Katsuya was raised in Lake Akan Ainu Kotan. At the age of 17, she realised how beautiful her mother’s work as an embroiderer was. From then onwards, she learned from her mother and practised her technique. Her grandmother was an embroiderer too. She’s developed her own kind of spiritual dedication, continuing on the legacy of their art.
Katsuya’s hobby is traditional Ainu dance. She spends her days producing artworks and teaching embroidery and dance, while raising her two children in Akan.

Ms Goukon is deeply versed in Ainu culture. Together with her sister under the name of ‘Kapiw & Apappo’, she performs together with many other musicians.

Born in 1958.
Manages Sanramanto, a shop specializing in wood carvings and Ainu folk art.As a coordinator for Akanko Ainu Kotan, Masaki Saito participates in a variety of initiatives with friends and acquaintances to spread and pass down traditional local crafting techniques. He also designed the wooden charm for the “Craft Time (Wood Carving)” experience by “Anytime, Ainutime!” as well as the kamuini (totem poles) at the entrance of Akanko Ainu Theater Ikor.

Since a young age, she became familiar with Ainu culture. Together with her sister, she shares the joy of Ainu song under the name of ‘Kapiw & Apappo’, while also creating arts and crafts at ‘cafe & gallery KARIP’.

Fascinated by Ainu patterns, he moved to Akanko Onsen in 2013. His atelier, ‘cafe & gallery KARIP’, is home to his creative endeavors.

Born and raised at Akanko Ainu Kotan, Tomoko Taira was inspired by her grandmother to learn Ainu culture. She is extensively engaged in the transmission of Ainu culture, including weaving, embroidery, and the performance of traditional Ainu songs, dances, and musical instruments.

Mr Taira encountered wood carving in Akanko Ainu Kotan, and moved to Akanko Ainu Kotan to pursue his interest. He worked part-time while learning the craft of wood carving, and is now active as a professional woodcarver.

Born in 1982.
Took interest in wood carving while living in Australia. Following in the footsteps of his father, a renowned woodcarver, he has become a fully-fledged woodcarver, and creates works guided by his own imagination.

Mr Toko serves as director of the Akan Ainu Industrial Arts Association, and vice-president of the Akan Ainu Association. He currently manages the store, Toko Nuburi no Mise Yukar-do, while also appearing in AKAN YUKAR LOST KAMUY.

Midori Toko runs Poronno, a café at Akanko Ainu Kotan that serves traditional Ainu cuisine. She passes down aspects of Ainu culture that she learned from her mother and grandmother to her family and to young members of the local community.

On the occasion of marriage, she took the opportunity to move to Akanko Ainu Kotan, and began to learn embroidery techniques by observing her mother-in-law’s work. She is now active in Ainu dance, while working as an Ainu embroidery artist and teaching future generations. In 2001, she was certified as a distinguished master of crafts by the Ainu Association of Hokkaido.

Hikawa moved to Lake Akan Onsen as a child, and acquired knowledge of Ainu customs, as well as skills such as wood carving, plant collecting and weaving from his parents. He is the proprietor of Hikawa Folk Art Shop, where he produces and sells wood carvings, and has acted as a mentor to many young people, providing guidance as a cultural leader in his community. He was the winner of the 17th Ainu Cultural Promotion Award (Individual).