Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko concluded their visit to Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures last Friday with a visit to Tohoku University where they continued to look at reconstruction initiatives carried out since the great earthquake and tsunami which devastated the area in 2011. For this engagement, the Empress  repeated a small saucer hat in the same black and white mini-check as her suit. The first time we saw this hat, the blocked bow was adorned with small blossoms which were removed for this outing. The result is a more streamlined hat that I think works better with the graphic bow- what do you think?

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: January 19, 2015

Photo from Getty as indicated

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko embarked on a trip to Fukushima and Miyagi Prefectures this week to look at reconstruction carried out since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami devastated the area five years ago. For their arrival on yesterday, the Empress repeated her silver shantung silk rimmed saucer hat with charcoal silk double bow. The first view of the hat shows a better view of the silk covered base than we usually see, answering questions some of you have asked about the material used for the Empress’ saucer hats.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: April 16, 2015; January 14, 2015;  April 11, 2014; December 6, 2013; December 2, 2013

Photos from The Asahi Shimbun via Getty and The Asahi Shimbun

The Imperial Emperor and Empress continued their visit to the Philippines today, taking in Japanese language classes and visiting a WWII war memorial. Empress Michiko sported two hats over the course of the day, the first a repeated denim blue saucer with gold origami bow. The high contrast punch of this piece puts in among my favourite of Michiko’s hats.