Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, Japan’s Answer to Oprah, Has All the Halloween Inspiration You Need
With only moments to go before tonight’s Halloween celebrations, last-minute planners may feel tempted to cobble together an uninspired costume. Sure, you could cut two holes in your bedsheets and go as a ghost—or you could take inspiration from Japanese television legend Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. At 85, Kuroyanagi is one of Japan’s most beloved celebrities thanks to her long-running talk show Tetsuko no Heya aka Tetsuko’s Room, which has been on the air for four decades. First arriving on the scene in the 1970s, Kuroyanagi offered a bold alternative to the decade’s conservatism with the daring outfits she wore both on and off-duty. To ring in Halloween this year, she went all out with a multi-colored mohawk wig, faux facial tattoos, and a bright blue fur coat—a rebellious get-up that delighted fans and continued her tradition of unexpected and playful fashion.
This brief foray into glam rock territory is one of Kuroyanagi’s best Halloween looks, but every year she has come up with something inventive. In 2017, she transformed into a high fashion panda thanks to dramatic hair and makeup and a pair of diamond-encrusted earrings dedicated to her favorite animal. 2016’s dual costumes—sorceress and lil’ devil, respectively—required a wealth of sequins, jewelry, and ruffles for a luxurious take on witchcraft.
That said, Kuroyanagi has fun getting into character no matter the occasion. On Instagram, she shares glimpses of her impressive and over the top wardrobe, which features everything from the kimonos and intricately patterned Victorian-inspired gowns she wears onstage to a wealth of voluminous Comme des Garçons runway pieces. Worn with flair and her signature jet-black updo, her personal fashions reflect a gleeful eccentricity and the life of a true original. Though she clearly enjoys the thrill of creating an elaborate and spooky ensemble, Kuroyanagi’s eclectic style proves a little fantasy is always welcome no matter your age or the occasion.
