80°05′

In 1912, the Japanese explorer Nobu Shirase set out to become the first man to reach the South Pole, but gave up at 80°05′ south latitude. From that same point, over a hundred years later, explorer Masatatsu Abe, who like Shirase was born in Akita, pioneered a previously unexplored route to reach the South Pole on foot alone. 

During his final moments, Shirase composed a waka, a short Japanese poem: “Even after I’m gone, keep searching for the treasure buried deep in Antarctica, until it is brought to light for all the world to see.” What is the treasure that lies buried in the earth? What motivates these explorers to embark on such expeditions?

1912年 日本人探検家・白瀬矗は、人類初の南極点到達を目指したが南緯80度05分の地点で勇退した。そしてその地点から人類未踏のルートを開拓し、単独徒歩で南極点到達を目指す男がいる。白瀬矗と同じ秋田出身の冒険家・阿部雅龍である。約100年の時を越えて受け継がれる意志。

「我れ無くも　必らず捜せ　南極の　地中の宝　世にいだすまで」白瀬矗が詠んだ辞世の歌である。地中の宝とは何か。彼らは一体何に突き動かされて冒険に出るのだろうか。