After seeing the second plane strike, Sugimoto realized the seriousness of what was happening and continued recording. His footage captured smoke rising from the World Trade Center and the towers collapsing from an angle rarely shown in mainstream broadcasts.
Years later, while cleaning his home, Sugimoto rediscovered boxes containing old Hi-8, Digital-8, and DV tapes. Some had already deteriorated, so he began digitizing them and eventually recovered the September 11 recording before it could be lost.
After more than 20 years, he uploaded the footage online primarily for archival purposes. Its clarity and unusual perspective quickly attracted attention, becoming a powerful example of how important pieces of history can remain hidden in private collections for decades.
