Upopoy (National Ainu Museum and Park), operated by the Foundation for Ainu Culture (Sapporo City Chuo Ward, Chairman Teruki Tsunemoto), will co-host "Matsuura Takeshiro in Upopoy 2026" on Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026, with Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, and Betsukai Town, Hokkaido. This event, held annually since 2021 to introduce Matsuura Takeshiro, credited as the namer of "Hokkaido," to a wider audience, marks its sixth year. In addition to exhibitions and mini-lectures that highlight Takeshiro's achievements and his connection to Ainu culture, as well as the ever-popular Ainu pattern embroidery experience, specialty products from Matsusaka City will also be introduced. It will be a two-day event where participants can learn, see, and experience the connection between Ainu culture and Matsuura Takeshiro. Date: Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2, 2026 Event Overview: Location: Upopoy Entrance Building Participation Fee: Free ▼ Explore Matsuura Takeshiro's six expeditions to Hokkaido, the namesake of Hokkaido! Panel exhibits will introduce Matsuura Takeshiro's Hokkaido expeditions and his interactions with the Ainu people, as well as the achievements of the merchant Kaga Denzo, who served as an Ainu language interpreter. ▼ Discover the hidden stories of interaction between the Ainu people and Matsuura Takeshiro and Kaga Denzo! Two mini-lectures will be held. 1 Introduction to the interactions between Matsuura Takeshiro and the Ainu people, and Takeshiro's hometown, Matsusaka. (Lecturer) Mr. Osamu Yamamoto, Director of the Matsuura Takeshiro Memorial Museum 2 Introduction to the achievements of Kaga Denzo, a merchant who stayed close to the Ainu people on the Notsuke Peninsula in Hokkaido. (Lecturer) Mr. Kazuhito Ishiwatari, Director of the Betsukai Town Local History Museum ▼ Matsusaka Momen x Ainu Patterns! You can experience embroidering Ainu patterns onto coasters made of "Matsusaka Momen," a specialty product of Matsusaka. (Instruction)