Princess Akiko of Mikasa visited Yamagata Prefecture late last week where one of her engagements included presenting awards at the Japanese Chess Championship in Tendo City. For this event, she wore a pale pink cloche hat that looks to be trimmed with a bow on the side. We have not seen Princess Akiko in a cloche shape before and while I don’t think it is the best shape for her, I’m thrilled to see any hint of millinery experimentation in the Imperial family.
Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I suspect this is a new hat
Photo from Yamagata News
Royal Hats 
Princess Akiko’s hat and clothes look good except the hat seems a bit too big for her.
i wonder if there’s been some turnover within the Imperial Household Agency, or at least the portion that handles wardrobe. There’s been tremendous improvement in the hats of princesses lately! This cloche isn’t the absolute best fit for her, but I’ve never seen proportions this good on the Mikasa princess before.
I like cloche hats, especially the ones Queen Silvia of Sweden wears, and I do like Princess Akiko of Mikasa’s hat, but I feel it is a bit too low on her face. The pale pink color of her hat and outfit is very flattering on her.
HatQueen – I am rather new to following royal hats and clothing and am fascinated by the very restrictive court dress code that the Japanese Imperial family must follow. Could you provide a source of more detailed information about this? For example, is it written down? Who is actually making the decisions? I’ve looked around the internet with no luck. Thanks.
Hi Christina. The Imperial Household Agency approve what the Japanese Imperial family wear. Here are some links if you want to read more.
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/eindex.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Household_Agency
http://www.japanfocus.org/-Herbert_P_-Bix/1936/article.html
Thanks for the links TiarasrUs, they made interesting reading.