VMAX design legend Kenji Ekuan dies

85-year old was behind many famous Yamahas

KENJI Ekuan might not be a name that springs to mind alongside the likes of Massimo Tamburini but it should – he was the founder of GK Design back in 1957, and remained chairman until his death on Saturday.

GK has been responsible for a huge number of Yamahas, from the VMax to motocrossers, as well as other industrial design icons like Bullet Trains. And Ekuan had a personal hand in many of them as well as steering the company as a whole to become of the world’s leading design consultancies.

He died on Saturday, aged 85, due to a heart problem.

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