Tag Archives: Empress Michiko

Imperial Couple at Tree Planting Festival

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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are on a three day visit to Niigata Prefecture to attend the 65th National Tree-Planting Festival. Yesterday, the Imperial couple  visited the Jomon Pottery museum in Nagaoka City. Empress Michiko wore a very pretty Wedgewood blue large saucer hat with coordinating bow trim. It looks like this hat also had a stripe of white to coordinate with the white sleeve on Michiko’s suit- an ingenious and unique touch.

Empress Michiko, May 31, 2014 | Royal HatsDesigner: I suspect Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: While this hat is very similar to the hat she wore for the April 18, 2014 garden party, I think they are slightly different and this is a new hat.

Today, their Imperial Highnesses took in the 65th National Tree-Planting Festival. The Empress debuted another new hat, a large white saucer with bows in black gingham and lime green to coordinate with her suit jacket. The black gingham and lime green colour combination is a departure for Empress Michiko and I thought it looked fresh and very summery.

Empress Michiko, June 1, 2014 | Royal Hats

A number of you have asked how Empress Michiko keeps her saucer hats from falling off. The photo below reveals this logistic secret.

Empress Michiko, June 1, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: I suspect Akio Hirata
Previously Worn: I believe this is a new hat

What do you think of these two new royal hats?

Photos from The Imperial Family of Japan

Japanese Royal Ladies in Blue Hats for National Meetings

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On Thursday, Empress Michiko attended the Annual National Convention of Japanese Red Cross Society held in Tokyo. The Empress, who is honorary president of the Japanese Red Cross Society, wore a large white saucer hat trimmed with grey flowers and leaves. I thought the flower embellishment on this hat was especially pretty.

Empress Michiko, May 15, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: uncertain. I think this might be a new hat. 

Also on Thursday, Princess Hanako of Hitachi visited Utsunomiya City in Tochi Prefecture to attend the opening ceremony of the exhibition of Ikebana (Japanese traditional flower arrangement). Princess Hanako, who is the honorary president of Japan Ikebana Association, repeated her pale blue silk bumper hat with rolled brim. I am not a fan of this hat (see this closeup of the blue and white spaghetti noodles that look to be stuck on the side of this hat) but from this distance, Princess Hanako looks rather refined and elegant.

Princess Hanako, May 15, 2014 | Royal Hats

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: August 7, 2013

Photos from The Imperial Family of Japan and The Imperial Family of Japan

Imperial Couple Welcome US President

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Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko formally welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo today. The Empress repeated a hat from her recent tour of India- this large white saucer hat trimmed with a large green leaf and cascading pink petals. Our view of this hat today shows that unlike many of Michikos saucer hats which are completely flat, this hat has a gently rounded crown. I love that this hat has more of a traditional hat shape, and am always happy to see the Empress in some colour. The larger size of this hat also suits her very well, don’t you think?

Empress Michiko, April 24, 2014 | The Royal Hats Blog

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Designer: unknown
Previously Worn: December 2, 2013

Imperial Family Attends Spring Garden Party

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Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted a Spring Imperial Garden Party at Akasaka Gyoen Imperial Garden yesterday. The Empress, shown leading the Imperial Family to the party below, wore a pale blue saucer hat trimmed with a large bow. When it comes to Michiko’s saucer hats, I think bigger is better and any departure away from her preferred grey ensembles is a winner for me. 

Embed from Getty Images
Embed from Getty Images

Princess Kiko and Princess Mako of Akishino (The Emperor and Empress’ daughter-in-law and granddaughter) wore a pair of traditionally shaped hats. Princess Kiko’s hat in fresh green included several coordinating bands around the crown while Princess Mako’s white bowler was trimmed with a band of yellow ribbon studded with yellow flowers.

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Three of the Takamado Princesses, seen at the top left in the photo below, were also in attendance. Princess Hisako wore a jaunty beige-cream bowler with squared crown and large spray of flowers and feathers on the side. I thought this hat came to life with this embellishment and while the colour was a little bland, made it a fun hat. Princess Hisako’s eldest daughter, Princesses Tsuguko, wore a navy pillbox with pork pie indented crown. The photo above shows a rather twee bow on the back of this hat- an embellishment I think this hat would be better without. Tsuguko’s younger sister, Princess Noriko, wore a pale butter yellow hat with what looks to be a mass of ribbon blooms at the back (see the photo above for a better look). While the shape and colour of this hat were rather nondescript, the ribbon flowers made it come to life and Noriko gave it some additional personality by wearing it at a a slight angle.

Embed from Getty Images

Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko (nieces of Emperor Akihito), rounded up this Imperial group. Princess Yoko, seen in blue in the center of the photo above, wore a white hat trimmed with blue puffs (carnations? pompoms?) to match her suit. Princess Akiko, seen below at the right, wore a dove grey pillbox.

Embed from Getty Images

The hats yesterday were all rather predictable but together, made up a lovely bouquet of millinery in classic spring colours. Are there any hats that stood out to you as your favourite?

Imperial Royal Family, April 17, 2014 | Royal Hats

Photos from Getty as shown and Asahi Shimbun via Getty