Sugiura Norio

Sugiura Norio is the top shibari photographer in Japan, as people internationally acclaim. This sensei is a master of photography with a 45-year-long career. He worked in the Showa period with Nureki Chimuo—and their work defined a look and aesthetic for rope for the following decades. Sugiura carries his legacy on, usually shooting with Naka Akira, Nureki’s only student.

Sugiura Norio: Magical Photographs

The creations of this great artist have a magical quality, specially in shibari photographs. He believes everything has to go fast. Because of this, he knows the perfect direction where he should carry the flush light. All the time, he is on the move finding the perfect angle and taking care of all the details for his photography. One of the things he always does is to speak about the spirit of the scene: the importance of the attention to details, passion, and absolute presence in the shibari scene. This is what makes the scene a perfect frame for a shibari photograph.

A Carefully Detailed Scene

While he works, he corrects the light and the attitude of the model. Sugiura is detailed-oriented about the rope. For instance, he assures whether there is too much of anything or if the scene needs more of this material. People also know him for his hair fetish. Hair is an element that must be perfect. For this reason, he always details gently and shapes the hair of the models to his liking. As you can see, he quite rightly believes hair is an important detail in a shibari photograph.

In addition, Sugiura Norio has a marvellous workshop, Aesthetics of Kinbaku, where every assistant gets to know closer how he works during a shibari scene.

Sugiura Norio: a Director

He gives specific instructions to the riggers, models, and assistants, and photographers. These directions are for the light and the exact setting for the cameras, to begin with. Sugiura even tells the photographer when and from which position to trigger. Everyone who has taken his workshop or worked closely with him is inspired and fascinated with his work, with his magic.

Sugiura Norio’s workshop opens another dimension in photography and in shibari. In it, he shares his knowledge and his 45-year-long career as a shibari photographer.

Image: Norio Sugiura