America

Set in the late 1980s, Nae dreams above all else of becoming a journalist and leaving Japan for the United States—a land where anything seems possible. Until that ambition can become reality, she channels her enthusiasm for American culture into her friendships. Caught somewhere between aspiration and disillusionment, she and her companions follow a path toward America that feels tantalizingly close yet agonizingly out of reach. This work explores the enduring myth of the American Dream as it resonates with young Japanese people, who often perceive their own traditions as barriers standing between them and their goals. A deeply personal project for Keiko Ichiguchi, the narrative offers an intimate psychological portrait of Japanese youth in turmoil—steering clear of clichés while brushing against both realism and tragedy.