Aruku

ARUKU means “I walk” in Japanese and refers to a famous pilgrimage route on the island of Shikoku, where pilgrims visit 88 Buddhist temples along a route spanning more than 1,200 kilometres. Filmmaker Shiho KATAOKA accompanies four very different people on this circular pilgrimage.

There is young pharmacist Hiroe, who, after quitting her job, seeks answers about her future in the tranquillity of nature. Retiree Mukoh, on the other hand, has completed the pilgrimage 35 times and now uses his campervan journeys to perform small acts of service for the local communities. Chinese pilgrim Li Kai follows in the footsteps of the monk Kukai, driven by his deep religious faith, while young Shoji takes a very different approach after losing his job: he seeks out conversations with fellow travellers and films himself loudly in front of every temple, creating his own cinematic collage.

A meditative yet remarkably engaging portrait of stepping away from everyday life for a while. Through tranquil images and intimate glimpses, the film shows how different the reasons for taking such a break can be, and how the demanding journey helps each of the four protagonists navigate a personal low point in their own way.