Shu Uemura
Encyclopedia
was a Japan
ese make-up artist and founder of the Shu Uemura international cosmetics
line which bears his name.
His first experience in film make-up occurred during the filming of 1957's Joe Butterfly
, which was partially shot in Japan. 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, My Geisha
. The film's regular make up artist fell ill and Uemura, who was working as a Hollywood beautician at the time, was called in to fill in for the sick artist. Uemura gained critical acclaim for transforming actress Shirley MacLaine
, a Caucasian
, into a Japanese woman. He received praise from both My Geisha's filmmakers and its cast, including MacLaine. He soon became one of Hollywood's favorite artists. He began working with well known Hollywood personalities, usually as a make-up artist apprentice, including Edward G. Robinson
, Frank Sinatra
, and Lucille Ball
. Among his notable early work was on Frank Sinatra
's 1965 film, None But the Brave
.
Uemura developed and launched his first cosmetics product in 1960. His product was a cleansing oil, which left the skin cleaner than soap
and also acted as a moisturizer
. His cleansing oil remains popular in Japan today. Uemura developed a make-up philosophy
that the health of his customers' skin should be the most important aspect of cosmetics.
He also believed in enhancing a subject's natural beauty
, not artificially creating it using cosmetic products.
Uemura returned to Japan in 1964 and opened the Shu Uemura makeup school, which taught make-up techniques which he learned in Hollywood. He founded a cosmetics company called Japan Makeup in 1967 and opened its first boutique store in Tokyo's trendy Omotesando
district. He officially changed the name of his company to Shu Uemura Cosmetics in 1983. Uemura's company was able to take advantage of Japan's booming economy and taste for Western products during the 1980s. 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 L'Oréal
in 2004 for an undisclosed amount of money. However, he remained the creative force behind Shu Uemura Cosmetics after the sale. It is estimated that as of early 2008, Shu Uemura Cosmetics now makes approximately $100 million dollars a year in global sales at its stores worldwide. The company now has stores in Paris, New York City, London and Hong Kong
, as well as outlets throughout Japan. The company's product line has expanded over the years to include hair and lifestyle products, perfume
, fake eyelashes and handmade makeup brushes. In the process, the Uemura's company became a cultural force in some circles. Shu Uemura's eyelash curler
s were even mentioned in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada
.
Uemura personally demonstrated his make-up techniques to the public twice a year. He used these demonstrations to introduce his customers to his last Mode Makeup lines. These demonstrations usually took place in Tokyo, London or New York City.
in Tokyo on December 29, 2007. Uemura was 79 years old and was survived by his wife and son. His funeral was held on January 4, 2008.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese make-up artist and founder of the Shu Uemura international cosmetics
Cosmetics
Cosmetics are substances used to enhance the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, fingernail and toe nail polish, eye and facial makeup, towelettes, permanent waves, colored contact lenses, hair colors, hair sprays and...
line which bears his name.
Career
A native of Tokyo, Shu Uemura reportedly first became interested in hairstyling and make up as a teenager while recovering from a severe illness which left him bedridden. He enrolled at the Tokyo Beauty Academy, becoming the only male student in a class of 130 pupils.His first experience in film make-up occurred during the filming of 1957's Joe Butterfly
Joe Butterfly
Joe Butterfly is a comedy film directed by Jesse Hibbs and starring Audie Murphy, George Nader, Keenan Wynn, and Burgess Meredith in the title role. The movie follows the staff of Yank magazine, who are among the first American troops in Tokyo after Japan's surrender. They are given the difficult...
, which was partially shot in Japan. 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, My Geisha
My Geisha
My Geisha is a 1962 American comedy film directed by Jack Cardiff, starring Yves Montand, Shirley MacLaine, and Edward G. Robinson, and released by Paramount Pictures...
. The film's regular make up artist fell ill and Uemura, who was working as a Hollywood beautician at the time, was called in to fill in for the sick artist. Uemura gained critical acclaim for transforming actress Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine is an American film and theater actress, singer, dancer, activist and author, well-known for her beliefs in new age spirituality and reincarnation. She has written a large number of autobiographical works, many dealing with her spiritual beliefs as well as her Hollywood career...
, a Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
, into a Japanese woman. He received praise from both My Geisha's filmmakers and its cast, including MacLaine. He soon became one of Hollywood's favorite artists. He began working with well known Hollywood personalities, usually as a make-up artist apprentice, including Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson
Edward G. Robinson was a Romanian-born American actor. A popular star during Hollywood's Golden Age, he is best remembered for his roles as gangsters, such as Rico in his star-making film Little Caesar and as Rocco in Key Largo...
, Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, and Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
. Among his notable early work was on Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's 1965 film, None But the Brave
None But the Brave
None But the Brave, also known as in Japan, is a 1965 war film starring Frank Sinatra, Clint Walker, Tatsuya Mihashi, Tommy Sands and Brad Dexter. This is the only film directed by Frank Sinatra, and the first Japanese-American co-production, produced by Sinatra for Warner Bros...
.
Uemura developed and launched his first cosmetics product in 1960. His product was a cleansing oil, which left the skin cleaner than soap
Soap
In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
and also acted as a moisturizer
Moisturizer
Moisturizers or emollients are complex mixtures of chemical agents specially designed to make the external layers of the skin softer and more pliable, by increasing its hydration by reducing evaporation. Naturally occurring skin lipids and sterols as well as artificial or natural oils,...
. His cleansing oil remains popular in Japan today. Uemura developed a make-up philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
that the health of his customers' skin should be the most important aspect of cosmetics.
He also believed in enhancing a subject's natural beauty
Beauty
Beauty is a characteristic of a person, animal, place, object, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, meaning, or satisfaction. Beauty is studied as part of aesthetics, sociology, social psychology, and culture...
, not artificially creating it using cosmetic products.
Uemura returned to Japan in 1964 and opened the Shu Uemura makeup school, which taught make-up techniques which he learned in Hollywood. He founded a cosmetics company called Japan Makeup in 1967 and opened its first boutique store in Tokyo's trendy Omotesando
Omotesando
' is an avenue, subway station and neighborhood in the Minato and Shibuya wards in Tokyo stretching from Harajuku station, the foot of the famous Takeshita Street, to Aoyama-dori where Omotesandō station can be found. Zelkova trees line both sides of the avenue. Around 100,000 cars drive down the...
district. He officially changed the name of his company to Shu Uemura Cosmetics in 1983. Uemura's company was able to take advantage of Japan's booming economy and taste for Western products during the 1980s. 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 L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
in 2004 for an undisclosed amount of money. However, he remained the creative force behind Shu Uemura Cosmetics after the sale. It is estimated that as of early 2008, Shu Uemura Cosmetics now makes approximately $100 million dollars a year in global sales at its stores worldwide. The company now has stores in Paris, New York City, London and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, as well as outlets throughout Japan. The company's product line has expanded over the years to include hair and lifestyle products, perfume
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
, fake eyelashes and handmade makeup brushes. In the process, the Uemura's company became a cultural force in some circles. Shu Uemura's eyelash curler
Eyelash curler
An eyelash curler is a hand-operated mechanical device for curling eyelashes for cosmetic purposes. Usually only the upper eyelashes are curled. Before using, the device can be shortly heated with hair dryer, but not to the extent to burn the delicate skin above the eyes...
s were even mentioned in the 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada (film)
The Devil Wears Prada is a 2006 comedy-drama film, a loose screen adaptation of Lauren Weisberger's 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Anne Hathaway as Andrea Sachs, a recent college graduate who goes to New York City and gets a job as a co-assistant to powerful and demanding fashion magazine...
.
Uemura personally demonstrated his make-up techniques to the public twice a year. He used these demonstrations to introduce his customers to his last Mode Makeup lines. These demonstrations usually took place in Tokyo, London or New York City.
Death
Shu Uemura died of pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
in Tokyo on December 29, 2007. Uemura was 79 years old and was survived by his wife and son. His funeral was held on January 4, 2008.