Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto dead at 76

File photo taken in November 1982 shows Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto (rights) and model Sayoko Yamaguchi in Tokyo. Yamamoto died on July 21, 2020, at the age of 76, after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia earlier in the year. — KYODO/VNA Photo

TOKYO — Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto, considered a pioneer of the country’s industry and known for his work with David Bowie, has died of leukaemia aged 76, his daughter announced on Monday.

“He left this world peacefully, surrounded by loved ones,” actress Mirai Yamamoto announced on Instagram.

“In my eyes, my father was not only the electric and energetic soul that the world knew him as but someone who was also thoughtful, kind-hearted, and affectionate,” she said.

Yamamoto was known for creating bold avant-garde pieces that defied gender norms and featured brilliant colours and patterns.

He leapt to prominence with international shows from the 1970s onwards and won popular acclaim for his collaboration with Bowie, producing a series of outfits for the singer’s Ziggy Stardust alter ego.

“I found David’s aesthetic and interest in transcending gender boundaries shockingly beautiful,” he told website The Cut in 2018.

Yamamoto’s designs often incorporated elements from Japanese culture, and he famously dressed Bowie in a cape covered in Japanese kanji characters.

But his eye-catching designs, replete with saturated colours and vivid motifs, set him apart from many of Japan’s more minimalist fashion icons. — AFP