The (Ainu/) is a ritual crown worn by adult men during traditional Ainu ceremonies. It is complemented by the , which is now worn mostly by women. It is traditionally believed to impart great power to the one who wears it.
means 'that which is on the head' and is a combination of the Ainu root words (). The is not intended to be worn on a daily basis; it is usually worn during ceremonies and other festivals, or to celebrate important guests. In the Southwestern Hokkaido subprefectures of Oshima, Iburi, and Hidaka, the is worn by most adult men that participate in rituals, but in Tokachi, it is only permitted to be worn by male elders in important festivals. It is considered deeply shameful to cause trouble while wearing the . The is also not worn during rituals involving the dead such as funerals and ancestral festivals.
The shape of the resembles a headband, covering the outer circumference of the head, rather than the entire head. The bark of a is twisted up to make a rough shape, and a wooden carving that imitates the head of an animal, such as a brown bear or a red fox, is attached to the forehead. The peripheral ends of the are then covered with shavings â and willow shavings. It can be further decorated with Japanese linden bark, coiled bulrush stalks, fabric from mainland Japan, or shark teeth.