The Ainu are the indigenous people of Japan, who now reside primarily on the island of Hokkaido. Ainu culture can be traced back hundreds of years. During their long history they developed their own unique music, singing styles, and musical instruments.

Photo of yukar performed around a fireside from "Songs of Gods, Songs of Humans" by Donald L. Philippi

Yukar performed around a fireside from “Songs of Gods, Songs of Humans” by Donald L. Philippi

Yukar (ユーカラ) represent a form of Ainu storytelling. They are epic poems performed using a distinctive chant-like voice, and are generally performed without musical accompaniment. Yukar can be further divided into yukar of human heroes (英雄叙事詩) and kamui yukar ( カムイ・ユカラ) which are tales of gods and spirits.

Imekanu (イメカヌ also know by her Japanese name 金成 マツ) is a well-known yukar performer and transcribed yukar poems along with her niece Yukie Chiri  (知里幸恵).  Recording of Imekanu’s yukar performance are available through Rekion by using 金成イメカヌ as the search term. Below are a few examples :

  • Rekion access in OSUL —
    • アイヌ歌謠集 第1集 アイヌ叙事詩 ポン・オイナ info:ndljp/pid/3578897
    • アイヌ歌謠集 第1集 アイヌ英雄叙事詩 ユーカラ(Ⅰ) info:ndljp/pid/3578910

Recordings of yukar by other performers in Rekion include:

  • Yukar of human heroes
    • アイヌ歌謠集 第1集 アイヌ英雄叙事詩 ユーカラ info:ndljp/pid/3578908
    • アイヌ英雄叙事詩 ユーカラ(1) info:ndljp/pid/8266934
  • Kamui yukar
    • アイヌ歌謠集 第1集 アイヌ神謠 カムイ・ユカラ info:ndljp/pid/3578877
    • アイヌ歌謠集 第1集 アイヌ神謠 カムイ・ユカラ info:ndljp/pid/3578878

 

English Resources on yukar in OSUL

Japanese Resources on yukar in OSUL

OSUL has a copy of the yukar transcribed by Imekanu:

 

NOTE: This is one of a series of posts highlighting content available in Rekion (れきおん), the Historical recordings collection of the National Diet Library (Japan), which is available at a dedicated computer in the Music and Dance Library at Ohio State.  See the Introductory post in this series for more information about the database.

Blog post coauthored by Hay Mew(Amy) Hwang