Until 2 August, visitors still have the opportunity to see the international exhibition “A Soul Between Worlds: The Ainu People of Northern Japan and Ethnographer Bronisław Piłsudski” at the House of Histories of the National Museum of Lithuania (T. Kosciuškos St. 3, Vilnius). This is the last chance to experience in Lithuania the historical treasures brought together from museums in Japan and across Europe, and to discover the remarkable story of a man whose research continues to help the Ainu revive their language and culture. After closing in Vilnius, the exhibition will travel to the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek in Poland.

The Man Who Helped a People Reclaim Their Voice

The life of Bronisław Piłsudski reads like a novel. Exiled by the Russian Empire to the remote island of Sakhalin, he became one of the world’s foremost ethnographers of the Ainu people. Using the most advanced technologies of his time – Edison’s phonograph and a camera – he recorded Ainu voices, documented their language, photographed their portraits, and preserved their customs and everyday life. After the last native speakers of the Ainu language had passed away, the materials collected by Bronisław Piłsudski became one of the most important sources for reconstructing the language and passing it on to new generations.

Visitors can still see authentic Ainu cultural artefacts, photographs, historical documents, and works by contemporary Ainu artists. The exhibition offers an opportunity to learn about a people currently experiencing a vibrant cultural revival. Developed in close collaboration with the Ainu community, museums, researchers, and artists, the exhibition also presents the story through the voices of the Ainu themselves.

Farewell to the Exhibition: Discover Ainu Culture Through Film

On 25 July, the House of Histories will host two free film screenings that expand upon the themes explored in the exhibition. Both films will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles.

At 12:00, visitors are invited to watch director Takeshi Fukunaga’s feature film Ainu Mosir (2020). The film follows fourteen-year-old Kanto, who lives in a small town on the island of Hokkaido and struggles to come to terms with the loss of his father. When a community leader tells him about a place the Ainu believed to be the gateway to the afterlife, Kanto embarks on a journey in the hope of seeing his deceased father once again.

At 1:30 p.m., audiences are invited to the documentary Ainu: Indigenous People of Japan (2019). The film tells the stories of four elderly members of the Ainu community on the island of Hokkaido. Because of prevailing social attitudes during their youth, they grew up concealing their heritage and without learning the language of their ancestors. They later became active community leaders dedicated to revitalising Ainu language and culture.

An Opportunity to Visit for Less

On 26 July, all temporary exhibitions at the House of Histories can be visited with a 50% discount on admission. This offers visitors the chance to explore two international exhibitions at a reduced price before they both close on 2 August: “A Soul Between Worlds: The Ainu People of Northern Japan and Ethnographer Bronisław Piłsudski” and “Riding the Wave of the Paris Exhibitions: Ethnography, Cultural Diplomacy, and Identity”.

The international exhibition “A Soul Between Worlds: The Ainu People of Northern Japan and Ethnographer Bronisław Piłsudski” is organised by the National Museum of Lithuania and the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek. Financial support is provided by the Municipality of Biratori, Japan, the Japan Foundation, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania, the Polish Institute in Vilnius, and the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Vilnius. More information at lnm.lt.

Photos: Silvestras Samsonas, NML