Katsumi Watanabe

Katsumi Watanabe’s portraits of drag queens, gangsters (Yakuza), prostitutes, and entertainers in Tokyo’s nightlife were commissioned for the subjects themselves. Thus, every image exhibits the candid uniqueness of each sitter as they envisioned their own identity, regardless of gender constructs. Sexuality, gender and free self-expression result in beautifully genuine portraits of those who inhabited Kabukicho at night.