Twelve years ago, the fourth most powerful earthquake ever recorded struck Japan. The ensuing tsunami claimed nearly 25,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Yuko Takamatsu was among those swept away on 3/11. She has never been found. Since that day, her husband Yasuo has dedicated his life to searching for her. He scoured the Japanese coast until he decided there was only one place left where Yuko could be: the ocean. Every weekend for the past decade, Yasuo has explored the depths of the Pacific, diving into the void to find her. Yasuo’s search is a meditative practice, an act of grieving, a way to stay close to Yuko’s memory, and an effort to honor the love they shared. His commitment has been steadfast since we first spoke about making this film in 2016 — he says that he will continue to search for her “as long as his body allows.” I’m so grateful that he trusted me to tell his story with The Diver.

Anderson is a Clio-winning director of commercials, music videos, documentaries, and short films. He has been nominated for the Young Director Award at the Cannes Lions Festival, the D&AD Next Director Award, and the Shots Magazine New Director of the Year Award. His independent work has been published by The New York Times, The Atlantic, National Geographic, Vice, FastCompany, and other major outlets. His commercial work aired during the 2018 Super Bowl.