Traditional folk music from Umeko Ando, the singer and musician from the Aino community – a small and often oppressed indigenous group residing in Northern Japan and Southeastern Russia. Ando's vocals are accompanied by traditional Aino percussion, and her own playing on the mukkuri, a traditional Japanese plucked instrument.
Aino rose to prominence at a late age, following her appearance on Hokkaido musician Oki Kano's second album "Hankapuy". She then released several solo albums, before her passing in 2004, aged 71. Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/in-focus/episodes/in-focus-umeko-ando-7th-march-2025
