people he photographs into actors who perform for his lens. Perhaps the best example of Venzago's rare talent is his images of the Yakuza gang in Tokyo, one of the world's most powerful crime syndicates. The result of five years' persistence on his part, no little charisma and (in Wim Wenders' words) his "optimistic sparkling laugh," Venzago's images of this secret world include private New Year's Eve celebrations, Yakuza boss Masahiro Furushio's office, and even a gang member's hand missing a fingertip (a common gesture to request forgiveness or express submission). Regardless of his subjects, from the oppressed and exploited to the rich and beautiful, this comprehensive book proves Venzago's claim that "My studio is the world."