Clothing

             Traditional Ainu attire is a robe crafted from the inner bark of the elm tree. The design typically features a short robe with straight sleeves, wrapped around the body and secured with a waistband. These robes usually extend to the calf and have sleeves that reach the wrist or forearm. Underneath, women often wore Japanese cloth underwear. Today, female artisans create and embroider these traditional garments, which come at a premium price. In colder seasons, the Ainu donned animal skins, deerskin leggings, and, on Sakhalin, boots fashioned from dog and salmon skins. Earrings, traditionally crafted from grape vines, are a unisex accessory in Ainu culture, while women also adorn themselves with beaded necklaces known as Tamasai. During significant ceremonies, men sported a sapampe crown, constructed from wood fibers and embellished with wooden figures representing animal deities. Men also bore an emus, a ceremonial sword, across their shoulders. Both men and women have historically worn matanpusi (embroidered headbands) and ningkali (earrings) – the latter being a metal ring featuring a ball. Additionally, women's ceremonial attire now includes maidri aprons, though historical records suggest men once wore them too. Women's accessories also comprised tecunkani bracelets, lektumpe necklaces – long cloth chains adorned with metal trinkets – and tamasai or shitoki necklaces, typically crafted from glass beads.