In case you couldn't tell after Kanye West repeated it over and over again, the track "Junya" is a direct reference and homage to Junya Watanabe, a world-renowned Japanese fashion designer. Watanabe currently works for Comme des Garçons and has studied under the tutelage of the brand's founder, Rei Kawakubo.
Graduating from Bunka Fashion College in 1984, Watanabe was immediately thrust into the hot seat, working as an apprentice for Kawakubo and Comme des Garçons. In their near-30-year working relationship at the time, Watanabe shockingly revealed to Vogue that Kawakubo has given him little to no feedback and has never given him any praise, despite his worldwide success. "Sometimes, I would like a little more feedback," the fashion designer told the outlet in 2006. "Criticism would be better than silence," he continued.
Despite the odd relationship with his mentor, Watanabe was afforded the opportunity by Kawakubo to create his own fashion line under the Comme des Garçons brand in 1992, and once again in 2000. Vogue described his analytical approach, noting that he "experiments with cutting-edge fabrics and inventive tailoring and draping" and "tends to explore a single motif each season, deconstructing and then reconstructing one lone concept."
