At the age of 76, Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, who was diagnosed with the disease last February and was admitted to the hospital in Tokyo, died of leukemia.
The first Japanese designer to present a collection in London in 1971 at the age of 27, he created many of the most famous costumes worn by David Bowie, such as the “Tokyo Pop” vinyl suit for the 1973 Aladdin Sane album tour, which the white duke wore during the March 10th concert that year at the Long Beach Arena in Los Angeles.
One style, that of Kansai Yamamoto, cheeky and at times provocative, was one of the first to subvert gender standards with new shapes and bright colors.
Speaking about Bowie he declared: “He has an unusual face, don’t you think? He doesn’t look like a man or a woman. You know what I mean? As a designer, he represents my ideal, because most of my clothes are for both sexes. I love his music and obviously this has influenced my designs but most of all there’s an aura of fantasy surrounding it. He has charm.”
He was inspired by the traditional Japanese theatrical performances, Kabuki, and the baggy pants of the samurai, and despite this very strong link with tradition he was loved and admired by the younger ones..
His aesthetic became the emblem of the imagination of Ziggy Stardust, the character invented and played by Bowie himself, thanks to whom Kansai Yamamoto became an all-time fashion icon.
One of his last works was in 2018 with Louis Vuitton, when he collaborated on the Kabuki inspired patterns and graphics for the LV Resort 2018 collection.
The news of Yamamoto’s disappearance, which occurred on July 21, was given by his daughter Mirai (actress) with a post published today on her Instagram profile: “He left this world peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. In my eyes, my father was not only the eclectic and energetic soul that the world knew him as, but someone who was also thoughtful, kind-hearted, and affectionate. He valued communication and showered me with love throughout my entire life. He also taught me to persist throughout failures and to never let go of a positive, forward-looking mindset. He viewed challenges as opportunities for self-development and always believed in the brighter days ahead. I want to thank everyone who has touched my father’s life in some way, shape, or form. Without you, his legacy would not exist. I will continue supporting this legacy of my father through my work at KANSAI SUPER STUDIO, alongside my acting career. In doing so, I hope to spread Kansai Yamamoto’s spirit of “Genki” to the world”.
