Tokyo Tsukiji Market by Nicola Tanzini

The famous Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Japan, the largest fish market in the world, is the fascinating subject of Nicola Tanzini’s photography project, Tokyo Tsukiji.

Italian photographer, Tanzini, spent over two years capturing the fish sellers at work on camera, in the Jonai Shijō part of the market, one of two sections where wholesalers operate. His black and white images reflect the concentration, fatigue, and gestures of the fish vendors as well as moments of downtime and natural pauses in their hectic daily work life.

The series also serves as precious documentation of the market, considering that by the 2020 Olympic Games the market will have moved location to Toyosu, in the East of Tokyo: “This collection of photographs is crucial as a testimony to the last moments of the market as we have always known it” said Masuo Nishibayashi, Director of the Japanese Institute of Culture in Rome.

The Tokyo Tsukiji project will be exhibited from 5 October to the 4 November, at the Leica Galerie in Milan, Italy.

Thirty photographs will be on display, curated by Benedetta Donato and sponsored by the Japanese Institute of Culture in Rome, as well as giving visitors the opportunity to browse through the project's book edited by Contrasto – Roberto Koch editor. We have selected some of the amazing pictures that will be on display at the exhibition: enjoy!