Shu Uemura

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Uemura holding a Kabuki brush

Shu Uemura (植村 秀, Uemura Shū, June 19, 1928 – December 29, 2007) (Japanese pronunciation: [ɯemɯɾa ɕɯː][1]) was a Japanese make-up artist and founder of the cosmetics line which bears his name.[2][3]

Career

hairstyling and make up as a teenager while recovering from a severe illness which left him bedridden. He enrolled at the Tokyo Beauty Academy,[4] becoming the only male student in a class of 130 pupils.[3][5]

His first experience in film make-up occurred during the filming of 1957's Joe Butterfly, which was partially shot in Japan.[5] Uemura left Japan in the late 1950s to try to break into the film and television make-up business.

Uemura's big break came on the set of the 1962 film,

apprentice, including Edward G. Robinson, Frank Sinatra, and Lucille Ball.[5] Among his notable early work was on Frank Sinatra's 1965 film, None but the Brave.[5]

Uemura developed and launched his first cosmetics product in 1960.[2] His product was a cleansing oil, which left the skin cleaner than soap and also acted as a moisturizer.[6] His cleansing oil remains popular in Japan today.[2] Uemura developed a make-up philosophy that the health of his customers' skin should be the most important aspect of cosmetics.[6] He also believed in enhancing a subject's natural beauty, not artificially creating it using cosmetic products.[6]

Uemura returned to Japan in 1964 and opened the Shu Uemura makeup school, which taught make-up techniques which he learned in Hollywood.

Omotesando district.[6] He officially changed the name of his company to Shu Uemura Cosmetics in 1983.[6] Uemura's company was able to take advantage of Japan's booming economy and taste for Western products during the 1980s.[6]
In the process, Shu Uemura Cosmetics became a major force in the domestic Japanese and international beauty market.

Shu Uemura sold his controlling interest in his company to French cosmetics maker

eyelashes and handmade makeup brushes.[2] In the process, the Uemura's company became a cultural force in some circles. Shu Uemura's eyelash curlers were even mentioned in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada.[2]

Uemura personally demonstrated his make-up techniques to the public twice a year.[6] He used these demonstrations to introduce his customers to his last Mode Makeup lines.[6] These demonstrations usually took place in Tokyo, London or New York City.[6]

Death

Shu Uemura died of pneumonia in Tokyo on December 29, 2007.[5][6] He was 79 years old and was survived by his wife and son, Hiroshi [6] who founded his own cosmetics line, UTOWA, in 2002.[7] Uemura's funeral was held on January 4, 2008.[6]

References

  1. ^ "Pronunciations for 植村 秀". Forvo. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  2. ^
    New York Times. Associated Press
    . 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  3. ^
    Jiji Tsūshin
    (in Japanese). 2008-01-08. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  4. ^ jpninfo.com Shu Uemura Cosmetics: Legendary Eye-Pleasing Beauty Products for 55 Years
  5. ^ a b c d e f Shilling, Mark (2008-01-08). "Makeup artist Shu Uemura dies". Variety. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  6. ^
    Time Magazine. Archived from the original
    on January 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-18.
  7. ^ "Utowa|ウトワ". www.utowa.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2013-08-13.

External links