Matampus (Ainu headband)

This extract originally appeared in Between Dreams (Te Papa Press, 2026) on page 52.
This extract was authored by Grace Gassin and Tze Ming Mok.

[This] matampusi (Ainu headband) dates to the early twentieth century. The embroidered patterns on it were historically created by women to decorate many kinds of Ainu garments and are thought to have protective powers, warding off evil spirits. This matampusi was likely worn by a man, as was typical in the early twentieth century, though it is now common to see Ainu women wearing them.