Images speak louder than words. Photography, a powerful tool and time capsule that transcends generations. One name worth mentioning in this artistic field is Masayoshi Sukita. Having captured the likes of Jim Jarmusch, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, and the Yellow Magic Orchestra, his portraits are timeless yet quintessentially depict the cultural climate of the era in which his images were taken.

Untitled, RCA Studio, New York, 1973 COURTESY OF ACC ART BOOKS

Masayoshi Sukita was born in 1938 in a small coal mining neighbourhood located in Fukuoka prefecture. Although his father, a Japanese soldier who fought during World World II passed away during his childhood, Sukita has vivid memories of him taking and showing war photography to him at a young age. His interest in photography would reach its peak during high school, however, after seeing actors like James Dean and Marlon Brando on camera. Despite the harsh financial circumstances that his family faced, his first camera was given to him as a present from his mother, the same device with which he would take his first portrait. “I owe everything to my mother, the first photo I ever took was of her, which I still think is the most beautiful photo I have ever taken.”

New York Pop Festival, Downing Stadium, Randall’s Island, New York, 1970, by Masayoshi Sukita. Courtesy of ACC Art Books

A portrait of Sukita’s mother shot by Sukita

With burgeoning desires to continue his passion and pursue a career in the world of imagery, he would enrol in the Japan Institute of Photography and Film, specializing in commercial photography. He was far from being a star student, however, often skiving off class to go to the cinema to watch French “New Wave” films for countless hours. In the end, he managed to graduate from the course and secure a job at an advertising agency in Osaka. Although not much is known about this time, his most notable works include photography taken during his trip to Nagasaki of hibakusha or survivors of the atomic bomb. Sukita would then move on to work for Delta Monde, a production company where he was in charge of fashion photography and filming for high brands. It was during this time that he shot for the fashion brand JAZZ, co-produced by his former friend and collaborator, Teppu Miyahara. These photographs would later be included in his portfolio and shown to artists when trying to secure photography gigs overseas. Winning accolades from both the ADC (Tokyo Art Directors Club) and APA (Japan Advertising Photographers Association), he would also be a force to be reckoned with from early on in his career.

Yet his fascination lay elsewhere, in the heart and soul of Rock n’ Roll. After befriending Yasuko Takahashi, a leading stylist for both Marc Bolan from T-rex and David Bowie as well as a former neighbor who lived in the same apartment as Sukita in Harajuku, he would convince Yasuko to introduce him to some of her clients. This favor would become a successful one, as Marc Bolan would soon accept the offer, providing the opportunity for Sukita to sail across seas. Coincidentally this was the same year in which Bowie held his legendary concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Coming across a poster of this upcoming live event was enough for Sukita to become intrigued by the artist and due to persistence and a bit of luck, managed to secure himself a seat. This show would be the foundation of a long-lasting relationship with the artist, as well as become the silver lining that would allow Sukita to delve even deeper into the culture of Rock n Roll.

David Bowie, "Heroes to Come," 1977. ©Sukita—Courtesy of Morrison Hotel Gallery

“MY FIRST PHOTOS WERE SHOT ON A COMPACT NIKOMAT BECAUSE MY HANDS WERE SMALL, THE FILM WAS KODAK TRI-X AND THE COLOR WAS IN EKTACHROME, THE ISO, A SOLID 100. WHAT I WAS THINKING WHEN TAKING THE PHOTOS WAS SIMPLE; I JUST WANTED THEM TO LOOK COOL. I CAME FROM A BACKGROUND OF COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR FASHION BRANDS SO I HANDLED THE ARTISTS AS IF THEY WERE MODELS AT FIRST. BOTH MARC AND BOWIE WERE ALSO IN THEIR 20S AND I WAS IN MY 30S SO I FELT THE NEED TO BE THE CALM AND MORE POISED ONE WHICH HELPED ME GET THROUGH TO THEM.”

— Masayoshi Sukita

The cover for Yellow Magic Orchestra’s album Solid-state survivor

This opportunity would open up a multitude of doors for Sukita, going on to shoot with Iggy Pop and Jim Jarmusch for his film Mystery Train, and the members of the Yellow Magic Orchestra before they became famous as well as Jimi Hendrix in New York City just months before his death.

Despite having reached the age of 83, Sukita remains active in the photography world. Although his presence is calm and humble, far from the usual attitudes that Rock n’ Roll artists portray, his interest still lies within the same genre, now shooting new emerging artists in Japan. This comes to show that the character behind the camera does not necessarily mimic the personality in front of the lens. Here are some of the comments solidifying his influence and mastery in the field of portrait photography.

“HE IS A TRUE MASTER OF PORTRAIT AND ROCK PHOTOGRAPHY”

— JIM JARMUSCH

“I WOULD NEVER HAVE BELIEVED THAT SUKITA-SAN HAD TAKEN SO MANY PHOTOGRAPHS OVER SO MANY YEARS. FROM THE EARLY ZIGGY SHOWS, INCLUDING THE WELL-KNOWN RAINBOW CONCERT IN LONDON, TO THE MARKET TRIPS IN TOKYO, TEMPLES IN KYOTO, AND EVEN THE SUBWAY ADVENTURES, IT SEEMS SUKITA-SAN GOT THEM ALL.”

— David Bowie