Prince and Princess Hitachi Support Youth Innovation

Prince Hitachi and Princess Hanako of Japan visited a children’s invention club exhibition at Shiga Prefecture Gymnasium yesterday and  today in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan.  Both days, Princess Hanako wore a cream wool bowler style hat with large wool bow at the front of the hat. I though the hat was great (and quite a departure for a member of the Imperial Royal Family) but I am not convinced it was the right hat to pair with her black and pea green suit jacket.

Princes Hanako, Nov. 24, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Princes Hanako, Nov. 24, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Today, Hanako paired this hat with what looks to be a chocolate brown suit. The colour is not exciting but I think it is better hue for this hat. What do you think?

Princes Hanako, Nov. 25, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Photo from Asahi Shimbun via Getty and Imperial Family of Japan

Catching Up With the Imperial Royal Family

In the midst of a month filled with royal events around the world, I apologize, dear readers, that I have not kept up with the Japanese Imperial Family’s engagements. On November 1, the Emperor and Empress attended at Sophia University’s 100th Anniversary. Empress Michiko wore another one of her signature saucer hats, this one in cream with a charcoal grey trailing flower. With her cream and charcoal graphic suit, the overall look was quite smart.

Empress Michiko, Nov. 1, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

On November 6th, the Imperial Family hosted a tea party for the recipients of the Order of Culture and persons of cultural merits. While Empress Michiko and Princess Kiko wore traditional kimonos, Crown Princess Masako, wore a beautiful creamy pink silk coat dress and matching bumper-style hat. Ordinarily, I would find this hat in need of something – a little embellishment or pop of colour to liven it up. On Masako (who attended this event for the first time in ten years), I thought it was just right.

Crown Princess Masako, Nov. 6, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Crown Princess Masako, Nov. 6, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Crown Princess Masako, Nov. 6, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

And finally, on November 11th, Empress Michiko, Princess Kiko and Princess Akiko of Mikasa attended the 474th Concert of Shichikukai at Toka Gakudo, the music hall of Imperial Palace.  Princess Kiko wore a very pale grey hat with wide folded brim while Princess Akiko wore a white bowler style hat with pink ribbon around the crown.

Princess Kiko and Princess Akiko, Nov. 11, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Princess Kiko and Princess Akiko, Nov. 11, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Thanks to reader Owen for his assistance updating these events.

Photos from Imperial Family of Japan,  Imperial Family of Japan and Imperial Family of Japan

Catching Up With the Japanese Crown Princess

Yes… you read the headline correctly. Crown Princess Masako of Japan attended two official engagements in mid October! Because we are not used to seeing her in public, I totally missed reporting these events when the occurred. First up was the opening ceremony of the national sports festival for handicapped athletes at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium on the 12th of October. Masako wore a caramel wool felt bowler style hat with wide grosgrain ribbon trim around the brim. While I was not partial to the colour of Masako’s hat and suit, I really liked that ribbon trim around her hat’s brim.

Crown Princess Masako, October 12, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Crown Princess Masako, October 12, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

On October 18, Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako attend the opening ceremony of the Global Environment Action conference, also in Tokyo. Masako wore a square crowned hat in cream straw with a small brim. I liked how the brim was turned down in the front but folded up in the back, similar to a trilby hat brim. It was another demure hat but I think it looked great on Maskao. I don’t want to read too much into these photographs but there seems to be a genuine spark back in Masako’s smile and that is worth a million royal hats.

Crown Princess Masako, October 18, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Crown Princess Masako, October 18, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Crown Princess Masako, October 18, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Photos from Asahi Shimbun via Asahi Digital; Asahi Shimbun and Asahi Shimbun via Getty; and Imperial Family of Japan

Catching Up with the Japanese Empress

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan hosted an autumn garden party at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo yesterday. Empress Michiko wore a new petite white saucer hat trimmed with origami ribbon blossoms and hand painted flower stems.

Empress Michiko, Oct. 31, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Princess Kiko, Princess Hanako of Hitachi, Princess Yoko of Mikasa and Princesses Tsuguko and Noriko of Takamado also were in attendance (from left to right below).

Empress Michiko, Oct. 31, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Empress Michiko, Oct. 31, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

On Monday (October 28), The Emperor and Empress visited Kumamoto prefecture. Our cries for Empress Michiko to wear more colour must have been heard because she wore cerulean blue!  Her hat, another one of her petite saucers, was adorned only with a very simple bow but I’m not complaining because the colour was just lovely on the Empress. Happy claps!

Empress Michiko, Oct. 28, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Photos from FNN News, Imperial Family of Japan, and Kyodo via The Japan Times

Japanese Empress Visits Hospital and Museum

Empress Michiko of Japan had a busy weekend of  health care related engagements. On Saturday, she and Emperor Akihito visited with leprosy patients in the Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium. For this visit, Michiko repeated the same petite pale grey saucer hat with bow and navy ribbons we saw her wear last month.

Empress Michiko, Oct. 26, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog Empress Michiko, Oct. 26, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Previously Worn: August 8, 2013

On Sunday, the Imperial couple visited the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum and Monument honoring all those who suffered Minamata disease (a neurological disorder discovered in the 1950s. It was caused by mercury poisoning from a chemical plant near the city of Minamata). Empress Michiko wore what looks like a new hat (although I do have significant trouble keeping all of her grey saucer hats apart). This hat was another petite saucer, this time in a darker charcoal grey and trimmed with a unique black and white origami bow,

Empress Michiko, Oct. 27, 2013 | The Royal Hats Blog

Last time we saw the Empress, a number of you asked if there was a reason behind her grey wardrobe. Michiko occasionally wears green, peach, lilac, yellow, blue, dark blue, and even red (gasp!) but even these pops of colour seem to be sparingly inserted in between much grey and cream. I have a hunch the colour choices simply reflect the very conservative nature of the Japanese royal establishment but that is just conjecture on my part. Can anyone else offer some insight?

Photos from TBS News, Imperial Family of Japan and FNN News