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It is always a pleasure to see Japanese Imperial family attending the annual garden parties. Mrs. Abe looked nice.
*Members of the Imperial Family hosted a tea party for this year’s recipients of the Order of Culture at the Imperial Palace today.*
It was so wonderful to see Princess Masako out so soon after the Dutch visit. She looked really wonderful in her winter white suit, hat and jewels. Hopefully this is a sign for the future that we will see more of her. Really admire this young lady.
Masako was only one royal lady in a suit and hat. Empress and Princess Kiko both wore a traditional dress. So i have a question. Did Masako wear traditional dresses except on her wedding day?
I found this picture at Getty: Emperor Akihito speaks while Empress Michiko Crown Prince Naruhito... News Photo 187081343 | Getty Images
That's a lovely suit, yes. I like the line of the skirt.
According to the caption the pic is from last year, taken on November 5, 2013.
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A couple of years ago the Empress wore traditional dress at a memorial ceremony, and I remember reading that it was for a very practical reason. It was after the Emperor's 2012 heart surgery, and the Empress decided that if the Emperor needed sudden assistance, she would be quicker on her feet to get to him in traditional dress, with flat shoes, than the heels she wears with western clothes. I have no idea where I read this, but it always stuck in my memory because, if true, it points to the care the Emperor and Empress take of each other.
Your observations are informative as usual. I venture an opinion that Crown Princess Masako is allowed to break the protocol and wear a European ensemble.It great to see the Imperial Family once again and I am pleased that Crown Princess Masako has attended too.
It is interesting that she is not wearing a kimono because if Court protocol required it, I am sure she would wear one. Maybe it's optional or personal choice.
I saw a very interesting programme the other day on NHK about traditional Japanese clothes and kimonos are very complicated to navigate round in terms of colour and material (much of which is orientated around the seasons). Even the way the obi is tied at the back will indicate status, formality and fashion choice. Kimonos are becoming a little more popular to wear on a day to day basis, particularly in the summer with light cotton ones designed using ancient patterns and worn with contrasting obis/sashes that have sometimes comical patterns.
The kimonos worn by the Imperial Princesses and the Empress will be of the highest quality and with the most symbolic patterns.
Your observations are informative as usual. I venture an opinion that Crown Princess Masako is allowed to break the protocol and wear to a European ensemble.
Kimonos worn by Empress Michiko are masterpieces.