Sanzhar nukassov sumo — by Sanzhar Nukassov

Sanzhar Nukassov, a 27-year-old photographer from Almaty, Kazakhstan, has been passionate about photography for over a decade. What began as a hobby evolved into a serious pursuit, leading him to drop out of school after four years of studying abroad to return home and rebuild his career from the ground up.

He loves to capture the world through his unique perspective, sharing his feelings and impressions by focusing on the smallest details. His goal is to inspire others with his work, contributing to the creative world. This philosophy is best summarized by one of his favorite quotes from photographer Bruno Barbe: "Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world."

We had a chat with the Sanzhar, exploring his series that captures the often hidden realms of sumo.

What is your relationship with Japan?

I love Asia as a whole. I studied for 4 years in China, and as such feel a close connection to Asian culture. But I have a particularly special relationship with Japan. It's a country I love deeply, from its people to their culture, lifestyle, food, and more. Japanese philosophy in particular inspires me in my life and work. I could go on for hours about how much I love Japan.

I first visited Japan last spring. This had been a dream of mine since childhood, and while there I fell even deeper in love with this country. I decided to return to Japan this year, but this time with the intention of focusing more on the everyday lives of Japanese people. It was on the trip last year that I took the photo of the monks at Mount Fuji. Unfortunately, that location has since been closed to tourists.

Gaining access to the Sumo world can be quite challenging. How did you manage to get so close?

I was actually very lucky here. Last year when I was filming in Tokyo, I met a sumo wrestler named Ersin Baltagul (Kinbozan 金峰山) who is originally from Kazakhstan. He has lived in Japan for the past 8 years, where he works as a professional sumo wrestler. He belongs to the top 10 Makuuchi, which is the highest division in sumo. To be represented here is really an extraordinary achievement for our country!

We became friends, and it was through him that I was able to enter the world of sumo. Before my last trip to Japan, I told him that I wanted to photograph sumo wrestlers, to which he told me “no problem, brother!” Seeing their daily lives: how they train, joke with one other, and even sit at the table and eat together, was such an interesting and unforgettable experience! It was definitely one of my most unusual shoots. I'm so grateful to my friend for this amazing experience! I will be rooting for him!

sumo wrestlers eating — by Sanzhar Nukassov

What was something that surprised you when stepping in the life of a sumo wrestler for a day?

What surprised me most was the strict hierarchy between the wrestlers. Although hierarchy is a trait of Japanese society at large, the wrestlers have their own specific iteration of this. There are many internal rules that they must adhere to, such as that they are not allowed to wear regular clothes when going out for a walk in the city; they must always wear a kimono and keep their hair nicely made-up.

And of course, I was also surprised by just how strong they actually are!

sumo wrestlers tokyo — by Sanzhar Nukassov

Do you have a favorite location in Japan to wander & shoot?

In general, the entirety of Japan is beautiful to explore. Everywhere is so aesthetically pleasing and pristine. I've already started marking places on my Google Map to visit during my next trip. But if I had to choose one individual place, then that would be Kyoto. I'm just in love with the city. It's such a pleasure to walk around and photograph, especially in its small side streets and alleyways, which are full of vintage shops.

My favorite areas of Tokyo are Naka-Meguro and Sangenjaya. There are a lot of cool izakaya bars there, which make them a special place for me. And of course I couldn't forget Harajuku, since I love shopping.

Kawaguchiko is also a favorite of mine, which is best explored by renting a bike and riding around the lake there which overlooks Mount Fuji. The view there is incredible, and it feels like such a calm and peaceful place.

sumo wrestler hair — by Sanzhar Nukassov

Want to tell us something about your gear, and how you adapt it to the environment you're shooting in?

I use a few different cameras, but mostly I like to shoot on film, especially medium format. My favorite camera is the Mamiya RZ67. A lot of the photos on my Instagram page were shot on this camera. I also often shoot on 35mm. I love film because it forces you to slow down and focus on every individual frame, since you only have a limited number of shots.

Anything else you would like to share?

I'm very glad that we had a chance to speak! I'm always happy to share my experience and reflections. I'd also like to add the advice based on my own journey: do what you love, put your soul into your business and everything you do, and you will achieve the success you aspire to. Do what speaks to you ❤️

Follow the journey of Sanzhar on Instagram.