[National Ainu Museum] Depository of One of Japan's Largest Collections of Artifacts from the Etorofu Area, Including Approximately 10,000 Stone Tools
The National Ainu Museum has received a depository of approximately 10,000 archaeological artifacts excavated from the Etorofu Island area from the Jingu Chokokan Museum, to be sequentially exhibited.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 22:25 (7h 54m after Collected)
The National Ainu Museum (Shiraoi Town, Hokkaido; Director: Masahiro Nomoto) received a depository of archaeological materials excavated near Etorofu Island from the Jingu Chokokan and Agriculture Museum (Ise City, Mie Prefecture) in March of this year.
Southern Kuril Artifacts at Jingu Chokokan
The Jingu Chokokan is a comprehensive museum of Ise Jingu, established in 1909 as Japan's first private museum. The archaeological materials deposited this time consist of about 50 pieces of pottery, 10,000 stone tools, and 100 bone and horn tools excavated from Etorofu and Kunashiri islands. The periods mainly belong to the Epi-Jomon culture (about 2,400 years ago to the 4th century) and the Okhotsk culture (5th to 9th centuries).
A portion of the materials excavated near Etorofu Island. This collection shows the unique culture of the region, including Epi-Jomon pottery and obsidian stone tools from Etorofu and Kunashiri. Enlarged images of the pottery reveal characteristic wavy rims and geometric patterns.
These materials were collected primarily near Etorofu Island before the war by Shokichi Nakase, a native of Ise. After returning to Ise post-war, he sold them to the Jingu Chokokan in 1963. Archaeological materials excavated near Etorofu are extremely difficult to obtain today, and the museums that possess them are severely limited. Under such circumstances, the archaeological collection gathered by Mr. Nakase is outstanding in both quality and quantity, boasting one of the largest scales in Japan for materials excavated near Etorofu.
Exhibition Utilization at Our Museum
Throughout their long history, the Ainu people have formed a unique cultural sphere since prehistoric times, differing from the eastern Hokkaido region while maintaining cultural commonalities with Hokkaido. By receiving the depository of this large-scale collection, which is extremely important for introducing the culture of the region, the exhibition contents at our museum will be greatly expanded. We plan to exhibit them sequentially in the future, conveying a deeper understanding of the true culture of Hokkaido and the Etorofu area through these materials.
Image materials can be downloaded for the purpose of PR for this matter.
When using image materials, please include the captions in the text and the following credit:
Image provided by: National Ainu Museum
*The National Ainu Museum is located within the Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony (Nickname: Upopoy).
Southern Kuril Artifacts at Jingu Chokokan
The Jingu Chokokan is a comprehensive museum of Ise Jingu, established in 1909 as Japan's first private museum. The archaeological materials deposited this time consist of about 50 pieces of pottery, 10,000 stone tools, and 100 bone and horn tools excavated from Etorofu and Kunashiri islands. The periods mainly belong to the Epi-Jomon culture (about 2,400 years ago to the 4th century) and the Okhotsk culture (5th to 9th centuries).
A portion of the materials excavated near Etorofu Island. This collection shows the unique culture of the region, including Epi-Jomon pottery and obsidian stone tools from Etorofu and Kunashiri. Enlarged images of the pottery reveal characteristic wavy rims and geometric patterns.
These materials were collected primarily near Etorofu Island before the war by Shokichi Nakase, a native of Ise. After returning to Ise post-war, he sold them to the Jingu Chokokan in 1963. Archaeological materials excavated near Etorofu are extremely difficult to obtain today, and the museums that possess them are severely limited. Under such circumstances, the archaeological collection gathered by Mr. Nakase is outstanding in both quality and quantity, boasting one of the largest scales in Japan for materials excavated near Etorofu.
Exhibition Utilization at Our Museum
Throughout their long history, the Ainu people have formed a unique cultural sphere since prehistoric times, differing from the eastern Hokkaido region while maintaining cultural commonalities with Hokkaido. By receiving the depository of this large-scale collection, which is extremely important for introducing the culture of the region, the exhibition contents at our museum will be greatly expanded. We plan to exhibit them sequentially in the future, conveying a deeper understanding of the true culture of Hokkaido and the Etorofu area through these materials.
Image materials can be downloaded for the purpose of PR for this matter.
When using image materials, please include the captions in the text and the following credit:
Image provided by: National Ainu Museum
*The National Ainu Museum is located within the Symbolic Space for Ethnic Harmony (Nickname: Upopoy).