Latest news with #Ainu
Kyodo News
6 days ago
- General
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Rescuers try to stay aloof at Japan's sole seal sanctuary
By Tomoki Hoshii, KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 12:58 | All, Japan At Japan's lone facility dedicated to seal protection, the animals get no names. Doing so would only increase the heartbreak of the staff when returning them to the wild. The Okhotsk Tokkari Center on the Sea of Okhotsk in Mombetsu, Hokkaido, rescues injured or weakened seals who have washed up on shore before releasing them back into the sea after they have recovered. "Tokkari" means "seal" in the indigenous Ainu language. Launched in the 1980s at a time when locals viewed seals as harmful pests to the fishing industry after a surge in their population, the rescue operation has helped more than 200 of the sea mammals. The staff at the center purposely forgo naming or having direct contact with the seals to avoid growing emotionally attached. But try as they might, staff still develop an affectionate bond with them. At the end of December last year, a male spotted seal was released on a ramp near the facility. It wriggled its stout body down the plank and slid into the harbor, then headed out, occasionally darting its head out of the water, before disappearing from sight. It took about eight months for the animal to get healthy enough to return to the sea after it had been washed up in a small fishing port in a town located in the Okhotsk subprefecture. "I'm worried about whether he'll be able to survive," said Miku Watanabe, 25, head of rearing and exhibitions at the center. "But I'm glad we could return him. This makes it all worthwhile." Seals are seen along the Sea of Okhotsk coast from winter to spring and were once overhunted for their skin and fat. When hunting ceased in the 1970s, the population grew and caused serious fishery damage -- then making them a target for removal. The late Yoshitsugu Hirosaki, former director of the Enoshima Aquarium, took a pioneering step in 1987 by collaborating with the city of Mombetsu to begin caring for two injured seals in a private residential setting. This initiative led to the establishment of Japan's only specialized facility for seal protection. If there is a report of an injured seal, the staff is ready to drive to the coast at a moment's notice. In the beginning, the cases often involved seals getting entangled in fishing nets, but in recent years, the majority have been pups and young seals that have become emaciated due to a lack of food. In principle, the seals are returned to the sea within one year. To prevent them from becoming used to human contact, fish are not fed directly to the seals but thrown into a pool. Staff also do their utmost not to get too close by not calling or naming them. "But I still become attached to them," Watanabe said. For most of the seals, survival is not guaranteed. In fact, after being rescued, many die while in the center's care, with only roughly 40 percent making it back to sea. The ones that are blind or otherwise unable to return to the wild are kept in captivity, and currently about 30 spotted and ringed seals appear in public exhibitions at the center. Visitors can watch staff feed the seals and check their health, as well as learn about their ecology. According to Mari Kobayashi, a professor in marine mammalogy at Tokyo University of Agriculture, the number of seals along the coast of Hokkaido has been declining in recent years, while their culling by fishermen has also decreased. But the seals are losing their habitat with the recession of drift ice, which the animals use for breeding, pupping and hunting, accelerated by global warming. She says a continuation of the trend threatens the possibility that they will no longer be seen in Japan. The center is funded by the hometown tax payments received by the city. Watanabe hopes more people will take an interest in learning about the various seal species under their protection. "We want to return as many seals as possible to the sea. Hopefully, through our activities, people will become interested in the protection of animals and the environment," she said. Related coverage: All 4 giant pandas at western Japan zoo to return to China in June Penguins charm visitors with winter strolls at Hokkaido zoo
Kyodo News
7 days ago
- General
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Rescuers try to stay aloof at Japan's sole seal sanctuary
By Tomoki Hoshii, KYODO NEWS - 3 minutes ago - 12:58 | All, Japan At Japan's lone facility dedicated to seal protection, the animals get no names. Doing so would only increase the heartbreak of the staff when returning them to the wild. The Okhotsk Tokkari Center on the Sea of Okhotsk in Mombetsu, Hokkaido, rescues injured or weakened seals who have washed up on shore before releasing them back into the sea after they have recovered. "Tokkari" means "seal" in the indigenous Ainu language. Launched in the 1980s at a time when locals viewed seals as harmful pests to the fishing industry after a surge in their population, the rescue operation has helped more than 200 of the sea mammals. The staff at the center purposely forgo naming or having direct contact with the seals to avoid growing emotionally attached. But try as they might, staff still develop an affectionate bond with them. At the end of December last year, a male spotted seal was released on a ramp near the facility. It wriggled its stout body down the plank and slid into the harbor, then headed out, occasionally darting its head out of the water, before disappearing from sight. It took about eight months for the animal to get healthy enough to return to the sea after it had been washed up in a small fishing port in a town located in the Okhotsk subprefecture. "I'm worried about whether he'll be able to survive," said Miku Watanabe, 25, head of rearing and exhibitions at the center. "But I'm glad we could return him. This makes it all worthwhile." Seals are seen along the Sea of Okhotsk coast from winter to spring and were once overhunted for their skin and fat. When hunting ceased in the 1970s, the population grew and caused serious fishery damage -- then making them a target for removal. The late Yoshitsugu Hirosaki, former director of the Enoshima Aquarium, took a pioneering step in 1987 by collaborating with the city of Mombetsu to begin caring for two injured seals in a private residential setting. This initiative led to the establishment of Japan's only specialized facility for seal protection. If there is a report of an injured seal, the staff is ready to drive to the coast at a moment's notice. In the beginning, the cases often involved seals getting entangled in fishing nets, but in recent years, the majority have been pups and young seals that have become emaciated due to a lack of food. In principle, the seals are returned to the sea within one year. To prevent them from becoming used to human contact, fish are not fed directly to the seals but thrown into a pool. Staff also do their utmost not to get too close by not calling or naming them. "But I still become attached to them," Watanabe said. For most of the seals, survival is not guaranteed. In fact, after being rescued, many die while in the center's care, with only roughly 40 percent making it back to sea. The ones that are blind or otherwise unable to return to the wild are kept in captivity, and currently about 30 spotted and ringed seals appear in public exhibitions at the center. Visitors can watch staff feed the seals and check their health, as well as learn about their ecology. According to Mari Kobayashi, a professor in marine mammalogy at Tokyo University of Agriculture, the number of seals along the coast of Hokkaido has been declining in recent years, while their culling by fishermen has also decreased. But the seals are losing their habitat with the recession of drift ice, which the animals use for breeding, pupping and hunting, accelerated by global warming. She says a continuation of the trend threatens the possibility that they will no longer be seen in Japan. The center is funded by the hometown tax payments received by the city. Watanabe hopes more people will take an interest in learning about the various seal species under their protection. "We want to return as many seals as possible to the sea. Hopefully, through our activities, people will become interested in the protection of animals and the environment," she said. Related coverage: All 4 giant pandas at western Japan zoo to return to China in June Penguins charm visitors with winter strolls at Hokkaido zoo
Yomiuri Shimbun
21-05-2025
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Remains of 3 Ainu People Return from U.K.; Erimo, Urakawa, Kushiro Region Remains Were Held at University of Edinburgh
The Yomiuri Shimbun Masaru Okawa, left, executive director of the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, speaks at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. CHITOSE, Hokkaido — The remains of three Ainu individuals, which had been held at the University of Edinburgh, have returned to Hokkaido from the United Kingdom. Masaru Okawa, executive director of the Ainu Association of Hokkaido, and his delegation arrived at New Chitose Airport on May 3 after traveling to the United Kingdom to receive the remains. 'I can only imagine our ancestors' thoughts after spending so many years in a foreign land. I believe they are pleased to return home,' he said. The three sets of remains, which are said to have been found in Erimo, Urakawa and the Kushiro region, were reportedly donated to the University of Edinburgh by a doctor from Scotland. Upopoy (the Symbolic Place for Ethnic Harmony) in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, will manage them, while the remains from the Kushiro region, subject to a repatriation request by a local organization, will be returned to the region upon completion of procedures. The handover involved six members of the association, including Okawa, who traveled to the United Kingdom. A repatriation ceremony took place there. 'There have been reports that the remains [of Ainu individuals] are stored in eight countries, including the United Kingdom. If arrangements can be made, we want to go and retrieve our compatriots and ancestors as soon as possible,' Okawa told reporters at the airport.
The Mainichi
19-05-2025
- General
- The Mainichi
Why is Japan's earthquake alert chime scary? Composer shares sound's science
TOKYO -- When an earthquake measuring a lower 5 or stronger on the 7-point Japanese seismic intensity scale is predicted, public broadcaster NHK airs an emergency earthquake alert chime on TV and radio, known for its distinctive melody. Even in noisy environments, this sound is clear and can evoke a sense of fear. But why is that? The chime was created by Tohru Ifukube, 79, professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo who specializes in welfare engineering. He is also the nephew of the late Akira Ifukube, renowned for composing the main theme of the movie "Godzilla." According to Ifukube, the alert chime uses a melody where the pitch changes rapidly in a short period. Sound travels as vibrations, which are converted into electrical signals in the inner ear and sent to the brain. This process allows the brain to extract changes in sound, making the chime easy to hear even amid background noise or when hearing ability is diminished. Such sounds with rapid frequency modulation are known as "FM sounds," and natural examples include babies' cries and the calls female monkeys use to attract males. "Among mammals, FM sounds act as stimuli to signal danger," Ifukube explains. NHK commissioned Ifukube to create the chime in 2007, with the core requirements being that the listener feel a sense of urgency, that it wouldn't induce discomfort or anxiety, that it be audible in noisy environments, and even by those with mild hearing impairments. Searching for a melody that met these criteria, he hit upon his graduate research on FM sounds. "Rather than a buzzer sound, I want music that carries a message," Ifukube thought. His attention then turned to the first chord of the third movement of his uncle Akira's symphony "Sinfonia Tapkaara." By changing the key, the chord's notes became "C, E, G, B-flat, D-sharp." The D-sharp added tension, so he decided to make this chord the base of the chime. The final selection was narrowed down to five candidates, and an evaluation experiment was conducted with 19 participants, including those with congenital severe hearing loss, age-related hearing loss, children and adults. The current chime, which includes dissonance, was chosen. "Tapkaara" in the Ainu language means "stand up and dance." Ifukube remarked, "Stand up and evacuate. It was a perfect fit for the chime," (Japanese original by Mai Suganuma, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)
Yomiuri Shimbun
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Ainu Groups Present Dance, Music Performances at Expo; Audiences Wowed by Traditions, Respect for Nature
The Yomiuri Shimbun Dancers give a performance of Ainu dance at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo on Saturday. OSAKA — Clad in traditional clothing, Ainu dancers and musicians performed at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo on Saturday. About 200 performers from 24 Ainu organizations presented a variety of traditional Ainu dances that have been passed down through generations, including those themed around animals and offerings to gods, in an event held at Expo Hall 'Shining Hat' on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka's Konohana Ward. The organizations are working to carry on Ainu culture. Audiences were attracted by Ainu music played with traditional instruments. The event was organized by The Foundation for Ainu Culture to introduce to the world the culture of the indigenous Ainu people which was cultivated mainly in Hokkaido. 'My soul was shaken [as I watched their performance]. I felt their hope for peace and their determination to value nature,' said a 76-year-old homemaker from Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka. A 24-year-old visitor from Poland said she was deeply moved by their way of respecting nature.
