Hi, my name's Dave. I lived in Japan for a year, and being a filmmaker shot a ridiculous amount of video footage.

The multimedia travelogue and documentary contained in this site are my attempts to relate the amazing experiences I had while hitchhiking through the area of Japan known as Tohoku. The Japanese often refer to this mostly rural region as the "Deep North." It seemes to be thought of in much the same was as Americans think of the "Deep South;" that ranging from backwards to beautifully untouched.

The remarkably diverse individuals I met there left me with the impression that despite how radically different our cultures may appear at times, Americans and Japanese are startlingly similar. The consistent and overflowing kindness that I encountered (towards a stranger no less) touched and inspired me like nothing before.

I traveled with my friend Hideaki who was returning from college in America and looking for some adventure. He's a musician as well as quite a fine painter. I owe him many thanks for his patience and for now and again pretending to be a non-Japanese speaking Chinese-American so I didn't get left out of conversations.

Now, if you like, go on to see the travelogue.