日本語

My name is Naoki Uchiyama. I'm also a documentary filmmaker in Japan.

On July 31st, we received a message that Toru Kubota, a documentary filmmaker and our friend and colleague, was detained in Yangon, Myanmar. We will take every action possible to demand the immediate release of our dear friend Toru Kubota and the Myanmar citizens who were also detained with him. Please help us by signing our online petition, as we believe the voices of many people will lead to their release.

“A Japanese national was detained in Myanmar, ‘Toru Kubota’ participated in protest demonstration”
July 31, 2022 0:26 reported by Kyodo News

Several local media reported that a Japanese man was detained by security authorities in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar, where the national military took full power after the coup d'état last February. According to the media reports, the Japanese man’s name is “Toru Kubota”, and the Japanese embassy in Myanmar rushed to confirm the identity of the man. He was reportedly participating in a protest demonstration against the national army on the afternoon of January 30. He was detained along with two Myanmar nationals when security officials attempted to suppress the demonstration. 

A freelance journalist Yuki Kitakado was arrested in Yangon last April, and was charged with spreading fake news. After efforts made by the Japanese government, he was released in May of the same year and returned to Japan.

What we know about the circumstances leading up to his detention:
Kubota has been making documentaries on Rohingya refugees and other issues since he was a student. Domestically, he has brought the voice of Masako Akagi, who lost her husband in the Moritomo scandal, and those suffering from the COVID pandemic and foreigners living in Japan fighting for their freedom. He is a trusted producer by his interviewees and has been highly acclaimed both nationally and internationally.

[Profile of Toru Kubota]　
Born in 1996 in Kanagawa Prefecture. He started reporting on Rohingya refugees in 2014 while a student at Keio University Faculty of Law, and began making documentaries. Since then, he has worked as a director and cameraman for international media such as Al Jazeera English, NHK World, and VICE. He’s been continuing to roll his camera to marginalized people and those who are  deprived of their freedom, and has humbly stayed by their side.
His films have been exhibited at numerous film festivals in Japan and abroad, including the Sapporo International Short Film Festival.
Toru Kubota's Homepage: torukubota.myportfolio.com
Toru's article: https://kuma-foundation.org/news/5742/

The purpose of his visit to Myanmar was to film a documentary which he has been working on for several years and it is NOT for the political agitation. Toru has traveled to Myanmar more than a dozen times for interviews and the detailed plans were always made in advance.

July 13: Toru phone-called from Narita Airport and headed for Yangon.
July 14: He arrived in Yangon, Myanmar. First day of filming began.
July 21: I was informed that the Myanmar army came to the room where Toru was staying. It ended with only a background check that day.
July 28: Toru texted that his return had been postponed and he will return on August 5.
July 29: Toru and I exchanged messages about another project matter.
July 30: The content of Toru's filming in Myanmar is communicated to the production. The film he was working on was about the loneliness of a Burmese man.
Around 6pm (JST): Toru was detained by local police while filming a demonstration.
Early morning of July 31: news of his detention was broadcast by the media.

Information from freelance journalist Yuki Kitazumi:
"I spoke with Toru's Burmese friend, and  it seems certain that he has been detained. He was taken to a police station called "South Dagon”. It's good to know that he was taken to a police station and not to a military facility. The police typically do not use violence against foreigners, but since it's reported that he was violently detained, I'm concerned that he may have been injured during the detention. 

What we can do to support Toru are :
1) Create a situation where the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is forced to act (through petition etc.)
2) Create an atmosphere to warmly welcome him when he returns.

This is the extent of what I know about the situation. 

Our Future Planned Activities
July 31, from 3:00 p.m.(JST) :Participate in the "Protest for the Release of Toru Kubota" in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and share the recording of the protest.

On August 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.(JST) :"Emergent press conference demanding the immediate release of Toru Kubota" will be held. Location: Nippon Press Club 10th floor hall.

August 5 (Fri.), 3:00 p.m.: Submission of signatures to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The signatures will be handed to Ms. Takako Suzuki, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.

August 10 (Wed) 6p.m.(JST): Meeting with Mr. Michihiro Ishibashi, Secretary General of the Diet Members of Caucus for Democracy in Myanmar.

All the activities will be posted on the "Docu Meme" social media account. "Docu Meme" is an independent media launched by Toru and his friends, and it also contains several short films that were produced by Toru.【twitter】https://twitter.com/documeme
【Facebook】https://www.facebook.com/DocuMeme/
【youtube】 https://www.youtube.com/c/DocuMeme

A video produced by Mr. Yuki Kitazumi and Toru showing the current situation in Myanmar: https://youtu.be/ex37v9tt1_8 

We will continue to take various actions for his immediate release.We kindly ask for your help.
Toru Kubota is a sincere and kind-hearted man.

Supporters:
Yuki Kitazumi, Fuyuki Aizawa, Masako Akagi, Naoki Uchiyama,
Itaru Matsui, Naoki Yonemoto, Katsuya Okuma, Kyo Kan, Takako Dasai, Yoshitaka Nitta, Keito Iida, Seijiro Konno, Noriyuki Takahashi, Yuma Konishi, Masami Sato, Riho Hayashi, Ryo Kameyama, Yu Tange, Ryu Ika, Yukinao Hirai, Sora Tamura, Nikki Tsukamoto Kininmonth, Toranosuke Imai, Kenji Sekine, Yasuo Yamamoto, Myo Choo Choo etc.

It is difficult to mention fully here, but many people Kubota has worked with so far, including Myanmar residents in Japan, have voiced their concerns.

#久保田徹の即時解放を求めます
#SaveToruKubota
#SaveMyanmar