Umeko Ando has been played on NTS over 20 times, featured on 19 episodes and was first played on 28 November 2017.

Umeko Ando was born in Fushiko Ainu village. She is a renowned expert of the mukkuri (the koukin, a Japanese mouth harp) and upopo (the traditional chanting of the Ainu). Immersed throughout her life with the culture, language and traditions of the Ainu, she has become an important successor for the Ainu culture of the Obihiro district. Her participation on OKI's second album, Hankapuy, helped to gain her recognition. Her solo debut album, Ihunke, produced by OKI in 2001, was extolled by many…