Why do people run marathons? What are the mental and physical benefits? How does your environment and your work relate to running? We conceptualized, created and produced for ASICS the "Local Legends" film series to promote the 2014 Nara Marathon. Local Legends are unique but otherwise unknown individuals who do extraordinary things that embody the ASICS brand philosophy of "sound mind, sound body".
Two films tell the real-life story of Kozo Ue, a marathon runner and craftsman whose family has been practicing traditional washi paper-making in the town of Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, for six generations. On November 26, 2014, during the production of this film, UNESCO added washi to its List of World Intangible Heritage Items.