I met a man in the Central African Republic.
This was Richard, the charismatic leader of the Christian militia, the ‘Anti=Balaka’.

The Christians in this country were being persecuted under the rule of the Islamic coalition, the ‘Seleka’.
Richard’s village was attacked by the ‘Seleka’ like all its neighboring regions.
Barely making it out alive, he made it into the forest and all alone took up weapons with the purpose of freeing this country from the rule of the ‘Seleka’.
Gradually people came to Richard and joined as comrades, forming the ‘Anti-Balaka’ militia.

Through repeated victories, his troops managed the free the western regions, including the capital Bangui.
Upon reaching the capital however, the unexpected happened.
“I want you to disarm your troops...for peace...and for the future of this country.”
The President came to him directly with these words, requesting for disarmament.

After much contemplation, Richard decided to accept the request, and his troops put down their weapons in the midst of raging civil war.

I initially met Richard as ‘photographer’ and ‘photographic subject’.
When we first met, Richard could not open up to me at all, and his grim facial expression in front of the camera was a very obvious sign of his discomfort.
This was because he knew that the conflicts in his country were not domestic, but inflicted upon the interests of foreign countries.
He therefore generally refused to be of any support to these selfish ‘foreigners’.

However, I had already been intrigued and fascinated by his unique character, and my wish to interview and photograph him increased by the day.
I explained to him what it was that I wanted to photograph, sharing with him my thoughts time after time.
I also explained that being Japanese...being part of a people who have also disarmed after a loss in war, that we would be able to understand the thoughts, feelings, and sorrow of Richard and his people...

After time Richard started to open up to me.
Before we realized it, we had become friends.

And then one day he told me about everything.
And the things he shared with me were a past, much beyond what I had expected or imagined.