Imekanu

Imekanu (イメカヌ, November 10, 1875 – April 6, 1961), also known by her Japanese name Kannari Matsu (金成 マツ), was an Ainu missionary and epic poet.

Along with her niece, Yukie Chiri, she wrote down and preserved numerous Ainu yukar she learned from her mother.

Batchelor introduced Imekanu to Kindaichi Kyōsuke, the most prominent Japanese scholar in this field, in 1918.

After retiring from missionary work in 1926, Imekanu began to write down yukar known to her from Ainu tradition and continued to do so until her death.

She wrote down thirteen yukar from this tradition, translated them into Japanese, and prepared a bilingual edition which appeared in 1923.

Imekanu, left, with Kindaichi Kyōsuke and Imekanu's sister Nami Kanai