Behind the Scenes of a New Movie
Capturing an Aizu Spirit You Too Can Experience
In 2021, travel to Aizu was really cut off because of the corona pandemic. But at the same time, an amazing ski video project was underway in Aizu for the first time in three years. The concept was to fuse traditional Aizu culture with the snowy mountains. Aizu retains not only many historic buildings but also a unique history and culture, making it a very special place in Japan. It was the setting of the final battle of the civil war at the end of the Edo Period (1600-1868), which gives it a far different feeling than such popular destinations as Kyoto or Kanazawa.
The project involved a large film team of some 10 to 15 people, and involved three local ski and snowboard heroes. The two-and-a-half-month filming period was unusually long for this kind of project, showing the director’s strong desire to do something special. One of the highlights was a night shooting, using the night skiing lighting at a ski area. The director put particular effort into a scene at the end of the movie involving a fusion of skiing with torches and local dancers—50 skiers and boarders, and 50 dancers, in fact. The scene involving these 100 people was a representation of the civil war era some 150 years ago. The images, replacing swords with skis and snowboards, is a masterpiece.
All too often, these kinds of videos focus only on tourism. This film, however, isn’t so much interested in the everyday themes of good food and excellent snow quality, but in showcasing the fascinating history of Aizu against the beautiful backdrop of the snowy mountains. There’s a very good chance you’ll be able to see the film firsthand, too, when you come here.
But if you want to come in direct contact with this special spirit of Aizu, there’s only one thing to do—come to Aizu!