Category Archives: Japan

Japanese Imperial Couple Host Vietnamese State Visit

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On  March 17th,  Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan welcomed the President of Vietnam, Mr. Truong Tan Sang, and his wife on a state visit to Japan. While Empress Michiko wore one of her regular saucer hats, this one was larger than we often see on her. Trimmed with white blossoms, green leaves and what looks like a grey ribbon bow, this austere black hat was lightened (no mourning here) to a rather attractive hat. That being said,  I think I may have preferred this black and white hat with the black jacket and hound’s tooth skirt the Empress wore for this state welcome. What do you think?

Empress Michiko, March 17, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: I believe this is a new hat. 

Photo from the Imperial Family of Japan

Japanese Royals in Brazil

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Japan’s Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko travelled to Brazil last week  for an official visit related to the 140th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between these two countries. On Monday, January 27, 2014, the royal couple put a wreath at Commemorative Monument to Japanese Inmigration to Peru at Campo de Marte in Lima. Princess Kiko wore a smart white square-crowned hat with small upturned brim for this event.

Princess Kiko, January 27, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Last Friday,  Princess Kiko payed homage to Argentina’s national hero Gen. Jose de San Martin in Buenos Aires. She wore a similarly shaped hat in black with a wide velvet band around the crown. Neither of these hats are particularly interesting- a slight disappointment after the vibrant and more daring hats we saw from the Japanese royal ladies at New Year (see here and here).

Princess Kiko, January 31, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

What do you think of these two hats?

Photos from Andino via Corbis and Corbis

Princess Hisako Opens Tablewear Festival

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Princess Hisako of Takamado attended the opening ceremony of 2014 Tableware Festival 2014 yesterday in Tokyo. She wore an oxblood wool suit with matching hat; the hat was unembellished except for a flat, upturned charcoal grey brim. I do not like beanie shaped hats for royal occasions and I’m afraid this hat does not change my opinion. What do you think?

Princess Hisako, February 2, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Photo from The Imperial Family of Japan

 

Japanese Royals Open Ski Competition

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On Sunday, Prince Masahito and Princess Hanako of Hitachi attended the opening ceremony of the 64th Chubu Region Ski Championship of Japan held in Katsuyama City. Princess Hanako repeated a cream coloured bowler style hat with bow trim. It is a rather sedate hat that does not excite me very much. However, its pairing with her lovely royal blue dress worked better than the last two outfits it was paired with so I’ll be happy and leave it at that. What do you think of this hat?

Princess Hanako, January 26, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: November 24, 2013; November 25, 2013

Photo from the Imperial Family of Japan

Imperial New Year’s Poetry Reading 2014

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The annual ceremony of New Year’s Poetry Reading (Utakai Hajime) was held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The Japanese royal ladies attended this event in court dress, just as they did the annual New Years lectures last week.

Imperial Family, January 15, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Empress Michiko, at far left, did not wear a hat. To her right is: Princess Kiko in a grey embroidered calot; Princess Hanako in a marvelous green pillbox wrapped in green fur (or maribou?) studded with wispy grey feathers; Princess Akiko in a pale pink calot; Princess Hisako in a royal blue bumper hat; and Princess Noriko in an embellished terra-cotta orange brimless pork pie hat. It is marvelous to see the ladies in some colour and hats with a bit of personality, isn’t it?!

Photo from The Imperial Family of Japan