Director: Jean-Marc Abela
Country: Canada, Japan
Year: 2022

Shugendō (The Way of Acquiring Power) is a form of Japanese mountain asceticism that incorporates ritual from traditions including Daoism, Shintō, shamanism, and Tantric Buddhism. The mystical teachings and practices of Shugendō emphasize the interconnectedness between sentient beings and the natural world, and call for practitioners to connect with this truth through direct contact with the earth. 

In this poetic documentary feature, follow along with a group of modern practitioners as they journey into sacred mountains and seek to integrate the nature-based practices of Shugendō into their modern urban lives. 

To learn more about this film, visit http://shugendonow.com/ 

This film will be available until midnight on Friday, April 1, 2022. 

shugendō now

Filming a pilgrimage | Image courtesy of Jean-Marc Abela

Shugenja walking on Mt. Ômine | Image courtesy of Jean-Marc Abela

shugendō now

Jean Marc filming Ozaki | Image courtesy of Jean-Marc Abela

shugendō now

Tateishi Kôshô and Goma | Image courtesy of Jean-Marc Abela

shugendō now

Pilgrimage on Mt. Ômine | Image courtesy of Jean-Marc Abela

Jean-Marc filming | Image courtesy of Jean-Marc Abela