In Japan, Yoichi Watanabe/渡部陽一, a unique 37-year-old man, has gained popularity in the past year. He is a photographer specializing in battlefields worldwide, and a camera operator as well. He always expresses his strong desire to report realities of battlefields unknown in Japan. He seems to pay attention to the lives of ordinary people, especially children, suffering from wars. Recently, he's often appeared in TV shows due to the surge in popularity. I don't know what determined him to appear in TV shows. However, given that he always says that he doesn't know what is happening to him, he didn't seem to expect that he would become popular.
His way of speaking in TV shows is very original. He speaks slowly and calmly while keeping his rhythm in any situation. He always looks calm even when he's embarrassed, excited and nervous. In contrast to these calmness, his stories about battlefields are so serious and powerful that the audience is inevitably captivated by the stories. It shows us that stories based on experience are always convincing.
Today, you can get any information you need on the Internet. You might sometimes assume that you know about a lot of things. Various kinds of free videos on the internet tend to make you feel as if you saw things that you have never experienced. Needless to say, I don't deny these roles of the internet. As a matter of fact, the internet enriches many people's lives. However, it's more important for you to go see for yourself. I feel like the photographer reminds many people of this importance.
Most recently, he has been frequently asked to come to schools and talk about what he saw in battlefields. I hope that school kids will become interested in his stories, and it'll inspire them to see what is happening worldwide.
http://yoichi-watanabe.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcFYWH_RPNA
