Shiniwa tells the journey of a young boy shattered by abuse and loss. At seven, after the death of his beloved sister, he’s exiled to a monastery in a distant land. He’s consumed by rage.

A compassionate monk dedicates eleven years to transforming the young boy into a man of peace. With patient teaching and the camaraderie of of students playing soccer, this boy gradually changes. By the time the monk passes away, the boy is ready to return to a world that had forgotten him.

Sarvian Media and Guru Films have purchased the rights to this powerful tale of redemption and healing.

Shinawa: The Story of a Reclaimed Life tells the powerful journey of Michael, a young boy scarred by a childhood filled with abuse and loss. At just seven years old, Michael’s world shattered with the brutal killing of his beloved pet rooster and the tragic death of his sister. Consumed by rage and despair, he was sent away to a remote monastery nestled between China and Tibet, a place from which it was believed he would never return.

At this secluded monastery, a compassionate Buddhist monk named Kako took on the seemingly impossible task of healing Michael’s broken spirit. Over the course of eleven challenging years, Kako dedicated his life to transforming the angry, belligerent boy into a man of peace and compassion. Despite Michael’s resistance, Kako’s patient teachings, coupled with the unexpected camaraderie of young monks and a handwoven soccer ball made from bamboo and coconut skin, slowly began to work their magic.

By the time Kako passed away at the age of forty-four, Michael had undergone a profound transformation, emerging ready to re-enter a world that had all but forgotten him. Shinawa: The Story of a Reclaimed Life is a remarkable tale of redemption, resilience, and the power of one person’s unwavering belief in another.