Stronger than the Wave is a sensory documentary that captures the experience of walking a historic 1,000-kilometre route tracing Japan’s north-eastern coastline. Filmed while walking sections of the Michinoku Coastal Trail, the camera wanders through quiet coastal towns, mountain passes and hand-carved tunnels. The region is observed at a human pace, from the perspective of a traveller on foot.

Along the trail, stories emerge from individuals, both those native to the region and those who have made it their second home. Memories of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, as well as the subsequent recovery and reconstruction, form a nuanced picture of loss, fortitude and reconciliation. The Tōhoku region is a land where the landscape and its inhabitants are irrevocably intertwined. It is a land where the ocean brings both bounty and danger, with those who choose to live there possessing great spirit and resilience.  Stronger than the Wave weaves together the physical act of walking with observation, conversation and stillness, allowing the structure and rhythm of the trail to shape its narrative.