Tokyo, Unscripted

March 25, 2026

Tokyo moves differently. Not fast or slow, but layered - quiet intensity running beneath constant motion. It’s a city of routines and repetition, but also of subtle shifts, where small moments carry weight.

Shot in Tokyo, this series brings together three young models navigating the city from different perspectives. Some arrived from elsewhere, others grew up within reach, but all move through the same in-between: between identity and performance, solitude and connection, control and release.

In a city that can feel both grounding and disorienting, they each find their own way back to themselves - through water, through walking, through the act of becoming someone else, if only for a moment.

PHOTOGRAPHER JEFF SUTERA @jeff_sutera
CASTING MOLLIE MAGUIRE @molliemaguirecasting
MODELS MAORI @maorihirose MAYO @mmayochan PHUONG MY @ssykmi @tomorrow_tokyo

MAORI HIROSE, 25, NAGOYA AICHI, MODEL

“I don’t think my work really showcases my identity… I wish I could become a different character. Sometimes I feel like I can, but more often it doesn’t quite work. Still, I keep trying - and I try to see it positively… that this effort itself has become my work.”

“To reset, I swim. No matter where I am in the world, being in a pool helps me forget everything… When I’m away, I cook simple meals in whatever kitchen I have, but serving them on ceramics by artists I love gives me a sense of calm. Ceramics, in a good way, are indifferent to our lives - and that’s something I find comforting.

PHUONG MY, 22, PHU LY, HA NAM, HA NOI MODEL

“I think every model somewhat experiences this sense of freedom when we're working on set. Personally, it enables me to be more bold with my body and let me test out ideas with like-minded creatives. That helped me a lot with my confidence.”

“Me and nature don't usually get along that well hahaha. But recently I hiked Bukhansan Mountain in Seoul as a beginner with a bunch of friends that are also absolute beginners. I have no idea how we made it home that day because we were hanging on to each other on the way down. When I was at the sumit, looking down at the city, seeing how tiny everything is, I was like - okay this is actually pretty cool. My friends convinced me to go on several more hikes and I can't say I hate it.”

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MAYO, 20, MODEL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENT

“Modelling brings out a more controlled and confident side of me… In daily life, I can be quite sensitive and overthink things, but when I’m in front of the camera, I don’t question myself as much. I just exist in the moment. Sometimes it feels like I’m showing a part of myself I usually keep hidden, and other times it feels like I’m stepping into someone else completely. It can be an escape, but also a way to understand myself better.”