Ainu musician Oki leads a band with a five-string zither and plays in Hokkaido and other parts of Japan in an effort to keep the music of the indigenous minority alive.

Oki, 45, whose full name is Oki Kano, became acquainted with the "tonkori," the Ainu version of the zither, 10 years ago. He said the encounter inspired him to play the traditional instrument associated with the Ainu.

There were no tonkori players left and Oki had to study Ainu music by relying on what few audio sources were available.

There is virtually no Ainu language still in everyday use except for phrases spoken by the elderly.