「テロリストの巣窟」と呼ばれたイラクの街を日本人が歩いてみた結果…

「テロリストの巣窟」と呼ばれたイラクの街を日本人が歩いてみた結果…

It’s very lively. So many people. Because my outfit is unusual, many people talk to me or ask for photos. Ni hao! People often greet me with “Ni hao.” He came closer with his phone. “Can I take a photo with you?” Ramadi, a city in Anbar, western Iraq. During the Iraq War, it was called a terrorist stronghold and reported as one of the world’s most dangerous cities. But did that negative image spread by TV and newspapers, really reflect the lives of local people? Today, we walk through Ramadi, beyond war and terror, to show daily life as it is now. But first, Iraq faces a new problem after overcoming war. Let’s start with that. We came to a local restaurant serving Yemeni food for lunch. It’s not about food this time, but something I want to share. As you may have noticed in past videos, you probably already saw this. At homes, facilities, even restaurants, they always serve this kind of water. It’s about 200 ml, in a small plastic box-shaped container. Even hotels serve it, and drinking it many times a day creates a huge amount of plastic waste. Iraq is desert land, and there’s a tradition of offering water to travelers. So this 200 ml size, is seen as just right to give a guest. That’s likely why, this style became so common. But now it’s a serious waste problem. 200 ml is gone quickly, and turns into trash right away. I feel environmental issues will be a big challenge for Iraq. Tourism will also be key for Iraq as it moves toward peace. Welcoming foreigners, growing tourism can build ties abroad, change Iraq’s image, and create jobs for people. But with so much plastic waste, Western visitors, who are more eco-conscious, will notice the single-use plastic. Another point is, the hotel I’m staying in looks luxurious, but housekeeping missed the trash. So still… And there are only two hotels. Only one is available for foreigners. Tourism is important, but Iraq isn’t yet ready to host many foreign tourists. I was critical, but… After visiting many countries, Iraq’s hospitality and warmth are world-class. Service has room to grow, but that makes me want to support them more! I’d like to ask Nahoko’s opinion too. Do people in Iraq not yet have the capacity to be concerned about environmental issues? Not really, not at that stage yet. In our group, Peace Cell Project, we give environmental lessons in elementary schools. But there’s no waste sorting, no high-tech incinerators, and recycling is difficult. Our staff and I sometimes visit industrial zones, to see recycling sites, sorting work, and factories. We also join cleanups in tourist areas. But it’s tough. It feels like a long road ahead. For example, people often talk about microplastics in the ocean. Then locals say, “Iraq has no sea, so no problem.” But it’s not just the sea—people picnic a lot on land. Cheap plastic plates crumble in the sun into microplastics. When we try to clean them up, they’re so brittle they just break apart. It all builds up in the soil. Near dams especially, I feel it’s a serious issue that needs action. Even here in this restaurant, everything is plastic. This change happened fairly recently. It existed before, but, really after COVID. I see. Since then, people started emphasizing handwashing and hygiene after COVID. Plastic use spread rapidly. In a way, caring about the environment shows Iraq is becoming more peaceful. But with growth and stability, new problems will emerge. How about tourism? Is there room to welcome more tourists, depending on the region? Yes, it depends on the region. Lately, southern Iraq and Mosul have become popular, especially with Western tourists. But Anbar is still far behind. The few Westerners here are mostly NGO workers. Still, little by little, guides are appearing and tourism is starting to take shape. But it’s still early days. Wow, amazing! Everywhere we eat, the impact is huge. Such a big portion. The food has arrived. This is Yemeni food, right? It’s a Yemeni dish called Mandi. The portion size is incredible. Here’s the chicken. And this orange rice is saffron rice. This is eggplant and potato stew. And here’s lentil soup, common in Iraq. This is lamb. The meat is so tender, it just falls off the bone. Super soft. Wow, unbelievably soft. Why is it so tender? Maybe it’s slow-cooked? I’m sure they used a pressure cooker. So tender it falls apart. Let’s give it a try. Time to try the Mandi. Let’s eat! Mmm! Delicious! The meat is super tender. The saffron rice isn’t spicy. It’s full of spices, tastes similar to biryani. But much milder than biryani, very easy to eat. And above all, the chicken is so tender. So good. While eating, a young waiter stared at me, as if wanting to say something. He was holding a smartphone. He came closer with his phone. “Can I take a photo with you?” He showed me the words on Google Translate, so I agreed to a picture. So cute. At first he looked so serious, I wondered what he wanted. But he just asked, “Can I take a photo with you?” I said, “Of course, of course,” and we took one. Wow, feels like I’m popular. After lunch, we took a walk through Ramadi. Which color would you like, keffiyeh? Oh keffiyeh Red or these colors That color. The red one? The red and the white. Our interpreter offered to buy me a keffiyeh, the traditional Arab headscarf, as a gift, so I’ll gladly accept. Ohh! Oh, looks great! Really? It suits you! How is it? hahaha, nice! Nice! Looks perfect, great vibe. This would make such an impactful thumbnail photo. Love it! Thank you so mach！ You’re welcome. We’re now walking through Ramadi. As we walk, locals approach us. Not saying, “Let’s take a photo together,” but, “Take my picture!” So we stop often to snap photos. As-salamu alaykum. So cool. We’ve arrived at Ramadi’s market. It’s about 6:30 in the evening now. As the sun sets and it cools down, people come out to shop. It’s very lively. So many people. Because my outfit is unusual, many people talk to me or ask for photos. Amazing. There are so many shops, it’s fun just to look around. Clothing too. As-salamu alaykum. Ni hao! People often greet me with “Ni hao.” I tell them, “I’m Japanese.” As-salamu alaykum. I introduce myself as Japanese. But I’m often mistaken for Chinese. The colors here are so vivid. Many beautiful shops. Families walking. Some people covering their faces. Especially women. So many different kinds of people. Foreigners are very rare here. And since I’m wearing an Arab keffiyeh on my head, people find it unusual. So many stare or come up to talk to me. (Nahoko) Kanta, you can’t—no beard! Yeah, I can’t. He will shave it for him. They’re shaving with thread, like threading. Someone volunteered as a test case, so we’ll watch. This isn’t shaving, it’s hair removal. Using thread to pluck unwanted hairs. I’ve had laser hair removal in Japan, so I know— threading is probably very painful. No anesthesia, the skin turns red, it must really hurt. They want a photo to remember it. A bit of a chaotic scene. The one who got his beard pulled. The one who did it. And the one who watched. Shukran. From evening into night, we visited places where people gather for dinner and kept interviewing. They asked me to film together, so I did. A friend from Ramadi. OK! A friend from Ramadi. But we just met today. This whole area was once under ISIS control. We ended the day with interviews with local youth. We asked how they lived under ISIS and what future they see now in peace. I’m a student at the University of Anbar, and after learning I am working in graphic design and photography at Anbar University. How did you spend your time at ISIS? In the south of Iraq, in Basra, for two months. After that, I traveled in Kurdistan of Iraq, in Sulaymaniyah. So, he(you) escaped as a refugee Yes. How old was he? 17 century… ah no, 17 years old. ~Arabic~ For his studying, actually, he cannot continue his study at that time because all the aspects of life is stopped. So he actually, at that time, moved to another place for the main reason for continuing his studying. What’s your future plan? ~Arabic~ On one hand, he wants to complete the postgraduate studies, and on the other hand, he wants to develop his career in graphic design. ~Arabic~ Now the situation in Ramadi, in specific and in Iraq in general, is stable. But from his point of view, that the problem is with the using of the technology right now. And there is a shortage of using technology in the city.
Also he mentioned the using of AI. Someday, like Japan… and became like Japan in the future he hopes oh Iraq wants to be like Japan in the future I hope so too. Thank you so much Ramadi was once known only for war and terrorism. After seeing this city today, what did you feel? Please share your thoughts in the comments. If you want to learn more about Japanese people active overseas or the reality of the world beyond what major media shows, please consider supporting Kanta Hara’s YouTube work. His overseas reporting is made possible thanks to the support of his Supporters Club. If anyone would like to help support his work— we’d appreciate anything within your means. Would you consider becoming a monthly supporter? You can join for as little as 1,000 yen. If you’re interested, please check out the link in the description. It will take you to the Supporters Club homepage. And with that— Thank you for watching all the way to the end. See you again in the next video. to be continued…

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イラク西部アンバール県の都市、ラマディ。イラク戦争の最中、この街は「テロリストの巣窟」と呼ばれ、世界で最も危険な街のひとつとして報じられてきました。

しかし、テレビや新聞を通じて広まったそのネガティブなイメージは、果たして現地の人々の姿を正しく映し出しているのでしょうか。

今回は、戦争とテロの時代を乗り越えたラマディを歩き、いまを生きる人々の日常をありのままにお伝えします。

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