Established in the Golden Gai of Shinjuku, a former prostitution district full of narrow streets and clubs, the tiny Kodoji bar was the meeting point for photographers from the legendary CAMP gallery in the 1970’s. Over the years, it’s become a landmark place for both photography and sake lovers. Photographers such as Daido Moriyama, Nobuyoshi Araki, Koji Onaka and many others have exhibited there, between two cups of sake. Initiated by Emilie Lauriola, bookseller specialised in photography and founder of Sasori Books, the project transforms shmorévaz into an ephemeral bar set up on the occasion of the PhotoSaintGermain Festival. Inspired by the history and spirit of Kodoji as a meeting place for the photographic community, the Sasori Bar serves sake and displays a collection of rare books. It also hosts book signings, talks, concerts (Rebekka Deubner / 1991 Books & Bernardino Femminielli / Kanta Nomura / ANTIFOTO / Maki / Mind Records) and an exhibition of pictures by  Japanese photographer Satomi Nihongi: a little-known series of portraits of the dancers and clientele of Tokyo’s gay bars in the early 1970s.

With the support of the Fondation Franco-japonaise Sasakawa, Dassai & Komiyama Tokyo
Curated by Emilie Lauriola