People
Ando Umeko, bearer of mukkur and upopo
Ando Umeko (安東ウメ子, 1932–2004) was a bearer of Ainu culture. She was born and raised in Obihiro and moved to Makubetsu when she married. She was a master of the mukkur (ムックㇽ, mouth harp) and upopo (ウポポ, songs).
About Ando Umeko
- Born and died
- 1932–2004
- Birthplace
- Obihiro
- Where she lived
- Makubetsu (she moved there when she married)
- What she passed on
- Mukkur (mouth harp) and upopo (songs)
- What she left in Makubetsu
- Everyday tools and ritual implements, and recordings of her mukkur and upopo made in Makubetsu
Source: Town of Makubetsu, "Notice of the special exhibition" (in Japanese)
A special exhibition is on at Cirotto
The special exhibition "Ando Umeko, Bearer of Ainu Culture: What She Left and Passed On in Makubetsu" is on at the Exhibition Hall "Ucaskuma" in Cirotto.
It runs from 1 October to 28 December 2026. Through the everyday tools and ritual implements she donated in her lifetime, and recordings of her mukkur and upopo made in Makubetsu, it looks back on her life and achievements.
Admission is 300 yen for individuals and free for high school students and younger. The permanent exhibition is included.
Mukkur and upopo
The mukkur (ムックㇽ, also written ムックリ) is a mouth harp. The player lets the sound resonate inside the mouth and changes the tone with the shape of the mouth and the breath.
Upopo (ウポポ) are songs. They were sung in daily life and at ceremonies, and have been handed down.
Ando Umeko is known as a master of both.
Sources: Obihiro Development and Construction Department, "A journey through time along the rivers of Tokachi, Chapter 3" (in Japanese); OKI official profile
Recordings and video
| Title | Format | Released by |
|---|---|---|
| Ihunke (イフンケ) | Album (2001) | Produced by OKI. Recorded in 2000 |
| Upopo Sanke (ウポポ サンケ) | Album (2003) | Produced by OKI. Recorded on a farm in Tokachi in the summer of 2003. 14 tracks |
| Sirpirka: Ando Umeko Mukkuri no Sekai (the world of Ando Umeko's mukkur) | CD | Town of Makubetsu. On sale at Makubetsu Furusato-kan |
| Keutum: Umeko Upopo Zenkyokushu (the complete upopo of Umeko) | DVD | Town of Makubetsu. On sale at Makubetsu Furusato-kan |
"Ihunke" means lullaby. Both albums were also released by a German label in 2018. Sources: OKI official profile; Town of Makubetsu, "Ezo Culture Archaeological Museum" (in Japanese)
68 everyday items donated to Furusato-kan
Ando Umeko donated 68 everyday items handed down in the Ando family to Makubetsu Furusato-kan. They include necklaces (tamasay, タマサイ), ceremonial crowns (イナウル), fishing spears (marek, マレック), mukkur (ムックリ), bowls (itanki, イタンキ), cups (tuki, トゥキ) and lidded containers (sintoko, シントコ).
Since May 2007 they have been on show in the permanent exhibition "The Ainu People" at Furusato-kan. The Ando family is one of the long-established family lines of Cirotto Kotan.
Source: Town of Makubetsu, "Stories of local culture, Part 2" (in Japanese)