For Vol.03 of our monthly photographer series FRAMED, we take a deep dive into the work of James Suarez (@jmssrz). All the way from Nottinghamshire, James made his way to the neon-lit alleys of Tokyo. Let’s have a chat about his inspiration, workflow, and relationship with the nightlife of Tokyo.

How did you get into the habit of capturing events in Tokyo’s bars and clubs?

Venturing into Tokyo's nightlife wasn't a calculated move; it unfolded organically. My friend Michael Sugitan, a fellow TokyoSPC member, handed me his Ricoh GR1 during a pub crawl, and that moment became the catalyst for my passion in capturing nightlife. That's when I purchased my GR2. Navigating the maze of Tokyo's bars and clubs, I discovered a captivating world that begged to be captured through that 28mm lens. Over four years ago, and that camera has been in my pocket for every bar and nightclub I've visited since.

What are characteristics that are unique to nightlife in Tokyo?

It’s the first place I’ve been where men have to pay more than women to go to clubs. Also everything is open very late so people can hang out until the first trains at 5am, so you have a lot of chaotic moments around midnight where people are scrambling for the last train home.

How did you see nightlife in Tokyo evolve over the recent years?

Covid has had a huge impact on nightlife. A lot of places that were the ‘it’ place to go lost their crowds, but I have hope that things will go back to the way they were. I can already see it coming back again.

Tokyo nightlife rabbit — by James Suarez

What are you looking for when wandering clubs with your camera at the ready?

I love to capture candid moments. A lot of what we see on social media is fake. I feel it’s my duty to show the reality of what is going on. I hate posed nightclub photos of the friendship groups huddled together too. I hope to provide some fresh air for people.

I also like to take portraits of people who look interesting to me. It’s a good way to meet people.

You even published a photozine about Tokyo’s nightlife, can you share more about that?

After years of sharing my Tokyo nightlife photos on Instagram and having exhibitions, I noticed a recurring sentiment – people loved the shots but hesitated to put them on their walls. The demand for a more tangible format kept coming up, and with my day job settling down, the timing felt right for a photozine.

Creating it came with its set of challenges. Beyond the act of capturing images, the process involved careful curation, establishing a theme, learning about paper thickness, setting up an online shop, and navigating the intricacies of marketing and global shipping. It was a realization that being a photographer goes beyond just taking photos; it's about crafting an experience that extends beyond the digital realm.