Industrial designer Kenji Ekuan, creator of the iconic Kikkoman soy sauce bottle, dies at 86

Kenji Ekuan, the industrial designer behind the iconic Kikkoman soy sauce bottle, has passed away. Born in 1929, he died in 2015. His most famous design, the upside-down funnel-shaped bottle with a red cap, was created for Kikkoman in 1961 and is now part of the Museum of Modern Art's collection. In 1957, Ekuan established GK Industrial Design Associates, a firm that also developed the Komachi high-speed trains and motorcycles for Yamaha. Beyond his design career, Ekuan was a Buddhist monk. His work spanned multiple industries, blending functionality with aesthetic appeal, and his contributions have left a lasting impact on industrial design globally.