Princess Kako Pays Respect to First Japanese Emperor

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Royal Hats

On Saturday, Princess Kako visited the resting place of the first Japanese Emperor in Kashihara City to report her coming-of-age. For this visit to Emperor Jimmu (660 BC -585 BC), Princess Kako wore a simple black silk bowler hat with domed crown, upturned brim and monochrome black band around the crown. The hat and long coat provided great contrast to the ivory coat and white hat she wore the previous day for her visit to the Ise Shrine.

Princess Kako, March 7, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: January 16, 2015

Photos from Sankei

Princess Kako Visits Ise Shrine

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Royal Hats

Princess Kako of Akishino visited the Ise Jingu Grand Shrine in Ise City today to report her coming-of-age to the ancestral goddess of Imperial Family, Amaterasu Omikami. Like other female members of the Imperial Family who adhere to a white court dress code when visiting this shrine (see here, here, and here), Princess Kako wore a long ivory coat and small white hat. The hat, comprised of a tall domed crown, short brim and the simplest of embellishment, echoed a familiar hat style we’re used to seeing on her mother, Princess Kiko.

Princess Kako, March 6, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: While it is very similar to some of Princess Kiko’s hats, I believe it is new.

I can’t help being a little disappointed that, like her older sister Princess Mako, Princess Kako’s initial hat style is a replication of her mother’s hat style. I would much rather see her take millinery cues from Princess Hanako!

Photos from Asahi

Imperial Couple Award Science Prize

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Royal Hats

In 2009, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Sciences celebrated the 20th anniversary of Emperor Akihito’s ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne by establishing an award for young researchers. Today in Tokyo, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko awarded the 5th annual Ikushi Prize. For this event, Empress Michiko repeated a petite, dove grey rimmed saucer hat trimmed with pale blue and dove grey layered origami bows. It is not the most vibrant of hats but somehow, it seems fitting for handing out a technology prize, doesn’t it?

Empress Michiko, March 4, 2015 | Royal Hats

Designer: Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: November 15, 2014

Photos from Asahi

Princess Kiko Attends Health Conference

Posted on March 3, 2015 by Royal Hats

On February 27th, Princess Kiko, who is President of the Japanese Anti-Tuberculosis Prevention, attended the 66th Japanese Tuberculosis Prevention Convention in Fukuoka City.

Princess Kiko, February 27, 2015 | Royal Hats

For this event, she repeated a khaki silk patterned pillbox hat made of the same fabric as her suit. The hat was trimmed with a pleated band on the side which echoed the pleated collar of her jacket. Design qualms aside, I think the fabric choice on this pillbox dooms it to a drab and dowdy existence- it ages Princess Kiko well beyond her years and that makes it a failure in my book. Will any of you join me in calling for the retirement of this hat?

Princess Kiko wearing this same hat at an autumn garden party in November 2006

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: November 9, 2006

Photos from Fukuoka Prefecture and Pool/Reuters/Corbis via Corbis

Japanese Princesses In Two Chic Hats

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Royal Hats

On Thursday this week, the Exhibition of Ikebana (traditional Japanese flower arrangement) in Tokyo was attended by Princess Hanako. For this event, the Princess, who is Honorary President of Japan Ikebana Art Association, wore a pale periwinkle blue variation of a bowler hat with raised brim on one side. I am not usually a fan of this hat shape but the asymmetrical raised brim transforms this hat style into something fashionably modern and the colour looks wonderful on Princess Hanako. It’s a rather chic hat, don’t you agree?

Princess Hanako, February 26, 2015 | Royal Hats

Yesterday, Princess Hisako of Hitatchi travelled to Osaka to attend the 9th Japan Bio Venture Awards. Princess Hisako topped her cream suit with a tan felt curved-brim Sailor hat trimmed with a grosgrain ribbon around the crown and feathery ‘claw’ cascading from the back. While the feathery ‘claw’ is not very attractive on its own, I like this hat better with it than I would if it were removed. The Countess of Wessex has a hat with similar trim and both hats benefit from the lift, focus and slight edginess this trim brings. This hat style works very well for Princess Hisako and the combination of her hat, suit and jewellery make for a very stylish ensemble.

Princess Hisako, February 27, 2015 | Royal Hats

I used the words “chic” and “stylish” to describe these two Imperial royal hats- these two Japanese Princesses have certainly stepped up their hat game so far in 2015. Well done!

Photos from Sankei

Royal Hats

The Bold, Beautiful and Bizarre World of Royal Millinery

Category Archives: Japan