The relationship between the Maori and Ainu indigenous people
of Japan is growing
and the Maori Arts and Crafts Institute of NZ hope
that by sharing knowledge around tourism and cultural development
the Ainu can soar even higher.
Our reporter Irena Smith is in Lake Akan, Hokkaido
where she met up with a local Ainu business owner
to see just how proud they are of their culture.
She filed this report.
Behind me is Lake Akan,
there's still snow on the ground and you can feel
the chill of winter lingering.
This is the Northern part of Japan on the island of Hokkaido.
It's also one of the traditional homes of the indigenous Ainu people
who strive to run their own businesses
and showcase their culture.
Meet Fukiko Foukon owner of this traditional Ainu food restaurant.
She puts that love into her food.
This is a form of potato pattie or cake made from potatoes
that have grown under the snow and fermented for five months.
Fukiko was in NZ last year and she now proudly wears symbols
of both her own culture and Maori culture.
That connection is being discussed today
between the Te Puia exec and Ainu business leaders.
This is the street in Akan
dedicated to the Ainu cultural and food village.
When you come here you can feel the spirit of the home people
and by teaming up and sharing ideas with the Maori people,
there is hope that they can flourish even further.
No matter what, Fukiko is a staunch advocate of her culture.
And the food is yum too feeding the Ainu community
ensuring the culture and traditions are alive for many years to come.
Tomorrow the kids from Raukura kapa haka
will have an exchange with local Ainu kids
and teach them some rugby skills
as we all know that there is a major rugby tournament
coming to these shores later this year.
Irena Smith's trip to Hokkaido
is proudly sponsored by the Asia NZ Foundation.
We'd like to thank them for their sponsorship of her trip.