During World War II, more than 20,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly relocated in Canada. Many of them were interned in camps set up in a frozen wilderness. Camp life was going to deprive the teenagers of a proper education, but female missionaries stepped in to lend a helping hand. They set up high schools and provided the students with moral support and inspiration. This is the little-known story of the search for hope in the dark days of wartime Canada.

Since ancient times, mountain people known as "matagi" have supported themselves in the snow country of Japan by hunting bears. One of the last "matagi" communities that continues the traditional ways is located in the foothills of Mt. Chokai, a famous peak in the northern Tohoku mountains. There, bears are worshipped as messengers of the mountain gods, and bears that are shot are considered divine blessings that provide crucial sustenance. Today the "matagi" have nearly vanished because of depopulation and environmental changes that make it difficult to sustain their lifestyle. Yet, some continue to pursue the traditional way of life while seeking a harmonious relationship with nature.