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Ainu

1880s
Ainu Man

Artist Unknown
Publisher Unknown
Medium Albumen Print
Period Meiji
Location Studio
Image No. 80626-0012
Purchase Digital File
Author

A beautiful hand-tinted portrait dating back to the late 19th century of an Ainu man in traditional clothing.

He is wearing a sword in a shoulder belt and a ceremonial crown (サパウンペ, Sapaunpe) used during the iomante ritual and other religious rituals.

Clothing for religious rituals differed from that for everyday use. Clothes for daily use was usually woven from the inner bark of trees, or made from the pelts of bear, deer, fox, seal, dog and other animals, as well as from salmon or trout skin. Clothes were also made of bird skin or plants.

The clothing worn during religious rituals, however, was made of cottor or silk bought in trade with Japanese. The Ainu used very intricate patterns on their clothing, which were believed to expel evil spirits.

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Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.

To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.

I share what I have found for free on this site, without ads or selling your data.

Your support helps me to continue doing so, and ensures that this exceptional visual heritage will not be lost and forgotten.

Thank you,
Kjeld Duits

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Reference for Citations

Duits, Kjeld (). 1880s: Ainu Man, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on October 8, 2025 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/645/ainu-man

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