Born January 8, 1926, in Muikaichi, Shimane, died August 11, 2022. First Asian designer to become a member of the Paris haute couture syndicate in 1977. Known as "Madame Butterfly" for her signature butterfly motifs. Started her career designing costumes for Japanese films in the 1950s. Opened her fashion house in Japan in 1951, growing it into a $500 million international business. Designed wedding dress for Crown Princess Masako in 1993 and uniforms for Japanese Olympic delegations. Awarded the Order of Culture by the Emperor of Japan in 1996.
