Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko embarked on a trip to Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures this week to look at reconstruction carried out since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami devastated the area five years ago. For their arrival on yesterday, the Empress repeated her silver shantung silk rimmed saucer hat with charcoal silk double bow. The first view of the hat shows a better view of the silk covered base than we usually see, answering questions some of you have asked about the material used for the Empress’ saucer hats.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 16, 2015; January 14, 2015;  April 11, 2014; December 6, 2013; December 2, 2013

Photos from The Asahi Shimbun via Getty and The Asahi Shimbun

The Imperial Emperor and Empress continued their visit to the Philippines today, taking in Japanese language classes and visiting a WWII war memorial. Empress Michiko sported two hats over the course of the day, the first a repeated denim blue saucer with gold origami bow. The high contrast punch of this piece puts in among my favourite of Michiko’s hats.

The Imperial royal couple continued their visit to Philippines today, visiting the Tomb of the Fallen Soldiers, laying a wreath at the monument to Philippine national hero Jose Rizal and receiving a ymbolic key of Manila from Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada. For these events, Empress Michiko looked characteristically serene in a large white saucer hat with domed crown and wide rim, decorated with exquisite gray-green silk flowers and leaves. It’s a beautifully delicate piece (even while being one of the Empress’ larger hats) that Michiko wears so very well.