Press conference

Reporters Without Borders/Reporters sans frontieres (RSF), the late Helmut Newton, agnes b., and Japanese actress Akiyoshi Kumiko… When I learned about a press conference related to this odd trio, I just had to go and see what’s behind this. A simple connection between the three would be that RSF published a book of Newton’s photographs (the Japanese edition is produced by Hachette Fujingaho), and agnes b. was a supporter. But still, it all seems a bit strange. RSF is an internationally active journalist that promotes the freedom of press, Newton a fashion photographer, and agnes b. a fashion brand. How in the world do these three go together?

Hashida Yukiko

Among those appearing at the conference was freelance journalist Hashida Yukiko, the widow of freelance photographer Hashida Shinsuke, who was killed together with his nephew in Iraq about one year ago. There’s definitely nothing wrong with her being there. RSF is supporting persecuted and imprisoned journalists and photo-journalists, and the families of those who got killed doing their jobs. Regardless of whether Hashida Yukiko has actually received support or not, the fact that Hashida Yukiko participates in an RSF-hosted press conference is nothing unusual at all. She has been coherently criticizing the bad response of the Japanese government, and delivered a moving yet humorous speech about her husband’s death. As you might know from her numerous appearances on TV, Hashida Yukiko is a no-nonsense kind of woman.

Michel Temman

RSF representative in Japan and "Liberation" correspondent, Michel Temman shed light on the secret behind the "odd trio". Temman is one of the journalists who appeared in the "One Year After" symposium RT hosted in October 2002, one year after the beginning of the air strikes on Afghanistan (participating were also "Guardian" correspondent John Watts and Saito Kagumi from "Le Monde diplomatique"). According to his explanation, RSF has been regularly publishing books - two per year - for twenty years now, and the revenues are used for the funding of RSF’s activities. Helmut Newton agreed to contribute with a collection of his photos, and up to his sudden, accidental death in January 2004 he had been actively involved in the editing process. Finally, agnes b. has always been a sympathizer and supporter of RSF, their activities and publications of photo books and others…

Etienne Bourgois

So, now that Newton’s part in the story is clear, I interviewed the COO of agnes b., Madame B.’s son Etienne Bourgois, about the brand’s involvement.

"My father, Christian Bourgois, is a publisher, and my mother is running a shop. But before being business people, all of us including myself are human beings in the first place, and I consider it a matter of course that we engage in such activities too as one natural aspect of life. It is necessary that people from the general public do some action in order to get the politicians moving, and I think it makes perfect sense when someone working in fashion, a business in close contact with the general public, makes some effort. I want to send a message especially to all those opinion leaders out there in society. I think there are only few messages (both social and political) being sent in Japan, and there should be a lot more."

Akiyoshi Kumiko and Hashida Yukiko

Seizing the occasion I also aked Akiyoshi Kumiko, a friend of Michel Temman. She is the one who built the bridge to Hachette Fujingaho, being convinced that the project brings concrete, monetary benefit to both parties.

"It was three years ago when RSF founder Robert Menard introduced me to Mr. Temman. I've always been reading the articles of Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci, and was sympathizing with the activities of RSF. Wouldn't you agree that life and society are chaotic mixtures everything ranging from individual experiences of love and sex to politics, wars and other things? That’s why I believe that in order to maintain one’s own life it is important to gain knowledge of social issues, and since there are journalists who sometimes even risk their necks to provide us with such information it’s only natural for me to support them. Even for members of the industry it is well possible that sponsoring such activities pays back in the end. Benetton are quite clever in this respect, and I think it’s a great chance to gain acceptance among consumers."

Helmut Newton
"Pour la liberte de la presse"
ISBN4-573-08001-5
1,905 yen

Every once in a while I receive an RSF newsletter from Mr. Temman, such as the one that came on the day following the press conference, containing news of "15 female journalists being assaulted by the police during a demo in Egypt". According to RSF, more than 600 journalists have been killed around the world since 1992, and at present approximately 120 are imprisoned. While we continue to live our own peaceful lives, these journalists and their families are in need of support, right now, in this very moment.