nhk met with some of those undercover video journalists who call themselves the burma vj. most of the 25 reporters were former political prisoners including the network's core member. he kept hours ever footage. >> translator: these images are very valuable documentation for me and, more importantly, for the country's democratic history. my only ambition was to spread the news to the world about what was really happening in myanmar. >> reporter: this video is from the early days of the protest. monks can be seen marching quietly. the filming is shaky. he and his colleagues make shots however they could, by hiding cameras inside bags or even using this special device. it looks like a car key but has a small lens and a socket for data transfer. >> translator: this is a spy camera i used. we could even shoot close-ups of police officers and soldiers without anyone noticing that the we were filming. >> reporter: the footage was edited into small piles and uploaded to the internet from the hideout in this building. when they couldn't post online, trusted couriers take the tapes