55th Yumi Katsura Grand Collection in Tokyo
I attended the “55th Yumi Katsura Grand Collection in Tokyo” in February 2020. The venue was the prestigious Hotel Okura. It was for Yumi Katsura, one of Japan’s top fashion designers. She had been in the wedding dress business for fifty-five years. The lady knows how to dress brides and grooms. Anyway, it was my chance to photograph her creations on real models.
I had photographed one professional model in 2017, but this was my first time to shoot such a show filled with them. What would happen? I had no idea. The internet gave me a few tips, but it didn’t fully prepare me for what happened inside the hotel’s Heian Ballroom.
The number of people there was overwhelming. It shouldn’t have surprised me as Yumi is so respected in Japan. Her fans are legion. The room was electric with excitement. Everyone wanted to see her latest designs.
When the doors finally opened, everyone moved in. They had seats to go to. I just moved to the side. It was a better place to photograph from.
After the opening and some words from Yumi, the music started, and the models appeared. From that point on, it was non-stop fashion. The stage, with the theme of “Brilliant White Debut,” came alive.
About eighty outfits were displayed on the runway. They were for big events. Did you need something for a wedding, anniversary, coming of age, and shichi-go-san ceremonies? It was there. Of course, white was the predominant color.
Yumi appeared again at the end. She spoke about her fifty-five years in the business. From 1965 to 2020, she participated in eighty-eight Grand Collection shows in Japan and 108 overseas.
When she started, things were tough. The country was still rebuilding after the war. It was challenging to get materials for wedding dresses. But she overcame those hardships to create a brand that reached the top in Japan and overseas. She also made many friends on her journey. They came to support her.
55th Yumi Katsura Grand Collection celebrities:
- Airi Hatageyama: a former rhythmic gymnast.
- Ryutaro and Satsuki Katayama: He’s the businessman, and she’s a member of the House of Councillors. They modeled the outfits for pearl wedding anniversaries.
- Shonusuke Okura: a drum player who provided music for the kimono section.
- Masahiro Takashima (actor) and Sylvia Grab (actress): this husband and wife team modeled outfits for the Crystal wedding anniversary.
- Yoshishige Yoshida (movie director) and actress Mariko Okada (actress): modeled the fifty-fifth anniversary.
Conclusion
Until 2020, I didn’t know anything about fashion. Well, I had photographed a model in 2017. That didn’t compare though. But the 55th Yumi Katsura Grand Collection was on a completely different level. This new world held my interest. There was much for a camera to enjoy.
My favorite outfit of the day? It was western-style with a long flowing gown and a tsunokakushi-inspired headpiece. The colors and design were very Japanese. But it was one of many great designs. By the way, an article about her book launch in December 2019 is on this website. Leave questions and comments below.
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
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External related websites:
- Yumi Katsura (official website)