Category Archives: Japan

Princess Hisako Presents Rubber Ball Championship Cup

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Last Wednesday, Princess Hisako of Takamado attended the  All Japan Junior Rubber Ball Championship (similar to baseball, this sport is played with a rubber ball called a nanshiki, which is lighter than a regular baseball and does not travel as far). Princess Hisako presented the Takamado Cup (named after her late husband Prince Norihito, a longtime supporter of sport) in light straw summer hat. Similar to the piece she wore at the boat cutter races in early August, this piece featured cut outs of wide, open-weave straw on the upturned brim and around the top of the crown. The hat was simply trimmed with several flat curling bows made of straw.

Princess Hisako, August 12, 2015 | Royal Hats

This is much more casual hat than we usually see worn by an Imperial Royal and makes me curious, dear readers- what do you think of it?

Photo from Sankei

Mikassa Princess Visits Yamagata

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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.

Princess Akiko, August 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I suspect this is a new hat

Photo from Yamagata News 

Empress Michiko Presents Nightingale Medal

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Empress Michiko, who is Honorary President of the Japanese Red Cross Society, presented the Florence Nightingale Medal Awards on Wednesday in Tokyo. For this ceremony, the Empress repeated the white saucer hat with blue twist trim we saw her first début last week. This event gives us a better view of the hat, which I think is a wonderful compliment to her slate blue and white suit.
Empress Michiko, August 5, 2015 | Royal HatsEmpress Michiko, August 5, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: my guess is Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: July 26, 2015

Photos from Asahi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun via Getty

Takamado Princess Attends Boat Race

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On Sunday, Princess Hisako of Takamado fullfilled her role as Honorary President of the Japan Sea Cadet Federation by attending a cutter boat race held by the organization in Tokyo. For the event, she wore a light straw hat with open weave detail on the brim and top of the crown. It’s a lovely detail that works so well with the hat, which was made of cream straw woven in a linear pattern. I particularly like the open weave paired with the upturned edge of the hat’s brim. It’s quite a smart hat on Hisako, isn’t it?

Princess Hisako of Takamado, August 2, 2015 | Royal Hats   Princess Hisako of Takamado, August 2, 2015 | Royal Hats

Photos from FNN News 

Imperial Couple Visit Toyota Factory

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After returning to Tokyo earlier this week, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited the Toyota factory in Toyota City. The purpose of the visit was to see steps in the production of the “Mirai”, Toyota’s car powered by hydrogen fuel. Empress Michiko repeated the hat she débuted early last month, thankfully providing us a much better view.

Empress Michiko, July 27, 2015 | Royal Hats

Made up of stacked white and grey flat disks, the bottom grey disk is covered in silver fishnet which lends a subtle sheen to the piece. The hat is trimmed with a flat white and grey bow behind which are tucked some silk leaves and flowers. From the closer view I have tried to provide below, the hat is much more adorned than many of the hats Michiko has worn in recent years.

Empress Michiko, July 27, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: June 3, 2015;  May 26, 2015

While I love to see Michiko’s hat style expanding by even the tiniest of steps, I’m a little perplexed by the choice of this particular piece with her boldly patterned hound’s tooth check coat. The Empress has a number of hats with hound’s tooth check trims (see here, here, and here) and I would have expected her to pair this coat with one of those hats, which would have coordinated more directly.

Photo from Asahi Shimbun via Getty