PLOT
A medium-length documentary shining a light on the ‘Matagi’, a people who have made a living from hunting in the mountainous regions of Tohoku. Director Masanori Iwasaki, known in recent years for the ‘Fukushima: A Record of Living Things’ series, which captures the impact of the nuclear accident on the ecosystem, brings to life the daily lives of the mountain people in his native Akita Prefecture—a region with a unique culture—through meticulous research. Having spent three years visiting the Ani region of Kitaakita District, Akita Prefecture—the home of the Matagi who make their living from hunting in the mountain villages of the Tohoku region—Iwasaki accompanied them on more than a dozen hunting expeditions, capturing their skills, traditions and philosophy of reverence for nature.