Tag Archives: Sayako Kuroda

Imperial Royals Mark Passing of Princes

Posted on by

June 6 marked the fifth anniversary of the death of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa. As per tradition, a ‘grave festival’ was held at Toshima Oka cemetery in Tokyo. The Imperial family was led at this event by the late Prince Tomohito and Princess Nobuko’s daughters Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko; their grandmother, Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince and Princess Akishino were also in attendance with the women in veiled black bumper hats and the men in morning dress, carrying silk top hats.

Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats

Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats Princess Yurko of Mikasa, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats

Prince Naruhito, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats

The event was also attended by former princesses Mrs. Sayako Kuroda (Prince Naruhito’s sister, the former Princess Nori) and Mrs. Noriko Senge (former Princess Noriko of Takamado) who repeated the dress code of pale grey dresses topped with black veiled bumper hats.

Mrs. Sayako Kuroda and Mrs. Noriko Senge, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats

Today, a similar event was held at the same cemetery and shrine, this time to mark the third anniversary of the passing of Yoshihito, Prince Katsura. Similar black, veiled bumper hats were worn again for this event by Princess Yoriko of Mikasa (Prince Katura’s mother), Princess Kiko and Mrs. Sayako Kuroda. Again, Crown Prince Naruhito attended in morning dress, carrying a black silk top hat.

 Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats Crown Prince Naruhito, June 6, 2017 | Royal Hats

 Princess Kiko, June 8, 2017 | Royal Hats Princess Kiko, June 8, 2017 | Royal Hats

Mrs. Sayako Kuroda, June 8, 2017 | Royal Hats

The attendance of Sayako Kurado and Noriko Senge at these events feels noteworthy. Since the 1947 Imperial Household Law, Japanese princesses have lost their royal status upon marriage – until recently, former princesses did not attend royal events and appeared to be completely cut off from their royal relations. While these were family events (and as such, follow different rules than official Imperial ones), Princess Mako’s upcoming engagement announcement has started chatter about revising this law to allow Imperial princesses to retain some of their status (especially with a single male in the current young generation). I can’t help but hope that the appearance of Sayako and Noriko this week is a sign that, at the very least, the inpterpretation of this law is starting to change.

Imperial Royals Remember Prince Katsura

Posted on by

This week marked the first anniversary since the passing of Prince Katsura. On Monday, members of the Japanese royal family gathered at the Imperial Cemetary in Tokyo to take part in a memorial service. The Imperial princesses paid respect in mourning dress with veiled black pillbox and bumper hats.

Princess Yuriko of Mikasa, June 8, 2015 | Royal HatsThe late Prince’s parents, Prince Takahito and Princess Yuriko of Mikasa

Princess Yoko and Princess Akiko of Mikasa, June 8, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Yoko and Princess Akiko of Mikasa

Princess Tsuguko, June 8, 2015 | Royal Hats   Princess Hisako, June 8, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Tsuguko with her mother, Princess Hisako of Takamado

Princess Kiko, June 8, 2015 | Royal Hats   Sayako Kurado, June 8, 2015 | Royal Hats

Princess Kiko, Prince Fumihito; Sayako Kuroda (previously Princess Sayako)

Crown Princess Masako, June 8, 2015 | Royal HatsCrown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako 

Yesterday, Princess Akiko, who acted as chief mourner at her uncle’s funeral last year, was joined by the Emperor and Empress for a visit to Prince Katsura’s tomb inside the Imperial Cemetery. For this traditional visit, Princess Akiko repeated a black silk pillbox hat with a blusher-length veil.

Princess Akiko, June 9, 2015 | Royal Hats

Photos from Asahi; Jiji; Sankei; and Getty as indicated