The Imperial royal couple visited the mausoleums of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun (late parents of Emperor Akihito) yesterday at the Musashino Imperial Graveyard in Tokyo. For this customary visit following a foreign tour,  Empress Michiko repeated her stacked grey saucer hat with slim stripe around the trim and flat bow trim.

Designer: Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: November 20, 2013; August 15, 2011;  August 15, 2009; June 22, 2009; August 15, 2008; August 15, 2007; August 15, 2006; August 15, 2005; August 15, 2004; March 17, 2004; August 15, 2003; August 15, 2002; August 15, 2001; August 15, 1995

Later in the day, the Emperor and Empress visited Takao Mikoromo Hall, a Buddhist shine and memorial for victims of industrial accidents during the post-war rapid economic growth of Japan. For this engagement, the Empress repeated her larger scale pale grey saucer hat trimmed with charcoal grey origami flower. This is always an attractive hat on her- the pale grey saucer breaks up the darker grey ensemble and the origami trim gives layered interest to the hat.

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

Photos from Getty as indicated

The Japanese Emperor and Empress touched down in Tokyo Thursday night after their two day trip to Palau. For their trip home, Empress Michiko wore a new navy saucer hat trimmed with a flat fan bow in navy and gold. The hat perfectly matched the Empress’ navy and gold suit and the gold accent on the bow of the hat echoed the sharp contrast of this fabric on her jacket. While the saucer shape follows all of Michiko’s other hats, the bold colour combination and graphic use of the gold accent is another major departure in her millinery style. I think this is a successful departure and, in a great twist of royal hat fortunes, I can’t wait to see what hat Empress Michiko wears next.

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: this hat is new

Photos from Getty as indicated

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan travelled to the South Pacific island of Palau for two days of events commemorating World War II victims. This commemoration precedes the 70th anniversary of Japan’s surrender, which takes place this summer. For their Tokyo departure and arrival on the island on Wednesday, Empress Michiko topped her grey suit and beautiful cream tiered coat with a new cream saucer hat. The hat was trimmed in a pair of flat bows in a crisp cream and grey stripe and some small cream blossoms. I particularly liked how the graphic nature of the hat echoed Michiko’s horizontally tiered coat.

The Japanese Imperial travelled to Miyagi Prefecture last Friday, beginning their three day visit to the area with a stop in Iwanuma, a city seriously impacted by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake. On this day, which included stops at several memorial sites, Empress Michiko wore a black saucer hat topped with folded bows in black silk and black and white hound’s tooth check.

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

The following day, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko took part in The 3rd UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Sendai. For this event, the Empress wore a cream saucer hat with coordinating fan bow sweeping across the front of the hat.

Designer: unknown. Likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this hat is new

Photos from Sankei and Biglobe

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?

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

Photos from Asahi