Q. Sakamaki

Location: New York City

Q. Sakamaki is a New York-based Japanese photographer. He has covered both U.S. domestic issues and international events, particularly the deadly conflicts and human rights issues. His photographs have appeared in books and magazines worldwide including Time, Newsweek, and Stern, Readers Digest, and Rolling Stone and he has been exhibited in solo shows in New York and Tokyo. He has received numerous awards, including the World Press Photo, Olivier Rebbot of Overseas Press Club, and Days International Photojournalism Award. Sakamaki holds a Master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York. He has published several books, including the late ones: “WAR DNA”, the coverage of seven different deadly conflicts, published in Japan, and “Tompkins Square Park”, a photo essay of New York’s Lower East side’s anti-gentrification movement, published by PowerHouse Books. He has also been video-documenting world events. His footage of the Liberian war used in “Liberia: An Uncivil War”, was nominated on the 26th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards in 2005.

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website: http://www.qsakamaki.com/
Q. Sakamaki in the Stock Archive
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Q. Sakamaki: Slideshow | Grid View
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  • Uighur trinket sellers, including this small girl in foreground, wait by their donkey carts for customers at a site of ancient Ruins in the southern suburb of Hotan, as many Uighurs find themselves economically marginalized. Hotan, Xinjiang, August/ 20/ 2010.
  • Uighurs pray at an unknown soldier's tomb at Iman Usim holy site in the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, as Beijing has shifted to control more over religion, and as pilgrimages to some tombs of local saints have started to be banned, according to rights groups. Near Hotan, Xinjiang, August/ 20/ 2010.
  • In Kashgar, Xinjiang, a Uighur man passes in front of a stature of Mao, an iconic symbol of China, as the Chinese modernization projects expand deeply into the region and much of the cultural, ethnic identity of Uighurs has been dying. Kashgar, Xinjiang, August/ 29/ 2010.
  • Uighur children play badminton in front of ongoing high-storied modern buildings where their historical quarters once existed until recently. Hotan, Xinjiang, August/ 22/ 2010.
  • A Uighur restaurant that caters to jade miners in Xinjiang's Kunlun Mountain range, as their cultural, social identity is dying due to China's modernization projects. Near Hotan, Xinjiang, August/ 22/ 2010.
  • A Uighur family carries on an ancestral trade making and selling Muslim caps in an old quarter of Kashgar, an ancient Silk Road city in China's remote Xinjiang province, where much of the cultural, ethnic identity of Uighurs are dying, and their communities are often flattened by bulldozers due to the Chinese modernization projects. In Kashgar, by some accounts, at least 85% of the old town will be knocked down. Kashgar, Xinjiang, August/ 25/ 2010.
  • Serset, two year old Native American Sioux, looks onto outside, as the desolate town of Manderson in the Pine Ridge reservation is reflected on the window. In the reservation, Native American Sioux is its majority and most are in poverty due to nearly no job opportunity: the unemployment rate is said 80 percent. Their life span used to be 80 years, but now men is about 57 years and women 63 years because of many health problems -- such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer that are allegedly caused or highly accelerated by nearly no-choice, unhealthy dietary habits, alcoholism, and contaminated environment situations -- and homicide often related to gang violence. However such problems of Native American reservations are enormously ignored by the federal, state, and even local tribal governments.
  • Horses are seen through an abandoned car in the Pine Ridge reservation. Most residents in the reservations in South Dakota are Native American Siouxs. Their life span used to be 80 years, but now men is about 57 years and women 63 years due to many health problems such as diabetes, heart attack, and cancer, and homicide often related to gang violence. However such problmes of Native American reservations are enormously ignored by the federal, state, and even local tribal governments.
  • Noah Noleaf, 81 year old Native American Sioux chief in Gordon area, Nebraska, is cleaning his hair decoration, as Native American reservations in South Dakota and the around state such as Nebraska, face many problems like diabetes, contaminated environments, and high crime rate.
  • Wearing hip-hop gang T-shirts, Lloyd Helper, a 25 year old Native American Sioux, walks at a village of Red Shirts in the Pine Ridge reservation. As there are not so much exiting things, many youths in the reservation take gang-like fashion, and some of them act even so.
  • A scene of kitchen of an unemployed Native American family in Pine Ridge. In the reservation, Native American Sioux is its majority and most are in poverty due to nearly no job opportunity: the unemployment rate is said 80 percent. Their life span used to be 80 years, but now men is about 57 years and women 63 years because of many health problems -- such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer that are allegedly caused or highly accelerated by nearly no-choice, unhealthy dietary habits, alcoholism, and contaminated environment situations -- and homicide often related to gang violence. However such problems of Native American reservations are enormously ignored by the federal, state, and even local tribal governments.
  • A scene of an abandoned trailer house in the Pine Ridge reservation. In the reservation, Native American Sioux is its majority and most are in poverty due to nearly no job opportunity: the unemployment rate is said 80 percent. Their life span used to be 80 years, but now men is about 57 years and women 63 years because of many health problems -- such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer that are allegedly caused or highly accelerated by nearly no-choice, unhealthy dietary habits, alcoholism, and contaminated environment situations -- and homicide often related to gang violence. However such problems of Native American reservations are enormously ignored by the federal, state, and even local tribal governments.
  • A scene of the Wounded Knee massacre monument of 1890, in the Pine Ridge reservation. In the reservation, Native American Sioux is its majority and most are in poverty due to nearly no job opportunity: the unemployment rate is said 80 percent. Their life span used to be 80 years, but now men is about 57 years and women 63 years because of many health problems -- such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer that are allegedly caused or highly accelerated by nearly no-choice, unhealthy dietary habits, alcoholism, and contaminated environment situations -- and homicide often related to gang violence. However such problems of Native American reservations are enormously ignored by the federal, state, and even local tribal governments.
  • 16 year old student Jean Kaline, on the right, hangs with his 17 year old friend Robert Steere, in front of his house in Manderson, Pine Ridge. Both are Native Americans and think that they would go to Marines after high school, as the Pine Ridge reservation faces too severe unemployment situations.
  • Isacc, a 3 year old Native American Sioux, walks through his house in Pine Ridge. In the reservation, Native American Sioux is its majority and most are in poverty due to nearly no job opportunity: the unemployment rate is said 80 percent. Their life span used to be 80 years, but now men is about 57 years and women 63 years because of many health problems -- such as heart attack, diabetes, and cancer that are allegedly caused or highly accelerated by nearly no-choice, unhealthy dietary habits, alcoholism, and contaminated environment situations -- and homicide often related to gang violence. However such problems of Native American reservations are enormously ignored by the federal, state, and even local tribal governments.
  • A shadow of a Haitian child is seen at a tent of a newly created refugee camp, due to the quake. A 7 magnitude mega earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on January 12th, killing a huge number of people and making the vast majority homeless.
  • At Pont-Rouge refugee camp, Clautile Noel, 39 year old Haitian earthquake IDP, stands in front of her tent where she and her son live together. She lost her daughter due to the January 12th quake. Pont-Rouge is one of the biggest earthquake refugee camps, probably the biggest. Due to the fear of another quake and the fact that a million people or more were displaced in Port au Price, the camp is rapidly expanding – at least tens thousand people live this time. Although they have been receiving aid delivery somehow, it is limited, and the residents desperately need more food, water and shelter kits, plus need much better sanitation conditions.
  • At Pone Rouge refugee camp, face injured 13 year Haitian quake IDP Sophia Lovelie stays next to her tent where she and 5 other family members live together. She lost two cousins due to the January 12th earthquake. Pont-Rouge is one of the biggest earthquake refugee camps, probably the biggest. Due to the fear of another quake and the fact that a million people or more were displaced in Port au Price, the camp is rapidly expanding – at least tens thousand people live this time. Although they have been receiving aid delivery somehow, it is limited, and the residents desperately need more food, water and shelter kits, plus need much better sanitation conditions.
  • At Pont-Rouge refugee camp, Haitian earthquake IDP family, from the left, Vuergeme Fredric, 48, Jean Jacob, 8, Jean Rosena, 5, and Jean Lovelie, 9, stay at their tent where 9 family members live together. Vuergeme lost her mother, brother and two sons due to the January 12th quake. Pont-Rouge is one of the biggest earthquake refugee camps, probably the biggest. Due to the fear of another quake and the fact that a million people or more were displaced in Port au Price, the camp is rapidly expanding – at least tens thousand people live this time. Although they have been receiving aid delivery somehow, it is limited, and the residents desperately need more food, water and shelter kits, plus need much better sanitation conditions.
  • At Pone Rouge refugee camp, Apollon Ralpho, 30 year old Haitian quake survivor, stays in front of his shelter where he and 6 other family members live together. He lost his uncle due to the January 12th quake. Pont-Rouge is one of the biggest earthquake refugee camps, probably the biggest. Due to the fear of another quake and the fact that a million people or more were displaced in Port au Price, the camp is rapidly expanding – at least tens thousand people live this time. Although they have been receiving aid delivery somehow, it is limited, and the residents desperately need more food, water and shelter kits, plus need much better sanitation conditions.
  • At Pont-Rouge refugee camp, 12 year old Haitian earthquake survivor Vanessa Alfronse stays at her tent where 5 family members live together. Pont-Rouge is one of the biggest earthquake refugee camps, probably the biggest. Due to the fear of another quake and the fact that a million people or more were displaced in Port au Price, the camp is rapidly expanding – at least tens thousand people live this time. Although they have been receiving aid delivery somehow, it is limited, and the residents desperately need more food, water and shelter kits, plus need much better sanitation conditions.
  • Detroit: America’s once iconic industrial, entertainment city is facing a big crisis. Former Packard Automobile Manufacturing Plant: it was open in 1907, and the most innovated plant in those days. Detroit is in a serious economic crisis. Although it is national, or even worldwide, the city’s situation might be much worse. Many of the populations relay on the big three U.S automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that are facing the possible default. The three, to chase the survival, have already announced to close a big portion of their plants, resulting in many unemployment people. Due to such a big economic crisis, forceclousres and crimes have dramatically increased. If the U.S. government lets the auto-makers fall into bankruptcy, some of the communities would be really vanished.
  • Detroit: America’s once iconic industrial, entertainment city is facing a big crisis. A man walks in front of a closed down store in a Detroit shopping mall, though some of the stores are still open, the parking lot is deserted. Detroit is in a serious economic crisis. Although it is national, or even worldwide, the city’s situation might be much worse. Many of the populations relay on the big three U.S automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that are facing the possible default. The three, to chase the survival, have already announced to close a big portion of their plants, resulting in many unemployment people. Due to such a big economic crisis, forceclousres and crimes have dramatically increased. If the U.S. government lets the auto-makers fall into bankruptcy, some of the communities would be really vanished.
  • Detroit: America’s once iconic industrial, entertainment city is facing a big crisis. The recruiting ad for Marines stays in rain. The U.S. military recruitment has reportedly gone well, since the unemployment rate of the private sectors is dramatically increasing. Detroit is in a serious economic crisis. Although it is national, or even worldwide, the city’s situation might be much worse. Many of the populations relay on the big three U.S automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that are facing the possible default. The three, to chase the survival, have already announced to close a big portion of their plants, resulting in many unemployment people. Due to such a big economic crisis, forceclousres and crimes have dramatically increased. If the U.S. government lets the auto-makers fall into bankruptcy, some of the communities would be really vanished.
  • Detroit: America’s once iconic industrial, entertainment city is facing a big crisis. A dog body with sadistic painting lies at the former Packard Automobile Manufacturing Plant site, created in 1907. The plant was the most innovated plant in those days. Detroit is in a serious economic crisis. Although it is national, or even worldwide, the city’s situation might be much worse. Many of the populations relay on the big three U.S automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that are facing the possible default. The three, to chase the survival, have already announced to close a big portion of their plants, resulting in many unemployment people. Due to such a big economic crisis, forceclousres and crimes have dramatically increased. If the U.S. government lets the auto-makers fall into bankruptcy, some of the communities would be really vanished.
  • Detroit: America’s once iconic industrial, entertainment city is facing a big crisis. The Detroit business skyscrapers, including General Motors headquarters building, are seen from the remains of the former Packard Automobile Manufacturing Plant created in 1907. The plant was the most innovated plant in those days. Detroit is in a serious economic crisis. Although it is national, or even worldwide, the city’s situation might be much worse. Many of the populations relay on the big three U.S automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that are facing the possible default. The three, to chase the survival, have already announced to close a big portion of their plants, resulting in many unemployment people. Due to such a big economic crisis, forceclousres and crimes have dramatically increased. If the U.S. government lets the auto-makers fall into bankruptcy, some of the communities would be really vanished.
  • Detroit: America’s once iconic industrial, entertainment city is facing a big crisis. Businessmen stay at the Winter Garden of waning General Motors headquarters. Detroit is in a serious economic crisis. Although it is national, or even worldwide, the city’s situation might be much worse. Many of the populations relay on the big three U.S automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler that are facing the possible default. The three, to chase the survival, have already announced to close a big portion of their plants, resulting in many unemployment people. Due to such a big economic crisis, forceclousres and crimes have dramatically increased. If the U.S. government lets the auto-makers fall into bankruptcy, some of the communities would be really vanished.
  • War widows with a baby wander in the Grand Mosque in Mazar-e-sharif, looking for a better site for begging. November 1996.
  • Yong Muslims, including small children, go home after the noon prayer at Yala Central Mosque in South Thailand, where the majority is Muslims and the Muslim separate insurgency continues. April 04, 2008, Yala, Thailand.
  • "Resurgent Sri Lanka War – Ready for Rebellion"
  • #21 © Q. Sakamaki Muslim school children stay together for a picnic at Pinnawala’s elephant orphanage site that accommodates many war-related elephant orphans. The Sri Lankan civil war has basically happened between Sinhalese and Tamils. Yet, in the country Muslims are extremely in limbo, since they are often discriminated by the stronger ethnic groups. Pinnawala, Sri Lanka, June 25, 2006.
  • #01 © Q. Sakamaki The image of a Sri Lanka government soldier is accidentally overlapped with the image of a Tamil girl staying at a war-torn church in Jaffna, where the long civil war has devastated people’s life and economy and now the residents are facing the fresh fighting between the Sri Lanka government troops and LTTE rebel, despite the 2002 ceasefire. Jaffna, Sri Lanka, June 2006.
  • "Resurgent Sri Lanka War – Special Forces on Patrol"
  • "Resurgent Sri Lanka War -- Mass Grave"