ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Japan is the only G7 country where, after divorce, the right to custody of a child is vested exclusively in one parent. A parent left a child loses all parental rights. He has no right to know where the child lives, where he studies, how he feels. He has no right to meet. 

One day you're a parent, the next day you're not, the police and the court say, "Go home, forget you were a parent! Imagine that your child is dead," recalls one of the characters in the series.

Parents, however, cannot forget. Tomas Savicas last saw his daughter Gabriele more than eight years ago. He still catches himself looking in strollers on the street for his nine-month-old daughter - that's how old Gabriele was when she was taken from her home by his ex-wife.

I had lived in Japan for more than three years and had no idea about this infamous practice. I found out only when I learned the story of a French father, Vincent Fichot, who in an act of desperation , having already used all legal avenues to recover, kidnapped by his Japanese wife, children, decided to go on hunger strike during the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. That's when the news of parental kidnappings in Japan circulated the world and reached me as well.

Remaining in shock at how unjust and violating the rights of the child it is, I couldn't help but try to tell you about the heroism, but also the horrible trauma that parents face on a daily basis as they fight the Japanese system and despite. That many of them have heard in court "forget you were ever parents." They can't forget.

The mock-up book "Forever Mine" (2021-2023) was among the finalists for the Hong Kong Dummy Award 2023, and as part of the award, the book is currently traveling to photo book festivals around the world.

The project was shown at Kypotographie in 2022 and 2023 , as well as at the Wojnowski Festival of Photography and most recently at the Polish Women Photographers s presentation in Sopot in August this year.

WHY IS THIS PHOTO BOOK IMPORTANT?

Parental abduction is a painful reality for many families in Japan, where legal and cultural challenges make it difficult for parents to maintain relationships with their children after separation. Through personal stories, our photo book, raises awareness about the complexity and emotional impact of parental alienation of children. By sharing real stories and experiences, it can help inform the public and policymakers about the seriousness of this issue. In addition, this book is a place where parents have been able to give their voices so often drowned out and unheard.

WHO AM I?

I tell about what fascinates me, delights me, what hurts me, using the language of photography. At the center of my interests, is always a person. The one whose fate will be touched unfairly, or who does not have the power to make a difference. I listen to the stories of those who live in the shadow of the big world, often on the fringes of social and economic life. I try to capture the changes taking place in contemporary society. I am interested in what is new and what is just passing away along with the generation that is leaving.

I am rewarded by the time and stories that someone has been willing to share, and at the same time I am happy that my work has been appreciated by many jurors from the world of photography and film. (Laureate of the World Press Photo award and the annual MKIDN Award (2013) winner of 8 awards in the Grand Press Photo competition, including two Grand Prix, where she has remained as a juror since the 6th edition. She graduated from PWSFTviT in Lodz and the School of Film and Documentary Theater in Moscow. Member of Canon Ambassador Program (2013-2018), Women Photographers and Polish Women Photographers.

I love to be on the move. I have lived and worked in Warsaw, Moscow, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Bucharest. www.annabedynska.pl

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Photos and text: Anna Bedyńska

Graphic design: Anna Bedyńska, Andrzej Dobosz / dobosz.studio

Project curator: Adrian Wykrota

Languages: ANG / JP

Publisher:

Pix.house Foundation www.pix.house

Format (approximate) 15x21 mm

Number of pages: 300

Circulation: 400

Shipping: after October 1, 2024

Book launch: September 23, 2024 during Pixhouse residency and exhibition

What we need

To complete this project, we are looking for support to cover printing costs. The book is already designed and its design has been recognized in the Hong Kong Dummy Award, which has led the book to visit ten photography festivals including Kassel, Arles, Aarhus etc.

Your contribution will help us create a beautiful photography book that not only serves as a visual narrative, but also as a tool for social documentation and education.

What you will receive

In return for your generous support, we offer a number of rewards, including