After a successful 3-day visit to the Philippines, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko returned home to Japan on Saturday. For their departure, the Empress repeated a grey saucer hat with bow trim. While a nice enough hat, it pales in comparison to the other pieces we saw her wear during the Philippine visit.
Designer: Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: June 10, 2015; May 16, 2015
The royal couple were met by family members at Tokyo airport. Princess Kiko wore a simple black felt hat with upturned brim while Princess Mako repeated a chocolate bowler hat. Princess Kako topped her military-style beige coat in a dark felt hat with flat brim, straight-sided crown and simple ribbon trim while Princess Nobuko wore a stylish navy felt cloche variation with asymmetrical upturned brim and cream sash around the base of the crown. Crown Princess Masako wore a more traditionally shaped cloche in the same winter white as her coat, trimmed with a wide ribbon and side bow.
Princess Yoko repeated a black bowler with jade green bow trim (see a clearer view here during a previous outing) while Princess Hisako topped her rust coat with a flat crowned black felt hat that looks to have feather trim on the side. I strongly suspect that Princess Tsuguko repeated the chic winter white wool fedora that wowed many of us at the Emperor and Empress’ departure last week (see it here).
That wraps up a successful Philippine visit for the Imperial couple. My favourite hat worn on this tour was the white saucer with pale blue flowers that Empress Michiko wore on the second day. Which hat on this foreign visit stood out most to you?
Photos from Getty as indicated; EPA/Francis R. Malasig; Asahi; NNN News and ANN News
Royal Hats 
My favourite hat during the entire overseas trip and the farewell and welcome back, is still Princess Tsuguko’s winter white wool fedora. The next best hat was Crown Princess Masako’s hat, and I think she looks great in that cloche in the same winter white as her coat.
I love CP Masako’ s hat and coat. She really looks fabulous and stood out at both the good-bye and the welcome back.
As an aside I loved seeing how HIM managed the transition between the different climates so seamlessly with her clothing choices. Awesome!
I have to agree with HatQueen that the winner for the trip was the gorgeous hat on day 2 proving once again that variety is the spice of life!
The Empress looks wonderful. Family members greeted the Imperial couple’s return at the airport. No close ups of Princess Yoko or the Takamado princesses’ hats though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPXfy79enbw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gXksXjWdV0
Certainly not as exciting as some of her other hats, but HIM still looks great here, and definitely is one of the best to pull off grey.
Concerning the update: I’ve gotten used to the Princesses wearing pillboxes so often, it’s interesting how they all brought out variations on the cloche this time. All very chic, but Masako, Kako, and Nobuko are the winners in my opinion.