Yohji Yamamoto was born and raised in Tokyo. Yohji originally studied law and graduated with a degree in 1966. He then furthered his studies at Bunka Fashion College in which he attained a degree in fashion design in 1969.

Yohji Yamamoto debuted his first collection in 1981 as a leading fashion designer. Y's by Yohji Yamamoto is a commercially main line that is well-known in Tokyo, and is available in boutiques and department stores worldwide.

Established in 2008, Yohji Yamamoto organized the Yohji Yamamoto Fund for Peace (YYFP), in combination with the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD), to foster the development of China's fashion industry and help the differing between China and Japan. Every year, an aspiring designer is awarded with a two-year scholarship to a fashion college in China or Europe, and a Chinese fashion model is selected to make their debut on the runway in Paris.

Known for his avant-garde way of thinking, Yohji Yamamoto continually finds creative ways to stay away from trend-driven styles season after season. His signature silhouettes include a black top draped, cascaded or twisted into unique shapes that one would never think of.

Yamamoto's work has become known to consumers through his partnership with various brands and artists of diverse genres.