Umeko Andō, born on November 20, 1932, in Husikokotan, Obihiro, Hokkaidō, Japan, was an Ainu singer and mukkuri player. Her participation in Oki Kano's second album Hankapuy helped her gain recognition. In 2001, she released her solo debut album Ihunke, produced by Oki Kano. Ihunke was praised by critics and declared the best world music album of the year by many Japanese music publications. Her second studio album, Upopo Sanke, was released in 2003 and gained worldwide attention. Andō passed away from cancer on July 15, 2004, at the age of 71 in Makubetsu-cho, Hokkaido. She was featured after her death on the Samurai Champloo soundtrack with her song "Pekambe Uk" ("Wheat Harvesting Song"). The seventeenth episode of the series, which featured the song, was dedicated to her memory.
