“Shugendô Now is a beautifully filmed, aesthetically pleasing, and religiously challenging presentation of traditional ascetic practices… One learns not just about traditional Japanese religion, but how it is alive and fits into contemporary Japanese society, as well as its more cross-cultural appeal. It has stunning and well edited visuals, a fine and appealing sound track, and informative yet unobtrusive narration.” 

—Paul Swanson, Japanese Journal of Religious Studies

“Shugendô Now is an in-depth observation of global awareness, but from an entirely different cultural perspective from that which we are accustomed… This is a beautiful, poetic film, free of preachiness and pretension, and it's sure to please the eco-conscious and the culturally curious alike.” 

— David Campeau, John Abbott College

“Ultimately, what I took away from this film is that even the busiest, most consumerist among us have a deep human need to recognize the sacredness of the environment, a truth the film addresses in a subtle, palatable way. And while the environmental message of the film may be its "heart," the great strength of Shugendô Now is its camera work.” 

— Meaghan Thurston, The Dominion

“The movie is filled with impressive visuals, from trees rhythmically swaying in the wind to reflections of cumulus clouds in pools of water… Shugendô Now ends as it began, with serene shots of nature. But in a way, the film has no beginning or end. Like the discipline of Shugendô, it's endless, an ever-evolving way of being unbound by the temporal aspects of Earthly life.” 

— Luke Baynes, Burlington Movie Examiner

“Shugendo Now is an interesting and appealing study of tradition and modernity… Suitable for high school classes and college courses in cultural anthropology, anthropology of religion, environmental anthropology, and Japan studies, as well as for general audiences.” 

— Jack David Eller, Anthropology Review Database