Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan continued their visit to the Niigata Prefecture on the island of Honshu yesterday with visits to a rehabilitation center and the Kariyatagawa Disaster Prevention Park. The Empress repeated a petite dark slate blue disk hat trimmed with a large looped bow in the same fabric as her skirt. I am always happy to see Michiko in patterns or colour and to get both on the same day is a double win in my book.
Designer: I suspect Akio Hirata Previously Worn:October 27, 2013
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are on a three day visit to Niigata Prefecture to attend the 65th National Tree-Planting Festival. Yesterday, the Imperial couple visited the Jomon Pottery museum in Nagaoka City. Empress Michiko wore a very pretty Wedgewood blue large saucer hat with coordinating bow trim. It looks like this hat also had a stripe of white to coordinate with the white sleeve on Michiko’s suit- an ingenious and unique touch.
Today, their Imperial Highnesses took in the 65th National Tree-Planting Festival. The Empress debuted another new hat, a large white saucer with bows in black gingham and lime green to coordinate with her suit jacket. The black gingham and lime green colour combination is a departure for Empress Michiko and I thought it looked fresh and very summery.
A number of you have asked how Empress Michiko keeps her saucer hats from falling off. The photo below reveals this logistic secret.
Designer: I suspect Akio Hirata Previously Worn: I believe this is a new hat
The Imperial Household Agency announced the engagement of Princess Noriko of Takamado to Mr. Kunimaro Senge today. Mr. Senge is the eldest son of the chief priest of Izumo-taisha grand shrine in Shimane Prefecture; the wedding will be held in Izumo Taisha in October. The happy couple attended a press conference today where Princess Noriko looked radiant in a bubblegum pink satinbowler hat.
Princess Mako of Akishinono attended a war memorial service this morning at Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo. She looked very smart in a quirky little black hat with squared crown and tightly upturned brim
Last Monday, Empress Michiko attended a memorial for Akio Hirata, the millinery who designed hats for Her Imperial Majesty since 1966. In tribute, she wore a pale grey saucer made by Hirata for the event.
Designer: Akio Hirata Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new
Royal Hats 