Members of the Imperial Royal Family attended a music recital today in the Imperial Palace’s Peach Bloom Music Hall performed by the graduating students of five university music programs. This event brought out a number of new hats on their first outings. Crown Princess Masako’s  hat, with a domed crown and and upfolded brim, was covered in pink silk and edged with pointed pink lace trim around the edge of the brim. The same lace edged her jacket, tying the ensemble together. We don’t commonly see lace trim used in this way on royal hats and while it is almost too sweet, it gives some much needed texture to this new hat.

Princess Kiko and her daughter, Princess Kako, both chose new brimless white hats. Pricess Kiko’s rounded pillbox was made of the same same embroidered white silk as her jacket. The wave pattern, embroidered into the fabric, tied the two pieces together and gave a little interest to the perimeter of the otherwise plain hat. Princess Kako’s bumper hat was trimmed by a silk ribbon wedged between the brim and crown of the hat. The same ribbon was used for a flat bow at the back.

As usual, the remaining Imperial princesses showed a little more colour and variety in their millinery. Princess Hanako of Hitachi wore a new brimless teal bumper hat in the same fabric as her suit jacket. The bumper shape, which creates a rolled ‘ring’ around the hat’s crown, and the ruched fabric wrapped around the side of the hat, gave this petite piece considerable interest and movement. I thought the colour was particularly becoming on Princess Hanako.

Princess Nobuko of Mikasa wore a navy hat with curled brim and large, multi-looped bow on the side. The brim was slightly raised on one side, giving the illusion of a jaunty, diagonal brim. Princess Akiko of Mikasa wore a pale pink with squared crown. The hat looks to have a very petite flared brim, making it look like a very modern version of a cloche and giving marvellous contrast to her feminine, ruffled suit.

Princess Hisako of Takamado (seen behind Princess Akiko, above) wore a simple black felt boater style hat. The hat was trimmed in a dark olive green crushed silk band that coordinated with her suit. While I think this ensemble is also new, I believe it is a replica of the purple and black ensemble we saw Princess Hisako wear back in December. 

Photos from FNN News and Sankei