Last Friday, members of the Imperial Royal family gathered at the Peace Flower Music Hall inside Imperial Palace to attend a concert in celebration of the Empress’ birthday. As might be expected, the Imperial Princesses wore a bevy of petite hats in light colours.
Crown Princess Masako topped her pale beige suit with hat in the same hue (presumably, made of the same fabric!) The crown of the hat, with straight sides and a domed top, was surrounded in a tightly upfolded brim. The only embellishment on the piece was a wide stripe of silk ribbon which edged the brim and gave the piece subtle contrast.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Princess Kiko wore a white silk calot hat trimmed in a wide pleated cuff and flat bow at the back. Her youngest daughter, Princess Kako, wore a pale blue bowler style hat trimmed with a white band and back bow around the base of the crown. Both hats are overly sweet for my liking but are very much in keeping with these Princesses’ millinery styles.
Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: I suspect both hats were new
Princess Hisako (below right, behind Princess Kako) wore a white bowler-style hat with upturned brim around the back. The jaunty brim, similar to that on a Trilby, downplays the dowdy shape of the bowler crown and gives the hat some personality. Hisako’s daughter, Princess Tsuguko, wore a simple apricot coloured hat with embroidered band around the base of the crown. The colour of the hat is quite pretty with her colouring.
Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: Princess Hisako wore this hat July 3, 2014. I believe Princess Tsuguko’s hat is new
We can usually count on Princess Hanako and Princess Nobuko to bring some variety to the Imperial royal hats and they did not disappoint. Both wore hats with lace overlays – Princess Nobuko’s lilac-grey toque style hat was covered in the same grey lace as was used on her dress while Princess Hanako’s pale sage green hat featured a flared brim wrapped in monochrome lace. The use of lace on the brim of Hanako’s hat gave it some much needed textural contrast from the rest of her ensemble and the unusual shape of her hat was a welcome surprise.
Designers: unknown
Previously Worn: Princess Hanako first wore this hat May 19, 2015. I believe Princess Nobuko’s hat is new.
What did you think of this group of Imperial royal hats?
Royal Hats 
Thank you Hat Queen for taking the time during the busy holiday period to meet requests and put together this poll on Japanese Royal hats. I always enjoys your posts on Japanese Royals hats as I find this royal household intriguing and no other bog gives them the coverage you do.
Numbers 12 and 23 are my favourites. I have chosen the hats as I believe they best complement the wearers overall outfit and have a more modern edge than the generally very conservative imperial hats.
Princess Nobuko’s hat is my favourite, followed by Princess Hanako, because their hats are more adventurous, and provide something that lifts their outfits. Princess Masako comes third, and while I like her hat, I think she looks better in colour. All the other ladies have nice hats, but not outstanding hats.
Jake you summed up exactly what I was thinking. Princess Nobuko’s lilac-grey toque style hat is my favorite in this group but all the ladies look elegant. Crown Princess Masako looks lovely and she certainly has an infectious smile. I too want to see that navy pillbox again!
It is so nice to see Crown Princess Masako out and about. I do wish she could wear something different. All the hats are the same of all the ladies of the court. Those same pill box or bowler hats in pale colors or white. Okay, one had green and one had lilac, but the hat’s were not anything different. No picture hats, no fascinators, no wide brims, no feathers, no wild decorations. Plain, simple and very strict. However, Masako’s smile is beautiful!
All Imperial ladies wore appropriate hats and coordinating outfits. I especially appreciate that Princesses Nobuko and Hanako strayed from the solid pastels somewhat and brought more texture to the group.
Always nice to see Masako out and the shape of this hat is wonderful, but when is she going to repeat that gorgeous navy pillbox from a while back? She looks so good in color. Her smile is infectious.
Kiko and Kako both were pretty standard and looked nice, but they never surprise me.
Hisako and Tsuguko, based on what we can tell, looked fantastic. I think Tsuguko is beautiful, and yes, this hat goes great with her complexion.
Finally, Nobuko is going all Queen Mary/Dowager Countess of Grantham in this ensemble, and I love it! And it’s nice to see Hanako back in this lovely sage green hat and outfit (as I hoped for with it’s previous outing); wish we could get a good look at the details on the hat.