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**RaicickKida** · 08-22-2012, 01:24 PM

Admired as a role model among young journalists, Mika Yamamoto (above) always expressed her desire to report the reality of war zones.

Yamamoto, a 45-year-old journalist with The Japan Press Inc., a nonaffiliated news agency, was killed in Aleppo, northern Syria, on Monday while covering the nation's civil war.

According to NTV, which uses reports provided by The Japan Press, Yamamoto and the agency's chief, Kazutaka Sato, entered the country on Thursday to cover the war after gathering information in Turkey near the Syrian border on Aug. 14.

They went back to Turkey, but returned to Syria at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, and were reportedly caught up in fighting in Aleppo, where heavy fighting is raging between the Syrian army and rebels.

According to the information given to Yamamoto's family in Japan, the slain journalist was shot by random fire while reporting on a bombing in the city. The report also said a bullet pierced her neck.

Yamamoto used to tell her fellow journalists that she wanted to report on conflict regions because she felt the reality of war zones often fails to reach the public.

Akihiro Nonaka, 59, who represents Asia Press International, a Tokyo-based news agency, that Yamamoto once belonged to, described her as "an expert in war reporting."

"She was a role model for young journalists," Nonaka said.

He met Yamamoto 22 years ago during the production of a documentary programme, and said she described women and children as the greatest victims of conflict.

At the time, Yamamoto expressed her desire to enter war zones to convey the voices of victims, and began reporting in conflict zones in Asia.

"She would go into areas of fierce fighting where even men would hesitate to go" Nonaka recalled.

Jiro Ishimaru, who represents Asia Press' Osaka office, described Yamamoto as "a competent, bright and righteous person who was transparent and principled."

Some journalists who are captivated by the thrill of reporting from combat areas tend to go after sensational images. But Ishimaru said Yamamoto "was a journalist who got to the source of a problem, which included people's pain and contradictions in society."

"I'm sure there must have been many things she wanted to do and many things she could have done," Ishimaru said. "I'm so sad."

Yamamoto's 77-year-old father, Koji, who lives in Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture, responded to his daughter's death by saying: "I think she was a great journalist. I just want to tell her she did a wonderful job. When her body returns to Japan, I'd like to let her sleep in a cool room."

08-22-2012, 01:24 PM	#2
RaicickKida Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 388 Senior Member	Admired as a role model among young journalists, Mika Yamamoto (above) always expressed her desire to report the reality of war zones. Yamamoto, a 45-year-old journalist with The Japan Press Inc., a nonaffiliated news agency, was killed in Aleppo, northern Syria, on Monday while covering the nation's civil war. According to NTV, which uses reports provided by The Japan Press, Yamamoto and the agency's chief, Kazutaka Sato, entered the country on Thursday to cover the war after gathering information in Turkey near the Syrian border on Aug. 14. They went back to Turkey, but returned to Syria at about 3:30 p.m. Monday, and were reportedly caught up in fighting in Aleppo, where heavy fighting is raging between the Syrian army and rebels. According to the information given to Yamamoto's family in Japan, the slain journalist was shot by random fire while reporting on a bombing in the city. The report also said a bullet pierced her neck. Yamamoto used to tell her fellow journalists that she wanted to report on conflict regions because she felt the reality of war zones often fails to reach the public. Akihiro Nonaka, 59, who represents Asia Press International, a Tokyo-based news agency, that Yamamoto once belonged to, described her as "an expert in war reporting." "She was a role model for young journalists," Nonaka said. He met Yamamoto 22 years ago during the production of a documentary programme, and said she described women and children as the greatest victims of conflict. At the time, Yamamoto expressed her desire to enter war zones to convey the voices of victims, and began reporting in conflict zones in Asia. "She would go into areas of fierce fighting where even men would hesitate to go" Nonaka recalled. Jiro Ishimaru, who represents Asia Press' Osaka office, described Yamamoto as "a competent, bright and righteous person who was transparent and principled." Some journalists who are captivated by the thrill of reporting from combat areas tend to go after sensational images. But Ishimaru said Yamamoto "was a journalist who got to the source of a problem, which included people's pain and contradictions in society." "I'm sure there must have been many things she wanted to do and many things she could have done," Ishimaru said. "I'm so sad." Yamamoto's 77-year-old father, Koji, who lives in Tsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture, responded to his daughter's death by saying: "I think she was a great journalist. I just want to tell her she did a wonderful job. When her body returns to Japan, I'd like to let her sleep in a cool room."
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