00 p.m. PT | Friday, October 3 at 10:00 a.m. JST
LinkedIn Live
Admission: Free
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our ongoing Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Yvonne has been on the ground in Osaka, exploring the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, since it began in April. She’s visiting pavilions and reporting on the dynamic energy and discoveries at this fascinating global event.
In Talk #6, Yvonne will update us on her most recent visits to Expo 2025, which now number more than 30! She will also share her latest insights, show photos, and answer your questions in an interactive conversation that brings you closer to Expo 2025—even from afar!
🚀 Taking the Expo Conversation Across Platforms
Since our last talk in early September, Yvonne has shared her Expo insights through a variety of media outlets. Check them out:
📰 Featured in an article on Forbes.com
🎙️ Guest on Joan Michelson’s Electric Ladies podcast
💻 Guest on the Engaging Virtual Meetings Podcast with John Chen, where she discussed everything from architecture to technology at the Expo
Join the talk on LinkedIn Live: https://www.linkedin.com/events/expotalk-6withcross-culturalcon7378471677707309056/
🎥 Missed our earlier talks? Catch up on YouTube and LinkedIn
Talk 1: https://youtu.be/zd1fEp3SLLI
Talk 2: https://youtu.be/vF00yjNyPO4
Talk 4: https://www.linkedin.com/events/expotalk-4withcrossculturalcons7346199577739378688/
Talk 5: https://www.linkedin.com/events/expotalk-5withcross-culturalcon7366980410452373504/
All About Yvonne
📝 Read Yvonne’s Expo blog posts: burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton
💬 Have you visited Expo 2025? Share your observations with us! Bring your questions and join the live conversation in the comments!
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
Explaining Expo: LinkedIn Live with Yvonne Burton
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our ongoing Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Expo 2025 Talk #5: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton
Wednesday, September 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. PT | Thursday, September 4 at 8:00 a.m. JST
LinkedIn Live
Admission: Free
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our ongoing Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Yvonne has been on the ground in Osaka, exploring the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. She’s visiting pavilions and reporting on the dynamic energy and discoveries at this once-in-a-lifetime global event.
At the Heart of Expo: Countries and Connections
In Talk #5, Yvonne will update us on her most recent visits to Expo 2025, which now number more than 20! With two months remaining in the international exposition, how is Yvonne planning her final visits? Will she reveal her agenda?
Yvonne will also share her latest insights, show photos, and answer your questions in an interactive conversation that brings you closer to Expo 2025—even from afar! 💬 Have you visited Expo 2025? Share your observations with us! Bring your questions and join the live conversation in the comments!
Join the talk on LinkedIn Live: https://www.linkedin.com/events/expotalk-5withcross-culturalcon7366980410452373504/theater/
🎥 Missed our earlier talks? Catch up here
Talk 1: https://youtu.be/zd1fEp3SLLI
Talk 2: https://youtu.be/vF00yjNyPO4
Talk 4: https://www.linkedin.com/events/expotalk-4withcrossculturalcons7346199577739378688/
📝 Read Yvonne’s Expo blog posts: burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
What Expo Means for Osaka’s Global Business Future
📣 We’re going live on LinkedIn!
On Monday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET, I’ll be joined by cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton for our fourth Expo 2025 talk—this time focused on what the World Expo means for Osaka’s global business future.
Expo 2025 Talk #4: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton
Monday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. PT | Tuesday, July 15 at 8:00 a.m. JST
LinkedIn Live
Admission: Free
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our ongoing Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Yvonne has been on the ground in Osaka, exploring the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. She’s visiting pavilions and reporting on the dynamic energy and discoveries at this once-in-a-lifetime global event.
What Expo Means for Osaka’s Global Business Future
In Talk #4, Yvonne will focus on what Expo 2025 means for the city of Osaka in terms of global business opportunities, international visibility, and economic development. Yvonne will share observations from the Expo site, highlight what major companies and industries are showcasing, and offer insight into Japan’s strategy for engaging the world through this major international event. She’ll also share her latest insights, show photos, and answer your questions in an interactive conversation that brings you closer to Expo 2025—even from afar!
💡 Whether you work in international business, cross-cultural strategy, economic development, or are simply curious about Japan’s global presence—this conversation is for you.
Join the talk on LinkedIn Live: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7346199577739378688/about/
🎥 Missed our earlier talks? Catch up on YouTube:
• Talk 1: https://youtu.be/zd1fEp3SLLI
• Talk 2: https://youtu.be/vF00yjNyPO4
• Talk 3: https://youtu.be/bpenIQ5dROM?si=0EwThM4XrP765mw9
📝 Read Yvonne’s Expo blog posts: burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton
💬 Bring your questions and join the live conversation in the comments!
Night view of the Germany Pavilion at Expo 2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan. Photo by Yvonne Burton.
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Talk #3
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Yvonne has been on the ground in Osaka, exploring the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. She’s visiting pavilions and reporting on the dynamic energy and discoveries at this once-in-a-lifetime global event.
Photo: Night view of the Netherlands Pavilion with Singapore in the background. Photo courtesy Yvonne Burton
Expo 2025 Talk #3: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton
Wednesday, June 11 at 8:00 p.m. ET | 5:00 p.m. PT | Thursday, June 12 at 9:00 a.m. JST
Zoom Meeting
Admission: Free (Registration Required)
JapanCulture•NYC is thrilled to continue our Expo 2025 Talk series with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International!
Yvonne has been on the ground in Osaka, exploring the site of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. She’s visiting pavilions and reporting on the dynamic energy and discoveries at this once-in-a-lifetime global event.
In Talk #3, Yvonne will share her latest insights, show photos, and answer your questions in an interactive conversation that brings you closer to Expo 2025—even from afar!
Previous Sessions
If you missed the previous sessions, catch up here:
📺 Talk #1 Recording on YouTube
📺 Talk #2 Recording on YouTube
🎥 Watch previous Instagram Lives: @JapanCultureNYC
📝 Read Yvonne’s Expo blog posts: burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton
Prepare and Register
Have a question for Yvonne?
📧 Email susan@japanculture-nyc.com or DM us on Instagram @JapanCultureNYC.
🎟 Register for Talk #3 here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/zKIDr2rxQYODO6fMXHKeUg
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Talk #2
Join JapanCultureNYC for Part 2 of my live conversation with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton reporting from Osaka, Japan, where she’s been exploring the site of Expo 2025!
Expo 2025 Talk: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton – Part 2
Wednesday, May 28 at 8:00 p.m. ET | 5:00 p.m. PT | In Japan: Thursday, May 29 at 9:00 a.m.
Zoom
Admission: Free (Registration Required)
On May 13 JapanCultureNYC and cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International held a special live Zoom conversation from Japan, where she’s been exploring Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. We had so much fun, we’re doing it again!
Yvonne has been on the ground, visiting pavilions, observing the process, and soaking up the energy at this year’s World Expo. Prior to the event, Yvonne joined JapanCultureNYC for two Instagram Live tours—one at night, the other during the day—and gave us insightful tours.
On Zoom, Yvonne will share highlights, show photos, and answer your questions about what she’s learned so far. Curious about what Japan is showcasing to the world? Wondering how Osaka prepared for millions of visitors? Don’t miss this insightful and interactive session!
What to See
📺 Watch the first Zoom session on @JapanCulture-NYC’s YouTube channel
📌 Watch the recordings of our Instagram Lives on @JapanCultureNYC’s feed
📝 Read Yvonne’s blog posts from each visit at burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton
📧 Have questions for Yvonne? Email susan@japanculture-nyc.com or DM @JapanCultureNYC
Register in advance
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!
Dive into Expo 2025 with Yvonne Burton
Join JapanCulture•NYC for a special Zoom conversation with Yvonne Burton, founder of Burton Consulting International, reporting live from Osaka, where she’s been exploring Expo 2025!
Live from Osaka: A Conversation with Cross-Cultural Consultant Yvonne Burton on Expo 2025
Tuesday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET | Wednesday, May 14 at 9:00 a.m. in Japan
Live on Zoom
Admission: Free (Registration Required)
Join JapanCulture•NYC for a special live Zoom conversation with cross-cultural consultant Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International, streaming in from Osaka, Japan, where she’s been exploring Expo 2025!
Yvonne has been on the ground, visiting pavilions, observing preparations, and soaking up the energy at this year’s World Expo. She previously joined JapanCultureNYC for two Instagram Live tours—one at night, the other during the day—to give us a tour.
Yvonne Burton of Burton Consulting International on the Ring at Expo 2025 in Osaka
On Zoom, Yvonne will share highlights, show photos, and answer your questions about what she’s learned so far. Curious about what Japan is showcasing to the world? Wondering how Osaka prepared for millions of visitors? Don’t miss this insightful and interactive session!
📌 Watch the recordings of our Instagram Lives on @JapanCultureNYC’s feed
📝 Read Yvonne’s blog posts from each visit at burtonconsulting.biz/blog
🔗 Connect with her on LinkedIn: Yvonne Burton
📧 Have questions for Yvonne? Email susan@japanculture-nyc.com or DM @JapanCultureNYC
Register in advance:
🔗 Click here to register on Zoom
Yvonne’s Expo 2025 Stamp Passport
Support JapanCulture•NYC by becoming a member! For $5 a month, you’ll help maintain the high quality of our site while we continue to showcase and promote the activities of our vibrant community. Please click here to begin your membership today!