Archives of #documentary

Picture from Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park is one of the places where you can most clearly observe the effects of climate change. Of the 150 glaciers that existed in the park in the late 19th century, only 26 remain today. If the current temperature trends continue they could be all gone in a few decades.
6 years ago

Picture from Going-to-the-Sun Road

First day in Glacier National Park, Montana (USA). The weather is not ideal but I decided to rent a bike to enjoy the legendary Going-to-the-Sun road while it is still closed to traffic. #glaciernationalpark #ephemera #roadtrip #montana #landscapephotography #travel #documentary
6 years ago

Picture from Hokkaido

Goodbye Hokkaido, goodbye Japan, goodbye Asia. When an incredible journey through this vivid continent! Next stop Montana, US. #ephemera #travel #documentary #aerial
6 years ago

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Kenji is not Ainu but when he was younger he felt in love with an Ainu woman and with Ainu culture. Today he is engaged in preserving Ainu language working at the Ninutabi Ainu Cultural Museum and teaching a special class at a local elementary school. Kenji is just an example of how Japanese people recently understood the importance of Ainu culture as part of the national cultural heritage and are today taking actions to preserve it. #ainu #ephemera #portrait #school #travel #documentary
6 years ago

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As long as only 20 years ago Ainu still used to live in grass houses. Today they all moved to more modern housing, but they still teach youngsters to building in a traditional fashion, in order to preserve their cultural heritage. You can still visit the interior of some houses in cultural centers and museums like the one in Nibutani. #ainu #ephemera #architecture #house #japan #hokkaido #travel #documentary
6 years ago

Picture from Nibutani

Shigehiro Takano is another Ainu craftsman from Nibutani. I entered his shop while he was carving a traditional Nibutani Ita, a wooden plate decorated with patterns symbolizing natural elements of the area, like tree leaves, the river and fish scales. #ainu #ephemera #craft #japan #portrait #travel #documentary
6 years ago

Picture from Nibutani

Toru Kaizawa, here carving a traditional malori knife, is one of the last Ainu woodcarving artist in Nibutani. In his works the traditional Ainu patterns meet a personal, more modern style, which makes his art commercially successful while keeping the tradition alive. #ainu #ephemera #woodcarving #japan #nibutani #portrait #travel #documentary
6 years ago

Picture from Nibutani

Ainu people have a really strong connection to nature. A rather balanced one. Before taking bark from a tree they pray to thank the spirit of the plant. Once they took out one, and only one stripe, they mark the tree to show that it has already given to the community and should be used any further. Later the bark is boiled to take out the vegetal fibers and twisted in a jute thread that will be later woven into fabric. #ainu #ephemera #craft #bark #jute #process #travel #documentary #textile
6 years ago

Picture from Nibutani

Yukiko is one of the last women in Nibutani who still practice traditional Ainu weaving using fibers from tree’s bark. “I started when I was young and at the time you could sell the textile to Japaneses from the South. Today I just keep on doing it because I love it and makes me feel good. Younger generations are still interested in the craft but, since it’s not economically viable and you need time to practice, it’s very difficult to keep this tradition alive.” #ainu #ephemera #craft #textile #portrait #travel #documentary
6 years ago

Picture from Nibutani Dam

I was planning on renting a van a driving all around Hokkaido countryside to look to explore Ainu people, the native people do Japan. However I had an issue with my driving license and couldn’t rent the vehicle. So I decided to head straight to my first destination and spend some time there. Nibutani is a small district in the town of Biratori, on the Saru river. Over 80% of the residents here are Ainu, the highest percentage on the whole island. #ainu #ephemera #hokkaido #japan #travel #documentary #aerial
6 years ago