94-year-old Japanese bridal fashion pioneer Yumi Katsura, known for blending Japanese and French designs, passed away.

94-year-old Japanese bridal fashion pioneer Yumi Katsura, known for her innovative designs blending Japanese traditional techniques with French motifs, passed away. She was the first designer in Japan to create Western wedding dresses, beginning in 1964, and opened the country's first bridal store in 1965. Katsura also designed papal vestments for St. John Paul II and popularized Western-style wedding attire in Japan.