Tokyo Photographic Art Museum

Regarded as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century, Robert Capa’s impactful photographs capture the essence of humanity when it is the most unseen – amidst the sufferings of war. Capa was present, eighty years ago, in the combat zones of World War II, risking his life to capture photographs that serve as tangible and reliable records of the conflicts. His work covers the political turmoil of Europe in the 1930s, the Spanish Civil War, the bombing of China by Japanese forces, the Allied counter-offensive against Germany in North Africa, the Normandy landings and more.  This exhibition will showcase 140 of Capa’s most compelling war-themed prints, highlighting the profound human tenderness of soldiers and civilians enduring the hardships of conflict. The exhibition is closed on Mondays (except May 5) as well as May 7.

Celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum traces the career of one of Japan’s most compelling contemporary photographers with ‘Takano Ryudai: Kasubaba, Living through the ordinary’. Since receiving the prestigious Kimura Ihei Award in 2006 for his acclaimed series ‘In My Room’, Takano has gained international recognition for his unflinching exploration of sexuality, intimacy and the human body. Equally, his lesser-known yet deeply personal daily snapshots – what he terms kasubaba – reveal a poetic sensitivity to the ordinary moments that shape our lives. Takano has been shooting kasubaba since 1998, reflecting his enduring commitment to photographing the overlooked textures of urban life through scenes so mundane they often escape notice. This exhibition brings together these candid images, alongside works exploring shadows and the nature of photography itself, created in the wake of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Through his quiet yet profound visual diary, Takano invites viewers to confront the fragile beauty of the everyday. In a world marked by upheaval, disaster and uncertainty, kasubaba offer a meditation on resilience, presence, and the act of truly seeing. The retrospective celebrates Takano’s artistry while providing a poignant reminder of life’s fleeting, unadorned moments.