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	<title>Kuni Takahashi Photo Blog</title>
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	<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog</link>
	<description>Mumbai, India based photographer</description>
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		<title>Queer Azaadi &#8211; Gay and Lesbian in Mumbai</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:50:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1226</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march News: Gay and lesbian march Photographed Gay and Lesbian march [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-2/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-3/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-4/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-5/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-6/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-7/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-8/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-9/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/30/queer-azaadi-gay-and-lesbian-in-mumbai/news-gay-and-lesbian-march-10/' title='News:  Gay and lesbian march'>News:  Gay and lesbian march</a>
</p>
<p>Photographed Gay and Lesbian march in Mumbai a few days ago. The event called “Queer Azaadi”, which includes bisexual and transgender, has been taking place since 2008 in the city to fight discrimination against them.</p>
<p>On July 2, 2009, The Delhi High Court in India annulled a 150-year-old law criminalizing “carnal intercourse against the order of nature,” commonly known as Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Before that, whoever committed such an act could be arrested.</p>
<p>Although India is one of the fastest-growing countries economically in recent years, it still remains quite conservative culturally and socially. Needless to say, homosexuals who have courage to “come out” are still very few.</p>
<p>The march went peacefully and joyfully. There were hundreds of bystanders curiously watching or taking pictures of the marchers but I did not see any abuse or heckling. It was nice to see the public show tolerance and acceptance. (not sure if it would have happened same way in rural areas which are more conservative …)</p>
<p>I still remember the nasty encounters I witnessed when a group of gay and lesbian Irish participated in annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston in the mid-90’s. Even kids were shouting and spitting on the marchers.</p>
<p>For the minorities, the only way to earn understanding and acceptance in society is to keep fighting for their rights. India&#8217;s homosexual community&#8217;s fight has only just begun.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>一昨日、ムンバイでゲイ・レズビアンのマーチを撮影した。「クウィアー・アザーディ」と名付けられたこのイベントは、同性愛者、バイセクシャルやトランスジェンダーを含めたコミュニティーに対する差別偏見と闘うために２００８年から毎年続けられている。</p>
<p>２００９年７月２日、首都デリーの高等裁判所は、 １５０年前から続いていた「自然の摂理に反した快楽的性交（要するに同性間性行為）」を犯罪と見なしていたインド刑法３７７項を違憲とする画期的判決を下した。これ以前は、同性間の性行為によって逮捕されることもあったわけだ。</p>
<p>近年、高度経済成長により国際舞台でも頭角をあらわしてきたインドだが、社会的、文化的にはまだまだ保守的な面が多い。言うまでもなく、勇気を持って公にでる同性愛者たちは極少数だ。</p>
<p>イベントでは、多くの通行人たちが沿道で足を止め、興味深そうに行進を眺めたり写真を撮ったりしていたが、妨害や嫌がらせの類いは一切なく、参加者たちはドラム演奏に合わせ行進を楽しんだ。保守的とはいえ、こういう懐の深さも持つインド人の一面を見た思いだ。（これがさらに保守的な農村部だったらどうなるかは疑問だが。。。）</p>
<p>９０年代半ば、ボストンで撮影したセント・パトリックス・デー・パレードでの場面を、僕はいまでもはっきりと憶えている。それは、パレードに初めて参加した同性愛者のグループに対して罵声が飛び交い、子供たちまでもが彼らに向かって唾を吐きかけるという醜悪なものだった。</p>
<p>少数派が社会で理解され、受け入れてもらうためには、自ら権利を主張しそれを勝ち取っていくしか無い。インドの同性愛者の権利獲得への闘いはまだ始まったばかりだ。</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Durbar Boys &#8211; Streetkids in Kathmandu #2</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/25/durbar-boys-streetkids-in-kathmandu-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/25/durbar-boys-streetkids-in-kathmandu-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 07:36:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1208</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal Beside what I wrote in my previous blog, there was one good thing I have witnessed. Two of the kids I have been following are now off the street and staying at a shelter for more than a year. Twelve kids live in the house outside Kathmandu [...]]]></description>
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</p>
<p>Beside what I wrote in my previous blog, there was one good thing I have witnessed.</p>
<p>Two of the kids I have been following are now off the street and staying at a shelter for more than a year. Twelve kids live in the house outside Kathmandu with a local man named Samrat who runs the shelter and they all go to schools.</p>
<p>Although the condition of the house was not great – there was barely any furniture in the rooms,  kids were sleeping on the floor, supplies were limited, there were broken windows and no heater – somehow they seemed to be living comfortably together. They help with chores like cooking, laundry and washing dishes and grow vegetable in the garden and study. I talked to several kids and none of them told me that they wanted to go back to the street. It seemed that Samrat successfully taught them the importance of education and of taking care of themselves in the future.</p>
<p>It was great to see some positive changes in the kids’ life but the situation is not necessarily hopeful. Not surprisingly, Samrat, who doesn’t have any strong connections politically or with bigger NGOs, is facing constant financial threat. He runs the house by himself with small support with a few donors. He told me that in three months he will run out of money and won’t be able to pay rent for the house.</p>
<p>Unlike some other shady NGOs I have encountered, I liked his sincerity and passion toward helping street kids. I did what I could to help him by buying some clothes for the kids but it obviously doesn’t solve the fundamental problem.</p>
<p>I regret to say that this is quite a common problem. While traveling, every once in a while I run into person like Samrat who has good will and has taken good actions but runs into financial problems.</p>
<p>If even a tiny portion of the billions of dollars spent on war and conflict in the world could be used for people like Samrat, so many opportunities would be given to countless children.</p>
<p>P.S.  &#8211; If you are interested in helping Samrat and the kids in any form, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I am happy to find the best way to proceed.    ktakahashi9@gmail.com</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>前回のブログに書いたこと以外に、ストリート・チルドレンたちについてひとついいニュースもあった。</p>
<p>追っている子供のうち２人がすでに路上生活から抜け出して、１年以上シェルターで生活していたのだ。カトマンドゥー郊外にある一軒家で、１２人の元ストリート・チルドレンたちが共同生活をしながら学校へ通っていた。２年程前にこのシェルターを開設したサムラットという男性が、寝食を共にしながら彼らの面倒をみている。</p>
<p>ベットや机といった家具類は何も無く、子供たちは床で雑魚寝。割れた窓から冬風が吹き込んでくるような、とても恵まれた環境ではないのだが、 炊事の手伝いや洗濯、庭を耕して野菜の種まき、そして勉強と、子供たちはそれなりに共同生活を楽しんでいるようだった。数人と話をしたが、誰一人としてまた路上生活に戻りたいという者はいない。学習し、将来に目を向けることの大切さを根気よく彼らに説き続けてきた、サムラットの教育の成果なのだろう。</p>
<p>こんな子供たちのポジティブな変化をみられたことは幸いだったが、将来バラ色という訳では全くない。政治的コネもなく、NGOなどの支援団体とのつながりもないサムラットは、シェルターを維持していくための慢性的な資金不足に陥っていた。これまで少数の個人支援者たちに頼ってきた彼だが、それも滞りがちになり、３ヶ月後にはシェルターの家賃が払えなくなりそうだという。</p>
<p>これまで幾つか見てきたような、営利目的のいかがわしい組織とは違って、サムラットの誠実さと子供たちに対する愛情は本物だと感じたが、悲しいかな僕はこの問題の根本的解決になるような資金など持ち合わせてはいない。子供たちの服を購入し、些細なことでお茶を濁すことしかできなかった。</p>
<p>残念ながら、これはよくある話でもある。ネパールに限らず多くの国々で、善意と熱意を持って行動に移すが、金が無くて続けられない、というサムラットのような人間に出会うことが少なくないのだ。</p>
<p>軍事紛争に何十億ドルもの金が費やされる現在、そのうちほんの僅かな額だけでもサムラットのような人たちの手にまわることになれば、計り知れない可能性を子供たちに与えることができるだろうに。。。</p>
<p>追伸 —　サムラットに何らかの援助をお考えの方はお知らせください。最良の方法を考えたいと思います。Ktakahashi9@gmail.com</p>
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		<title>Durbar Boys &#8211; Streetkids in Kathmandu</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/15/durbar-boys-streetkids-in-kathmandu/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2012/01/15/durbar-boys-streetkids-in-kathmandu/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:04:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1188</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal 132932976KT001_nepal Spent about a week in Kathmandu, Nepal. I ended up getting a few assignments, but the main reason I went there was to follow up with the street kids I have been photographing since late 2009. http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2010/06/03/darbur-boys/ Although it was a short trip and I [...]]]></description>
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</p>
<p>Spent about a week in Kathmandu, Nepal. I ended up getting a few assignments, but the main reason I went there was to follow up with the street kids I have been photographing since late 2009.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2010/06/03/darbur-boys/" target="_blank">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2010/06/03/darbur-boys/</a></p>
<p>Although it was a short trip and I couldn’t spend enough time, I found that photographing them has gotten more difficult. When they were smaller, I was able to locate them easily since they didn’t move around too much outside their usual hangout spots. Now they have a wider territory and keep moving day and night.</p>
<p>The main kid I am following is already 17. He doesn’t look quite that old, but that what he says. He has graduated from picking up cardboard and empty bottles for recycling to make money; he and his buddies now commit crimes like pick pocketing and house robberies. They do their business during night and they don’t want me to hang around for that time. (Well, even if they allowed me to observe them committing crimes, that would put me in an ethically awkward position… but I am not going into the subject for now)</p>
<p>So I ended up just shooting mostly the same kind of pictures of them sniffing glue, hanging out and sleeping together in blankets which are not so different from previous years. I couldn’t get images to show how they have grown up and are doing different things.</p>
<p>It was frustrating, but I know that I am not spending enough time with them to earn their trust. Hopefully I can commit more days to build the relationship with them.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>ネパールのカトマンドゥーで一週間程過ごしてきた。他の仕事もはいったのだが、この町に戻った一番の理由はここ２年程追いかけているストリート・キッズたちにまた会うためだった。</p>
<p><a href="http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2010/06/03/darbur-boys/" target="_blank">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2010/06/03/darbur-boys/</a></p>
<p>短い滞在だったが、彼らを撮影するのがけっこう難しくなってきたのをひしひしと実感させられた。彼らがまだ幼い頃は、そんなに動き回ってはいなかったので見つけるのも簡単だったのだが、今では行動範囲も広まり、昼夜問わず動き回る。</p>
<p>追いかけているメインの少年の一人はもう１７歳。とはいってもそんなに歳をとっているようにはみえないのだが、本人曰く、だ。すでに小遣い稼ぎのための段ボール拾いや空きボトル拾いからは「卒業」し、仲間とスリや空き屋泥棒などの犯罪を収入源とするようになってきた。主に夜間にこういうことをおこなうのだが、さすがにこういう現場には同行させてもらうことができなくなった。（まあ、もしそういう場面に一緒にいたとすると、それはそれで自分の倫理的立場に問題がでてくるのだが、そこは今は置いておくことにしよう）</p>
<p>そんなわけで、グルー（接着剤）を吸ったり、寄り集まって寝たりという、これまでとあまり変わりばえのない写真ばかりになってしまい、彼らの成長をビジュアルに記録することはできなかった。</p>
<p>そういった面での不満は残るが、十分に彼らと時間を過ごして信頼を得ない限り、これ以上は望めないだろう。次回はもっとじっくりと時間をとってかからないといけないな。</p>
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		<title>Dalit millionaire</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/28/dalit-millionare/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/28/dalit-millionare/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:16:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1170</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[khade_001 khade_002 khade_003 khade_004 khade_005 khade_006 khade_007 khade_008 I met quite an interesting person through my assignment last month. His name is Ashok Khade, who founded Das Offshore Engineering, a successful oil-rig engineering company. He is one of the many successful businessmen who have taken advantage of India’s growing economy but what makes him unique [...]]]></description>
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</p>
<p>I met quite an interesting person through my assignment last month.</p>
<p>His name is Ashok Khade, who founded Das Offshore Engineering, a successful oil-rig engineering company. He is one of the many successful businessmen who have taken advantage of India’s growing economy but what makes him unique is that he belongs to the Dalit, in other words, the Untouchables.</p>
<p>Although India officially abolished the caste system more than 50 years ago, it still exists in some ways.</p>
<p>Ashok was born in this bottom-of-the-bottom class of society in a village about 400km south of Mumbai. He remembers that he wasn’t allowed to drink the water from the same well used by other villagers. His family was dirt poor and some days, they had nothing to eat at all.</p>
<p>What saved him and his family was his cleverness and wits. After finishing a school near the top of his class, he went to work with his brother and began distinguishing himself by his smartness and hardwork. Several years later, he established his own company and now it’s valued at more than $100 million with 4,500 employees.</p>
<p>You can read a more detailed story of his success in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/world/asia/indias-boom-creates-openings-for-untouchables.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=2&amp;ref=world">the New York Times article</a>, but what most impressed me about him was his personality. Ashok wasn’t a typical wealthy, snobby person. He was quite welcoming and showed us great hospitality. It was refreshing compare with other negative experiences I’ve had with rich, powerful people.</p>
<p>I suppose it’s not hard to figure out why he has such a pleasant character.</p>
<p>“ A person who knows the bitterness of life can be kind to others”</p>
<p>He reminded me of that saying.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>先月仕事をとおして興味深い人と会う事ができた。</p>
<p>彼の名はアショク・カーデ。ダス・オフショア・エンジニアリングという、海底石油採掘のためのパイプ加工をおこなう技術会社の創始者だ。彼もインドの経済発展を機に成功した多くのビジネスマンの一人であるが、アショクの珍しいところは、彼がダリット(不可触民)の出身であるということだ。</p>
<p>インドは５０年以上も前にカースト制度を廃止したが、今でもそれは生活のなかにある程度根付いている。</p>
<p>アショクは、ムンバイから４００キロほど南にある村で、この最底辺階層の家庭に生まれついた。彼が子供の頃、階級差別のため村の井戸の水さえ飲む事を許されなかったそうだ。この極貧だった家族には、食べ物が全くなかった日々さえあったという。</p>
<p>この境遇から彼と家族を救ったのは、彼の聡明さだった。学校をクラスの上位で卒業した後、兄と一緒に働き始めるが、そこでも機転がきくことと熱心な勤労態度が買われてすぐに頭角をあらわした。数年後には自ら会社を立ち上げ、現在ではこの企業は資産１億ドル、従業員が４５００人に成長した。</p>
<p>詳しい彼のサクセス・ストーリーは<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/world/asia/indias-boom-creates-openings-for-untouchables.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=2&amp;ref=world" target="_blank">ニューヨーク・タイムスの記事</a>を参照してもらいたいが、僕にとって印象深かったのは彼の性格だ。典型的な嫌みな金持ちとは正反対に、アショクは友好的で親切、僕らを暖かくもてなしてくれた。こちらの金持ちや権力者には鼻持ちならない輩も多いので、アショクのような人間に出会うと新鮮さを感じるものだ。しかし、彼のこういった好意的な性格の背景を察する事は難しくはないだろう。</p>
<p>「苦しみを知る者ほど他人に優しくできる」</p>
<p>アショクとの出会いは、僕にこんな言葉を思い出させてくれた。</p>
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		<title>Walmart in India?</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Dec 2011 11:49:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[India]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart News: Indian protest against Walmart To boost India’s retail economy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced last month that for the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-2/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-3/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-5/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-6/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-7/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-8/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/12/24/walmart-in-india/news-indian-protest-against-walmart-9/' title='News:  Indian protest against Walmart'>News:  Indian protest against Walmart</a>
<br />
To boost India’s retail economy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced last month that for the first time big foreign companies like Wal-Mart and Tesco could open retail stores in India.</p>
<p>The decision generated big controversy and lots of protests, including burning effigy and local retail shop strike, have been taking place for the last couple of weeks throughout the country.  The opposition says that these big retailers will destroy small local shops and it will jeopardize the livelihoods of farmers and traders.</p>
<p>Supporters insist that farmers will be better off with big chain retailers because they will receive higher prices for their products and more volumes.</p>
<p>To me, I don’t see too much reason for small local shops to be worried because it seems quite difficult for those big superstores to penetrate the local market. From my experience of living in Mumbai, the city is so congested and there are no spaces to build giant stores like Walmart anyway. It can only operate in suburbs so only those who have a car can take advantage of it and the majority of the population would still have to rely on local shops. The local shops exist in every neighborhood and people can buy pretty much everything you need steps away from the house. India has a totally different background from the U.S. which is a car-dependent society.</p>
<p>Well, needless to say, for foreigners like me who are used to doing one-stop shopping once a week, it would make the life so much easier to have multi-brand retailers or a big supermarket though…</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>インドの小売業活性化のため、マンモハン・シン首相は先月、ウォールマートやテスコのようなスーパーマーケットチェーン店の進出を認める方針を示したが、それが大きな反発をよぶ事になり、ここ数週間インド各地でデモや小売店のストライキなどが相次いだ。</p>
<p>大型チェーンが参入すると、ローカルの小店舗が客をとられて危機に晒されると反対派は懸念。また、作物を卸す農家や、流通業の形態も崩れて悪影響を与えるともいう。対する推進派は、消費者にとって便が良くなるのは勿論、農家とっても、チェーンから今よりも高く、かつ大量に買い取ってもらえるので、多くの中間業者が入って安く買いたたかれている今より利益があがる、と主張している。</p>
<p>正直なところ、ローカル小店舗はそれほど心配する事はないのでは、というのが僕の私見。ムンバイのような都市ではすべてが密集しすぎていて、ウォールマートのような大店舗を市内につくるのは難しい。そうなると郊外までショッピングに行けるのは車をもつミドルクラス以上に限られる。だいたいインドの都市ではどこの近所にもローカルショップはひしめいており、日常生活に必要な大方のものは家から歩いていけるところで調達できるシステムが出来上がっている。車社会のアメリカとは根本的に背景が異なるのだ。</p>
<p>いずれにしても、僕らのような、週に一度買い物に行って全部いっぺんに買い込んで来る生活に慣れてる外国人にとっては、スーパーマーケットが近くにできてくれると非常に便利にはなるんだけれどね。。。</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Occupy Wall Street</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/11/22/occupy-wall-street/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/11/22/occupy-wall-street/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:46:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Americas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[OWS_001 OWS_002 Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters Occupy Wall Street protesters &#160; I happened to be in NYC last week and had the chance to photograph part of [...]]]></description>
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<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/11/22/occupy-wall-street/occupy-wall-street-protesters-9/' title='Occupy Wall Street protesters'>Occupy Wall Street protesters</a>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I happened to be in NYC last week and had the chance to photograph part of the “Day of Action” held by the Occupy Wall Street protesters. They planned this mass rally to mark the two month anniversary of the birth of the movement.</p>
<p>First, I had mixed feelings about this “leaderless” movement and some of the young kids who just want to cause trouble with police. Also, they were planning to occupy some of the subway stations and it would have caused a lot of inconvenience not only to Wall St but also to many ordinary workers in the city. I thought the last thing they want to do is lose support from ordinary people whom they call the “99%”</p>
<p>Although more than 240 protesters were arrested earlier in the day downtown, the rally went on relatively peacefully. I was surely impressed by the number of people &#8211; over 20,000 &#8211; who participated in the walk to the Brooklyn Bridge in the evening.</p>
<p>Although I am on my way back to Mumbai and won’t be able to witness by my own eyes how the things will develop from now on, it is certainly an interesting and important thing to follow. I look forward to seeing what kind of strategy they will come up to take the movement to the next level.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>先週たまたまニューヨークを訪れており、ウォール街占拠運動の「行動の日」と名付けられた集会を撮ることができた。</p>
<p>これはこの占拠運動がはじまってからちょうど２ヶ月を記念しておこなわれたものだが、正直言って、この「指導者なき運動」に対しては少し複雑な印象を持っていた。集まった若者たちのなかには、単なるトラブルメーカーで警察を目の敵にしているだけで、運動の本質を見失っているような輩も少なくなかったし、この日の集会では地下鉄の駅の占拠も予定されていたからだ。駅を占拠すれば、ウォール街どころか、ごく一般の市民たちにも不便な影響がでる。占拠運動としては、彼ら曰く「９９％」のそんな一般市民たちからの支持を失う事は致命的だと思えたからだ。</p>
<p>それでも、午前中に道路封鎖などで２４０人以上が逮捕されたに関わらず、全般的には比較的平和に事は進んだ。さらにブルックリン橋まで行進する夕方の集会には２万人以上が参加したとのことで、これほどの人数は予想していなかっただけにさすがに驚いた。まさにこの運動の根深さを思い知らされたという感じだ。</p>
<p>僕はこれからムンバイに戻るので、この占拠運動を自らの眼で追う事はできないのが残念だが、今後の動きは重要であるし、非情に興味深いものだと思う。彼らがこれからどんな戦術を展開していくのか、楽しみでもある。</p>
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		<title>Little thought in Singapore</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/11/10/little-thought-in-singapore/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/11/10/little-thought-in-singapore/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:24:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1088</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[singapore_001 singapore_002 singapore_003 singapore_004 singapore_005 singapore_006 singapore_007 singapore_008 singapore_009 singapore_010 singapore_011 singapore_012 singapore_013 Just came back to Mumbai after spending several days in Singapore. It’s a great city – clean, organized, convenient and of course, it offers a great variety of Asian food. It’s quite the opposite from crowded, congested and chaotic Mumbai and I appreciated some [...]]]></description>
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<p>Just came back to Mumbai after spending several days in Singapore.</p>
<p>It’s a great city – clean, organized, convenient and of course, it offers a great variety of Asian food. It’s quite the opposite from crowded, congested and chaotic Mumbai and I appreciated some “easy” time to take a break.</p>
<p>Although it’s a comfortable city to stay, I realized how expensive things have gotten in Singapore, especially real estate. Many of our middle class friends are paying at least $2500 per month for a two-bedroom apartment. Food and drinks aren’t cheap either. Unless you&#8217;re eating out at hawker centers (street food court) – which serve great food and we ate there often –  you would spend a good $100 for two with drinks at decent restaurants and bars. My favorite Jack Daniels usually cost around $10 or more for a single shot!</p>
<p>Anyway, the experience made me think that I could live a lot cheaper in Tokyo and realized how much economic spending power Singaporeans have gained.  Just by observing the quality of lives (only surface though), I felt they have already surpassed Japan which unfortunately has been stuck in depression for the last 20 years.</p>
<p>When I went back to Japan to cover the tsunami this spring, every city including Tokyo was strangely “dark” due to power saving following the nuclear plant disaster.</p>
<p>As I was walking along the water in downtown Singapore at night, millions of lights were illuminating buildings and bridges. It reminded me of Japan in the late 80s just before I left for the states to study photography.</p>
<div id=":2be">
<div>~~~~</div>
</div>
<p>シンガポールで数日間過ごしてきた。</p>
<p>今回で２度目だが、いい町だ、と思う。清潔で、便利で、何よりもアジアの料理がたらふく楽しめる。ごみごみして猥雑なムンバイとは正反対なので、数日リラックスするにはもってこいの場所だ。</p>
<p>居心地のいい町ではあるのだが、今回物価の高さには少々驚いた。別にここに居を構えようと思っている訳ではないが、特に住宅物件や家賃が高い。中流の友人たちはみな２ベッドルームのアパートに２５００ドル以上払っているという。飲み食いも例外ではなく、屋台のホーカーセンターで食べるのを別にして、そこそこのレストランやバー（高級ではない）で飲みながら食事をすると２人で簡単に１００ドルを超えてしまう。僕の好きなジャック・ダニエルズがどこでもシングル一杯で１０ドルくらいしていた。</p>
<p>そんなわけで、これでは東京のほうが安く住めるなあ、などという印象をもったのだが、まあそれだけシンガポールの経済と市民の購買力が強くなったということの証だろう。表面的なものしか見てはいないが、経済生活の面では、この国はいまだ不況から脱却できずにいる日本をすでに抜いているのではないかと思う。</p>
<p>今年３月、津波の取材で日本に戻ったとき、節電で東京も含めてやたら町が暗かったことを憶えている。（節電はよいことだし、別に暗くて不自由というわけではないのでそれでいいのだけれど）</p>
<p>夜のシンガポール、入江のあたりを歩いた。まばゆい照明に照らされた建物や橋を眺めながら、ちょうど僕が写真の勉強のためアメリカへと発つ直前、１９８０年代後半のきらびやかな東京を思い出していた。</p>
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		<title>Afghanistan by iphone</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/18/afghanistan-by-iphone/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/18/afghanistan-by-iphone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 18 Sep 2011 08:25:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1045</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[iphone_001 iphone_002 iphone_003 iphone_004 iphone_005 iphone_006 iphone_007 iphone_008 iphone_009 iphone_010 iphone_011 iphone_012 iphone_013 iphone_014 iphone_015 iphone_016 &#160; Yes I know, it’s iphone. These days, almost everyone, including professional photographers like us, make pictures with iphone. Because of that reason, I have been trying to avoid it for long time but while I was in Afghanistan, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/18/afghanistan-by-iphone/iphone_001-2/' title='iphone_001'>iphone_001</a>
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<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/18/afghanistan-by-iphone/iphone_014/' title='iphone_014'>iphone_014</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/18/afghanistan-by-iphone/iphone_015-2/' title='iphone_015'>iphone_015</a>
<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/18/afghanistan-by-iphone/iphone_016/' title='iphone_016'>iphone_016</a>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Yes I know, it’s iphone.</p>
<p>These days, almost everyone, including professional photographers like us, make pictures with iphone. Because of that reason, I have been trying to avoid it for long time but while I was in Afghanistan, one of my photographer friends got me into it. I have to admit that I am liking it a lot. It’s super handy and variety of “lens and films” (all just digital filters though) give photographs interesting looks.</p>
<p>I am not quite sure if I can tell these heavily filtered images are suitable to photo”journalism” or documentary photography but hey, it’s just fun for now. They make good postcards, I think.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>みてのとおりのiphoneで撮った写真。</p>
<p>最近はもうプロも含め、猫もしゃくしもiphoneを使ってるようで、そんな理由から僕はしばらくこれで撮るのを避けていたのだが、アフガニスタンで友人のカメラマンに感化されてついに使いだすようになってしまった。</p>
<p>しかしこれがなかなか便利。なんといっても携帯カメラなのでポケットからさっとだして手軽に撮れる。さらにいろいろなレンズとフィルム（勿論これは便宜上のもので、要はデジタルフィルターなのだが）の組み合わせでなかなか味のある画像になる。</p>
<p>こういったかなりフィルターのかかった画像が、フォトジャーナリズムやドキュメンタリーとして使えるのか、ということにはまだ疑問が残るが、まあとりあえずは余興程度に。ポストカードなどにはいいのでは、などと思っている。</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>The 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/11/the-10th-anniversary-of-the-911-attack/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/11/the-10th-anniversary-of-the-911-attack/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:47:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=1012</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[portrait_001 portrait_002 portrait_003 portrait_004 portrait_005 portrait_006 portrait_007 portrait_008 portrait_009 portrait_010 It’s 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack.  It all started then. Because of the attack, U.S troops were sent to Afghanistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Ten years has past since, and although they killed Bin Laden, the troops are still on the [...]]]></description>
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<a href='http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/11/the-10th-anniversary-of-the-911-attack/portrait_010/' title='portrait_010'>portrait_010</a>
</p>
<p>It’s 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the 9/11 attack.  It all started then. Because of the attack, U.S troops were sent to Afghanistan to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Ten years has past since, and although they killed Bin Laden, the troops are still on the ground fighting against different “enemies”.</p>
<p>Since I got to Afghanistan early last month, I have been working on a portrait project marking the anniversary. Although it’s not in its complete form, part of it was published on the NYT website a few days ago –</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/08/us/sept-11-reckoning/war-ss.html#1">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/08/us/sept-11-reckoning/war-ss.html#1</a></p>
<p>My intention was to get perspectives about the past 10 years of Afghanistan from both sides &#8211; Afghan people and U.S soldiers &#8211; by asking questions like: “Where were you and what were you doing when the 9/11 attack happened?” , ”How did you feel when Americans came to Afghanistan?”, “What are your thoughts about Americans still fighting in Afghanistan now?” , “How much has your life changed in the last 10 years?”…etc.</p>
<p>I am planning to put all the material together on this site sometime soon so you can share the thoughts of the people who are directly involved in Afghanistan’s journey over the past 10 years.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>ニューヨークでの９—１１同時多発テロから１０年がたった。このテロを発端に、オサマ・ビン・ラデンとアル・カイダ掃討のため米軍がアフガニスタンに侵攻。それから１０年経った現在、ビン・ラデン殺害のあとも、まだ「敵」との戦いは続いている。</p>
<p>先月あたまにアフガニスタンに来てから、５０人程のポートレートを撮りながらインタビューを重ねて来た。２日前、その一部がニューヨーク・タイムスに掲載されたので、英語のみだが興味のある方は参照してほしい。</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/08/us/sept-11-reckoning/war-ss.html#1">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/09/08/us/sept-11-reckoning/war-ss.html#1</a></p>
<p>「９—１１テロのとき、あなたは何処で何をしていたか？」「アフガニスタンに米兵がやってきたとき、何を感じたか？」「米軍が１０年経ったいまでもアフガニスタンで戦っていることについてどう思うか？」「この１０年間で、生活はどんな風に変わったか？」。。。こんな質問を投げかけながら、アフガン市民、そしてこの国に派兵されている米兵たち両者の私見をとおして、この１０年というものを探ってみようと考えたのだ。</p>
<p>インタビューに応じてくれた、アフガニスタンに直接関わってきた人々のそんな言葉の数々をまとめ、近いうちにこの場でも発表したいと思っている。</p>
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		<title>No news is good news? &#8211; quiet embed in Afghanistan</title>
		<link>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/06/no-news-is-good-news-quiet-embed-in-afghanistan/</link>
		<comments>http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/2011/09/06/no-news-is-good-news-quiet-embed-in-afghanistan/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:44:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Kuni Takahashi</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Asia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.kunitakahashi.com/blog/?p=984</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[afg_001 afg_002 afg_003 afg_004 afg_005 afg_006 afg_007 &#160; Just came back to Kabul after spending a week with the U.S. Army near the eastern border of Pakistan. The timing wasn’t quite ideal because the week fell over Eid, a Muslim holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Most of the Afghan army soldiers [...]]]></description>
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</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Just came back to Kabul after spending a week with the U.S. Army near the eastern border of Pakistan.</p>
<p>The timing wasn’t quite ideal because the week fell over Eid, a Muslim holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. Most of the Afghan army soldiers and police officers were taking a break and there wasn’t much happening. These days, many U.S. operations are involving Afghan counterparts so they kind of ought to follow local traditions. One of few good things happened was that I was able to join the celebration and had delicious barbeque mutton. Yes, they know how to cook meat well.</p>
<p>Although it wasn’t quite as productive as I hoped visually, I suppose that peaceful and quiet days were good for the soldiers. Unfortunately, because the nature of our profession sort of depends on “someone’s misery” (war, earthquake, hurricane, poverty &#8211; you name it), “no news” is not necessarily good news for us.  That is the sad dilemma we often have to face.</p>
<p>As the 10th anniversary of 9-11 attack approaches, I am just standing by to see if there will be any news or end up being no news.</p>
<p>~~~~</p>
<p>パキスタンとの国境近くで米軍との１週間の短期従軍を終え、２日前にカブルに戻ってきた。</p>
<p>タイミング悪く、ラマダンの終わりを祝うイードと重なってしまったため、アフガン兵や警察官の多くが休暇中であまり動きがみられなかった。現在、多くの米軍のパトロールもアフガン兵か警察と合同でおこなわれることが多いので、こういった土地の慣習には従わざるを得ない。よって自然と米軍の方もスローペースになる。唯一良かったのは、イードのご馳走を食べられたこと。アフガン警察官たちが３匹の羊をバーベキューにして振る舞ってくれた。さすが羊や鳥を主食とする彼ら、バーベキューの腕はいい。</p>
<p>写真的にはあまり意味のあるものは撮れなかったが、まあ平和で静かな日々は兵士たちにとっては望ましい事だろう。戦争や地震、台風、貧困など、僕らの職業というのは「他人の不幸」で飯を食うようなものでもある。だから、何も起こらなければ商売あがったり、というわけで、悲しいかなそんなジレンマにいつも向き合う事になる。</p>
<p>９—１１同時多発テロの１０周年が近づいてきた。何か起こるか、はたまた何も起こらずに終わるか、今はただ待つだけだ。</p>
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