Sebastian Masuda | |
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Born | Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan | August 7, 1970
Occupation(s) | Artist, art director, and producer |
Sebastian Masuda (増田 セバスチャン, Masuda Sebasuchan, born August 7, 1970), is a Japanese artist, art director, and producer of the Harajuku shop 6%DOKIDOKI. Born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He has been active from 1995 to current day.[1][2]
He has directed and designed performances for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.[3][4] He is known as a pioneer of kawaii culture and often referred to as the "king of kawaii"[5] or "father of kawaii"[6]
Masuda was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He began his career in the world of theater and contemporary art, but in 1995, Sebastian opened 6%DOKIDOKI in Ura-Harajuku.[7][8] Celebrities have visited 6%DOKIDOKI, including Conan O'Brien,[9] and clothing and accessories have been worn by BLACKPINK, and Nicki Minaj.[10][4]
He was the art director for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's Pon Pon Pon music video in 2011, which garnered international attention.[3][11] He designed the Kawaii Monster Cafe in Harajuku,[12][13] which had been a tourist destination, including visits from celebrities Kim Kardashian,[14] singer Dua Lipa and Jenny of K-pop’s Blackpink.[15] and "Miracle Gift Parade" to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the opening of Sanrio Puroland.[16]
In 2014, he began his first solo exhibition Colorful Rebellion -Seventh Nightmare- in New York.[17]
In 2017, he was appointed as a Cultural Envoy by the Agency for Cultural Affairs and he has lived in the Netherlands while producing artwork, he has traveled to the African continent doing workshops and lectures.[18] He is a visiting professor for Kyoto University of Art and Design and Yokohama College of Art and Design.[19] He was also a visiting scholar at the Department of East Asian Studies at NYU[20]