10th International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival in Akanko Ainu Kotan, Hokkaido
World Tones Gather in Akan
10th International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival in Akanko Ainu Kotan, Hokkaido
Outline
Name 10th International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival in Akanko Ainu Kotan, Hokkaido
Dates October 24 (Fri.) - October 26 (Sun.), 2025
Pre-festival will be held on October 23 (Thu.)
Venue Akanko Ainu Theater
Organized by Kushiro City
Operated by International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival Executive Committee
Akan Jew's Harp Association / Japan Jew's Harp Association / Ainu Association of Akan
Akan Ainu Culture Preservation Society / Akan Ainu Industrial Arts Association
Akan Ainu Consuln
Cooperation International Jew 's Harp Society
Contents
Jew's Harp performances by international and domestic Jew's Harp players and Ainu mukkuri players
Workshops on making and playing the Jew's harp
Exhibition of Jew's Harps from around the world
Research presentations on the Jew's Harp
Ainu dance performances
Countries and Regions to Participate
Asia
Republic of India
Republic of Indonesia
Kingdom of Cambodia
Kyrgyz Republic
Republic of Sakha
People's Republic of China
Taiwan
Republic of Tuva
Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
Republic of Bashkortostan
Republic of the Philippines
Malaysia
Mongolia
Japan
Europe
Italian Republic
Republic of Estonia
Kingdom of the Netherlands
Republic of Austria
Swiss Confederation (Switzerland)
Federal Republic of Germany
Kingdom of Norway
Hungary
Republic of Finland
Republic of Lithuania
Romania
Russian Federation
Americas
United States of America
Canada
Republic of Chile
Federative Republic of Brazil
About the International Jew’s Harp Congress / Festival
The Jew’s Harp is a small musical instrument made of metal or bamboo, a simple but profound instrument that makes a distinctive “byong” sound when placed against the mouth. In Ainu culture, it is called “mukkuri” and has been popular since ancient times.
The International Jew’s Harp Congress / Festival has been held nine times in various parts of the world where the Jew’s Harp culture has taken root with performers, makers, and researchers from Asia, Europe, and even Japan participating. The festival offers a wide variety of events, including stage performances, live outdoor performances, workshops, and even a market featuring Jew’s Harps from around the world. Held every few years, the festival has become an opportunity for people involved with the Jew’s Harp from around the world to deepen exchanges and inspire each other.
From Japan, members of the Japan Jew's Harp Association and the Akan Jew's Harp Association have participated in the past International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival since the second one. The desire of these experienced members to someday hold such an event in Japan has been fulfilled, and now the first International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival will be held in Japan.
The Jew’s Harp has the power to transcend language and cultural barriers and connect people through sound. No matter how different people's backgrounds may be, they can communicate with each other through the sound of “byong” - such a miraculous moment will become an everyday occurrence at this festival.
This International Jew's Harp Congress / Festival aims to provide a valuable opportunity to communicate with other Jew's Harp cultures from around the world, as well as to show the world the charm of the Ainu culture.
Past International Jew's Harp Congress/Festival
1984 1st
September 14-15 Iowa City, USA
1991 2nd
June 19-25 Yakutsk, Soviet Union
1998 3rd
June 22-28 Molln, Austria
2002 4th
September 11-14 Rauland, Norway
2006 5th
July 28-30 Amsterdam, Netherlands
2010 6th
September 16-19 Kecskemet, Hungary
2011 7th
June 22-27 Yakutsk, Sakha Republic
2014 8th
August 8-10 Taucha, Germany
2022 9th
July 27-30 Berlin, Germany
