Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan traveled to Nara Prefecture on Saturday to begin a three-day visit in the area. For the first day of their visit, where they met Asuka Town residents affected by floods in 2011, Empress Michiko wore a dove grey saucer hat. The hat had a slightly raised rim and was trimmed with a large, layered origami bow.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I think this hat is new

On Sunday, the Imperial couple attended the 34th National Meeting for Healthy Ocean, held in Kawakami Village. For this event, the main reason for the couple’s visit, Empress Michiko repeated a petite, flat cream saucer hat trimmed the bows which coordinated with her black and white houdstooth suit set.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: October 11, 2014; November 29, 2013

For the final day of this trip today, The Emperor and Empress visted the oldest Shinto Shrine in Japan, Omiwa Shrine in Sakurai City. Empress Michiko wore a pale beige rimmed saucer hat trimmed with a bow in the same fabric as her suit jacket.

Designer: likely Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I think this hat is new

While the hats worn by the Empress on this trip are fairly neutral ones in shapes we have seen her in many times, I was intrigued by the coloured scarves she added to her suits yesterday and today. It’s lovely to see even little flashes of colour in her wardrobe! What do you think of this trio of saucer hats worn in Nara Precture?

Photos from 47news; Sankei; Asahi Shimbun; and Sankei

Empress of Michiko of Japan celebrated her 80th birthday earlier this week, a milestone which provides us a wonderful opportunity to look back through her history of interesting hats. Click on any of the photos below to link with the photo’s original source (which usually includes the date the photo was taken and a larger version of the photo).

Michiko Shōda was born in Tokyo on October 20, 1934 and married Crown Prince Akihito (as was his title at the time) in 1959. The first period of her millinery style, through the 1960s and 1970s, certainly reflected the fashion of the day.

The next period in Michiko’s millinery style began when she started working with Japanese milliner Akio Hirata. As Hirata provided hats for Michiko in the shapes popular in 1980s fashion, the hat style that we all now associate with the Empress began to emerge.

When Akihito and Michiko became Emperor and Empress of Japan in 1990, Michiko’s distinctive hat style was well established. During her first decade as Empress, flowers were the dominant motif embellishing Michiko’s hats and there was much play with colour.

Since 2000, we have seen another type of trim on Empress Michiko’s hats in a series of origami inspired bows and folded embellishments.

I can’t think of a contemporary royal who has such a consistent and distinctive personal millinery style. While it might not appeal to everyone, we can probably all agree that it is elegant, refined and perhaps even a little quirky in its own way. What I appreciate about Michiko’s millinery style is that it appears to both balance and reflect her royal status, her quiet personality and her culture, three things that I suspect might be difficult to do with one’s hat.

I am curious to hear your thoughts on Empress Michiko’s history of hats, dear readers. Are there any in particular that you would claim for your own closet? Are you warming to Michiko’s petite saucers, pillboxes and percher hats?

The Empress released an interview about her life earlier this week- you can read the English translation here. Her words are thoughtful and give profound insight into her royal life- I highly recommend it.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko began a two day visit to Nagasaki yesterday. The Imperial Couple began their trip with a visit to Peace Park in Nagasaki City (the park commemorating the atomic bombing of the Nagasaki on August 9, 1945). Empress Michiko repeated her white petite saucer hat trimmed with white, black and hound’s tooth checked bows coordinating with her suit. We seldom see Michiko in strong colours or patterns and she wears this checked print well. The black and white ensemble also struck just the right note for the memorial visit.

Designer: I suspect Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: November 29, 2013

Later in the day, the Emperpor and Empress attended the opening ceremony of The 69th National Sports Festival in Isahaya City. Empress Michiko repeated a pale blue saucer hat trimmed with folded bow. The rim of the saucer hat was upturned around the back, giving a slight variation on the Empress’ signature hat style. Blue is a great colour for her, don’t you think?

Designer: Again, I suspect Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: May 16, 2012

Photos from Sankei and Asahi Shimbun

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan traveled to Miyagi prefecture yesterday where they began a three-day visit.

The Imperial couple continued their long-time support of leprosy by visiting a national leper house in Tome City.  Empress Michiko repeated one of her mini-pillbox hats in white, trimmed with a white and slate blue folded fabric bow. The bow coordinated with the lapel on her suit jacket to create another harmonious ensemble.

Designer: Akio Hirata 
Previously Worn: July 14, 2009

Photos from The Imperial Family of Japan and The Asahi Shimbun via Getty