Emi Wada, the Oscar-winning costume designer of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran,”According to the Associated Press, she has died. She was 84.
Wada died on Saturday, November 13 — confirmed by family members to Japanese media — and no cause of death was immediately given, according to the AP.
Her work goes beyond her. “Ran,” Wada earned acclaim for her costume designs for Peter Greenaway’s “Prospero’s Books” as well as Zhang Yimou’s “Hero” “House of Flying Daggers.” Wada was also prolific in stage costuming, designing costumes for operas including Tan Dun’s “The First Emperor” and the National Ballet of China’s performance of “The Peony Pavillion.”
Wada also designed the costumes for the 2018 Chinese adaptation of Shakespeare’s “King Lear.”
Accepting her Oscar “Ran”In 1986, Wada made fun of Kurosawa. “He doesn’t need my costuming.”
Emi Wada was born in Japan’s Kyoto Prefecture. She married Ben Wada, a TV director, when she was twenty-two. Emi Wada wanted to be a painter when she was younger. However, after getting married, she switched to designing on-screen costumes.
“Over the 60 years I’ve been doing this work, I’ve never gotten tired of it,”Wada stated this in a video message sent to the Tokyo International Film Festival 2017 audience. “I see myself as really lucky.”
Wada published many books about her work and costumes throughout her career. “My Costumes,” “EMI WADA WORKS,” “My Life in the Making.” Most recently, in 2020, Wada designed the costumes for Ann Hui’s “Love After Love,”It premiered at Venice International Film Festival.
Media reports stated that funeral services were held with close family and friends.