IKIGAI: The Shin Biyajima Story

For three years Travis Rice was able to travel and explore the Japanese Alps with Shin Biyajima during the production of the film "The Fourth Phase". During this time Travis shared so many adventures and conversations with his new friend. After the movie, Travis really wanted to take a more authentic portrait of Shin and his process of living and riding as a Japanese snowboarder. Travis spent about six weeks over two years after Shin in Nagano Prefecture in his backyard, hiking, exploring and immersing himself in Shin's universe. Together with filmmaker Justin Smith, Travis wanted to capture an intimate portrait of a lifestyle that is quite alien to North American norms, yet strangely similar to the principles shared by most snowboarders around the love of the mountains.