Yomaru Yamamichi shows how a dugout canoe is built

"In stories as well boats are highly spiritual kamuy. It’s not just about making a boat as a mode; it’s a process of delving deeper into its spirituality and viewing Ainu culture from that perspective. Entering the mountains, selecting the wood for the boat, offering prayers, and felling the tree, then transforming it into the goddess of the boat, this process is of great importance. Using wood is profound way to connect with the land. As our appreciation for boats deepens, I feel that out connection to culture naturally follows. When making it, we carry on the tradition of the cipsanke ritual. It also serves as an opportunity to learn about these ceremonies."

Upopoy, 2023.