Aruku

Production Company - Some Days Films

Director - Shiho Kataoka

Colorist & Online Editor - Justin Joseph Hall

Soul-searching document of chance encounters with fellow pilgrims who set out on a renowned Japanese Pilgrimage extant since the 12th century.

We may be longing for change but trapped in old patterns or dealing with depression after a devastating event. For thousands of years, religious pilgrimages have served as one way to help us tackle these universal difficulties. Shikoku, a beautiful island surrounded by clear blue oceans and towered by divine mountains, is known for the backdrop of Japan’s most famous pilgrimage, where 150,000 pilgrims visit annually to complete the 750 mile circuit of 88 temples. It follows some of the same paths once trod by the Japanese Buddhist monk Kukai (A.K.A. Kobo Daishi: 774-835) who introduced the esoteric Shingon doctrine from China. It is said that during the journey, Kukai walks alongside each pilgrim, guiding them according to their needs, and extraordinary things happen.

“Aruku” explores this concept of Kukai’s guidance by documenting chance encounters between the filmmaker and pilgrims. Pilgrims tread in the midst of nature, having minimum items with them. The pilgrims’ life struggles seem to be reflected while challenging the hardest legs of their long pilgrimage.