A sad day for Japan: Katsura Yumi has passed away

It has been announced that Katsura Yumi, known for her wedding dresses that combined Japanese and French designs and who had been active in the fashion industry for over 50 years, has died.

Born in Tokyo and originally named "Yuki Yumi," Katsura studied fashion design in Paris after graduating from Kyoritsu Women's University in the capital.

Opening her first store in Tokyo in 1964 and becoming "Japan's first bridal fashion designer," Katsura produced wedding dress materials using various fabrics, including lace and silk.

Katsura, who once taught at a tailoring school run by her mother, launched popular ready-to-wear wedding dresses in the 1970s that could be purchased with "one month's salary."

ORGANIZED THE FIRST WEDDING DRESS FASHION SHOW

In post-war Japan, where the kimono was the traditional choice, Katsura popularized "Western-style" wedding dresses and organized the country's first bridal fashion show.

The designer was awarded the special "Yumi line" award for her "mermaid-style dress" model at a fashion show in New York in 1981.

Katsura, who designed a special robe using the "Hakata-ori" weaving technique, presented it as a gift to Pope John Paul II in 1993.

Earning the title of the "first Asian member" of the National Chamber of Italian Fashion in 1999, Katsura participated in the Paris-based "Haute Couture" week for the first time in 2003.

Katsura, who also made efforts to preserve the traditional bridal fashion of the Asian region, was also honored with many awards in her home country of Japan.