The Five College Center for East Asian Studies is pleased to host the following events. Please help spread the word!

Film Screening (flyer attached)

Friday, February 28, 7pm

201 Seelye Hall, Smith College

“Songs of Kamui” (カムイのうた)

Directed by Hiroshi Sugawara

Starring Mizuki Yoshida, Ayumu Mochizuki

“Songs of Kamui” (2024) is based on the true story of Chiri Yukie (1903-1922), a young Ainu woman who worked to preserve Ainu language and folklore, publishing the first Japanese translation of an Ainu epic poem, Kamui Yukar. This film has not yet been released outside of Japan. Film trailer. 

Webinar

Monday, March 3, 7-8:45pm

7:00-8:00pm: "Ainu Spirits Singing: The Living World of Chiri Yukie" with emerita Prof. Sarah Strong, Bates College; 8:00-8:45pm: Hiroshi Sugawara, director of the film “Songs of Kamui,” based on the life of Chiri Yukie, will join for a discussion on making the film.

Join us for this rare opportunity to learn about Chiri Yukie’s life and traditional Ainu songs. 

Register here.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Massachusetts-Hokkaido Sister States relationship

Sponsored by the 

Five College Center for East Asian Studies, 

Smith College Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, 

Higashikawa Town, 

Massachusetts-Hokkaido Association