IKIGAI: The Shin Biyajima Story

I was able to spend three years traveling and exploring the Japanese Alps with Shin Biyajima during the production of "The Fourth Phase" film. During that time I shared so many adventures and conversations with this new friend of mine. After our film released, I really wanted to capture a more authentic portrait of Shin and his process of living and riding as a Japanese snowboarder. I spent about six weeks over two years following Shin around his backyard in the Nagano Prefecture hiking, inquiring and immersing myself in Shin’s universe. Joined by film maker Justin Smith, we wanted to capture an intimate portrait of a lifestyle that is quite foreign compared to the norms of North America, yet still strangely similar to the principles that most snowboarders share around the love of the mountains.

[@Heineken6778]

It's rare to find these snowboard videos these days; they truly respect mountains, the livelihood of local, the culture of the place AND simplicity of riding. Because nowadays, snowboard movies have become just a product of "go epic places with a helicopter and do some stunt-like crazy tricks". There is no creativity in making same stuff all over again It is time to bring multidimensional artistic taste in snowboard videos, let be educational, and eye-opening.

[@pudsboi5203]

well said

[@wormholetahoe1365]

Sounds like you need to watch some of the snowboard films from absinthe.

[@galaktionrepolainen922]

then you'll definitely appreciate this, also featuring shin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGLXm6CGo5ZlrJo

[@dobbatron]

And Depth Perception on Redbull

[@Au5Finn]

Kai Rel Youl only find good quality like this from Travis.

[@tonnocapo]

I've been going to Japan every winter for the past 4 years. The Japanese culture, their respect of nature, the food, the natural hot springs, and the sweetest, deepest, driest snow I've ever been in makes that place my own personal heaven on Earth. I completely understand Biyajima Shin's attitude towards nature and the sport.

[@hoboshreds]

"For me, it's giving way to others one hundred times. And taking something for myself, once." How great would it be if everyone followed this principle? This was good for my soul...thanks!

[@manuelmja]

I am a simple man: As soon as i see a video of this gentleman i just press like

[@brandonbateman7615]

I spent three years in Japan snowboarding. It's my favorite place on earth. So many mountains with such great Japow. This film does a wonderfully in showing the dedication of craft and care for this magical place on earth. Well done!

[@NalyDJ420]

Great Video. I've been working dead end jobs and living paycheck to paycheck for over a decade just so I could live near a ski resort and ride as much as possible. My parents say the same stuff too wondering if I will ever take charge of my life. They are now retired and too old to ski or snowboard. Why wait til you're too old to experience one of the greatest joys of life.... Thank you

[@SHREDoptic]

Thank you, thank you, Travis Rice for this inspiring film!

[@eNtyck]

Hi, can you let me know the model of the goggles in this video? Thanks

[@andrewtaylor7229]

I love the Japanese, such humble and respectful human beings.

[@mountainlife2411]

Unless you ask the Koreans, or any other place they conquered.

[@bensadikin9513]

@@mountainlife2411 Im Indonesian and i think the idea of holding on to the past grudges holds no value when you live in the present and look up to your future. I also highly respected Japanese and their culture...... apart from their annual whale hunting of course.

[@mountainlife2411]

@@bensadikin9513 Hmmm, forgiving them for enslaving your people, but holding them accountable for their fishing practices? Up to you bro.

[@bensadikin9513]

@@mountainlife2411 Yes its the past. The Japanese people admit, recognize their deeds and deeply horrified by it. They are changed nation if you actually understand why they only have JSDF post Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Whale reproduction isnt as simple as human conceiving a baby and took longer than human does. Plus the care, odds to live and everything about whales are delicate. Do you carry revenge all the time on your back ? Or you rather travel light and look forward ? Up to you, bro.

[@mountainlife2411]

@@bensadikin9513 OK first of all speaking for all Japanese people is obviously problematic. Their P.M. Mr. Abe (an elected official) is very right wing and pushing for their military to get involved in foreign conflicts, which eventually they will. Placing any animals life over a humans really shows where your head is at, though I suspect you are just arguing for arguing sake. If you think living light is forgetting what was done to your people in very recent history, then fine. Not sure what you mean by carrying "revenge" on my back, I never said anything about revenge on anyone. I'm Laotian/American living in Japan so if I carried any animosity towards these people, I probably wouldn't be here. The older generations in Laos and Japan both have very strong anti american sentiments which I find very justified.

[@stokeybeats]

every aspect of this film was beautiful

[@inmotion_snow]

incredible dude... cant wait to go to Japan for the first time this January. Shin is a total legend

[@Obsihoernchen]

A really humble and nice guy! Thank you for this video Travis

[@TimoVarakas]

Thank you, this made my winter man! I'd love to see Shin more in movies!

[@enricomassi4247]

This is excellent and what it is all about. Thanks for sharing!

[@Mr.Stickyrice]

Thanks so much for sharing and creating this video ! Love the mood it creates ! Great Work

[@DC_13]

wonderful!

[@morna57]

Loved it!

[@lorddicklebowski8459]

What a great Video!

[@MeatSauceLova]

What a wholesome short film. Thanks everyone and happy holidays!

[@graysonluck5359]

Hands down one of the best snowboard edits I've ever seen. You guys are so talented keep it up👍

[@emilkuzmanov9036]

this video has changed my whole thinking, thank you guys 🙏🏻

[@jarredhounshell5183]

Hell yeah! What a great film

[@user-nu5rc7tl8z]

Thank you so much Travis and Shin!

[@arrowsoundmusic]

Love this!!

[@dunjicka1]

such a wonderful and inspiring story

[@simonly3451]

This seriously made me want to take up snowboarding! What an amazing production! One of the best videos I've seen in a long while!!

[@jollygiant3450]

Merry Christmas Mr Biyajima! and Mr Rice! Thank you (and your kin) for getting me back into snowboarding after 20 years! Its been a long grey road in the grinder... no hope, just the next day in the grinder. First time back on snow 2 years ago now, changed my life! Still in the grind, but with a new found purpose, for me, and my son, my wife, our life! My soul is happy again :D Thank you for being a part of that!

[@honzabasny5754]

Thanks for this:) !!

[@georgekleckner1991]

Bravo Travis & Chip! This just made my day.

[@vlchilders]

Revisiting this one. Again. So good.

[@johnnyquattro7390]

Thank you Travis! This was beautiful bud

[@GandyMan2008]

Great vid. Such a real story. Thank you. Keep making them.

[@jamesCarter666]

Beautiful!

[@eliakaiser1290]

Absolutely beautiful! Great job :)

[@jeremyfiske3755]

one of the best snowboard shorts of this year

[@Dubfire011]

Such a beautiful story

[@jacobhoppen1964]

Wonderful! Thank you.

[@bjaminbjamin]

Great video Travis! Keep these up, like the Occy surf interviews with HD, wicked filming and music. Sick of the same old thing. Great insight into Shin.

[@GeorgeLeonardoMichel]

Super inspiring video! Great story. I wish we had more snowboarding films like this one :)

[@JonRawlinson]

stunning cinematography. wonderful story. sick snowboarding!

[@TheSkyyvod]

damn this is so refreshing. Japan and their way of life is so nice. Amazing movie

[@pabloguevara9772]

Gracias Travis por inspirar al Snowboard a lo máximo ! Thanks 🙏🏻

[@peakplane1966]

Beautiful.

[@SanjayShelat]

This is a great shortfilm :-)

[@Sfairat1000]

Incredible quality, mountains and peoples. I feel youre and Shin story make me a little bit happier today, thank for your job!!

[@goouutnaturally3086]

beautiful film, pretty snow ..everything stimulates me...GOOD!!!

[@Me-dj2sz]

this is amazing

[@Kevin_Ice]

Really cool story, thanks for sharing.

[@mathiashuber99]

Icredible story. I'm amazed by the footage and how humble Shin is. Snowboarding and respecting the mountain is the basis for all snowboareds. What an inspiration.

[@jlamexotics]

It is not easy to make such a beautiful video. Thank you guys!

[@codymathison7117]

so so SO good

[@xanderzwemstra5950]

That was wonderful!

[@SamsWebDev]

This right here, is what life is all about. Watched this thing 5 times already. One word...righteous!!

[@amirmeric]

Wow thanks for the vid. Really nicely done. Beautifully simple

[@danzbeard]

well done. Phenomenal intro.

[@user-tt1gx5cx3s]

Wonderful Movie! I enjoyed so much! I wanna go mountain now!

[@linkman203]

Dope visuals, great soundtrack

[@henryscott-jones4669]

Awesome movie, thanks Travis.

[@dokapps2813]

Sooooo inspiring 👌🏼thank youuuuuu

[@energ8t]

Great work Travis

[@bongker22]

I know nothing of Snowboarding but I just can't take my eyes off this video!!!

[@minniusmannius9165]

How great was this video, one of the best I have seen in a long time. What an amazingly beautiful place. Will have to add Nagano, Japan to the bucket list. Thank you both for sharing your adventure👍🍻

[@jeremythompson2858]

Love the philosophy

[@pov803]

シーズンイン前日にこの動画に出会えて良かった。

[@Ernestandrews785]

Amazing story thank you for sharing 👍👌

[@TheoGadoua]

soooo good man

[@user-xz7or3vz1s]

Stunning film. What a beautiful life.

[@MrBonafide1]

Thanks Travis for the inspiration. You and Shin really made me want to be there. I'll try to do the same in my mountains-enjoy them as much as I can and appreciate what I got. Tnx.

[@Ask_Think_Learn]

Very beautiful film

[@Jack_Oneder]

Hi guys, Travis thanks for this video! I always look forward to hearing from you new video. P. S. Lib Orca is a very cool Board, lightweight, floats in powder snow, smooth!

[@itsgambini99]

Everything about this film is goooood

[@alexjordan467]

Wonderful, the film but also his take on life

[@boyoon5028]

Met him by chance. He is really humble, down to earth, really really nice person.

[@MrCrystalmountain]

Well done Travis, for being able to capture Shin's point of view of his home. I wish it was longer but this will do just fine! Can we look for a new Supernatural course soon or a new movie from you Travis, anytime soon??

[@karlymotxo]

Imposible verlo sin llorar!

[@mrED123]

This is the best snowboard video ever

[@jestertryna8956]

Here I am once again in the dead middle of summer dreaming of winter. God I cant wait

[@TRAVELGUIDESL8]

Wow...great effort

[@christiandonaj8257]

Really good stuff

[@knunez30]

So dope! It's my last season in Japan, I'm for sure going to miss it. Hope to see you at FreeRideWorldTour, kick ass!!!

[@drivenbythechills]

(How can this have only 77k views ? The world is missing out, i'm telling you.) Long time no see Travis's videos but i'm loving it, always amazing footages & great music with you ! It's crazy the powder that they have down there in Japan. I wish i could ride there one day :) We need more videos like this !

[@ktextreme]

Wow!

[@tilo7309]

Nice Video. And Yeah man, I have the same snowboard!

[@MrBonafide1]

Feel good. Wish I would follow my heart like that. #inspiration

[@masahiroyamazaki7327]

スノーボードが好きな一人として凄く共感できました。ありがとうござます。

[@bigrednz69]

Beautiful. Arigato Shin Biyajima ❄️🤘🏂

[@fabriziomosto6327]

Awesome man …….

[@coloradocamera]

Was great meeting you last week in the butte! You’re always welcome here in Crested Butte! 🤙

[@thims1961]

Liked their home made plywood pow boards & of course it's a gorgeous ski movie

[@livekenora]

I really enjoyed what you guys have captured here. Powerful stuff! Just wish we could make it out that way. Unfortunately, it is very expensive getting there out of Northen Canada. We can't make it there but I'm sure we will see you guys in The Foggcutter this season.... Cheers!

[@kirksparkes7816]

True lover of snowboarding right there. "go snowboarding for you"

[@user-mu9oi8cp3f]

Beautiful beautiful movie.and softly jently world.Thank you so much from Japan.ARIGATOU

[@bjaminbjamin]

so rad

[@shaneschommer1074]

What a great video. This is my favorite stuff to watch.

[@shaneschommer1074]

By the way, anyone know what jacket Travis is wearing. It's sick!

[@davidalderman5018]

I love Japow pow. Great clip with 2epic riders

[@stuckinohio]

It's been the top spot on our bucket list to ride JaPOW!! Thank you for this T-RICE

[@JimSpraysium138]

Thank u Shin Biyajima and T. Rice. Thank u

[@geobuksun]

thank you, Travis & Justin for this work of art!

[@justinleeb]

well done dude

[@DogWhoFilms]

So amazingly perfect fellas

[@kolikjun]

Loved it, just got little surprised videomakers of this format would choose music, which was used in different snowboarding video, Signatures..