Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended New Year's poetry reading ceremony

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. Princess Kako and Crown Princess Kiko

On January 18, 2022, Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Crown Prince Fumihito, Princess Kako and other members of the imperial family attended the Utakai Hajime Imperial New Year's poetry reading ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Crown Princess Kiko currently cannot attend imperial events because she is still mourning for her late father. The theme of this year's "waka" poems was "mado" meaning "window"

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. Princess Kako and Crown Princess Kiko

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. Princess Kako and Crown Princess Kiko

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. Princess Kako and Crown Princess Kiko

Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko. Princess Kako and Crown Princess Kiko

15 Comments

(We will not publish anonymous comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname)

  1. Quel plaisir de voir Masako de retour dans cette robe en velours d'un bleu lumineux ainsi que Kako comme d'autres princesses qui sont à l'unisson dans des couleurs plus soutenues ; j'espère que ces changements ne vont pas s'arrêter en si bon chemin !

    ReplyDelete
  2. There is something old world about the gown, and I love it!, the craftmanship is divine. Particularly the light blue gown, elegant and regal.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous18/1/22 18:49

    wow! Exquisite colors of new gowns for the ladies! Empress Masako's gown is especially beautiful. I am glad to see she is feeling better and able to attend the reading. jj

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love the idea of reading poetry, wonderful event! They all are impecable dressed, even too much for my liking.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The formal outfits of the Japanese royals, harking back to a more elegant age, are wonderful. Good to see some brighter colours among the outfits. Is it just in my failing memory or did all the gowns used to be in very pale, pastel colours? Love the beautifully embroidered bright blue dress and hat worn by Princess Kako and the colour of the dress worn by the Empress. Good to see her present at this occasion.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such beautiful gowns--and I love the shades of blue! The Empress' gown is stunning in not only the color but the exquisite embroidery. Princess Kako's gown is a bit ageing for such a young woman but that is not surprising--still, that applique and beading is rich and gorgeous. Love this new focus on color amongst the Japanese royal ladies!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous19/1/22 02:04

    Love Empress Masako to bits and am so pleased to see her up and about and attending this event. I think her dress is beautiful, if only it didn't remind me of a full length green velour house coat my mother used to wear around the house during cold winter nights like we're having right now. But my bias aside, it is a beautiful style on her and the colour is striking. Perhaps I'm wrong but it seems like we have seen her wear this dress before?
    Princess Kako also looks nice though here in the West we'd probably wear an embroidered dress and a hat like that for a different type of role and occasion (bridesmaid, wedding). But a nice colour too. All the ladies seem to be dressed in some shade of blue or green.
    - Anon 9:13

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. à Anon 19/01/22 02:04
      J'ai eu la même impression que vous ; ce style ainsi que la couleur conviennent toujours à merveille à Masako quand je l'ai vue suivre son époux qui est tiré à quatre épingles, peu importe l'occasion !

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19/1/22 14:16

      à Tulipe33: D'accord.
      - Anon 9:13

      Delete
  8. Anonymous19/1/22 06:57

    We only can see Empress Masako en Princess Kako. The neck of Masako's dress is not a good cut for her. It makes her neck shorter. She should have chosen the same neckline as on Kako's dress. The velvet fabric is not a good choice for this kind of dresses. Although the design is old fashion, it is Kako's dress and hat that I prefer. The blue colours are beautiful on both of them.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous19/1/22 08:29

    Empress Masako and Princess Kako are lovely looking in there coloured gowns ..
    but why not in beautiful kiminos in this
    traditional Japanese empire, where also the interior seems to belong to a bygone era ?
    _ LL

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous19/1/22 09:24

    Una bella sorpresa, por fin Masako pone algo realmente original. El corte el color y el diseño. Un aplauso. No hace falta seguir la moda para para ir magnífica.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love all the sea/ocean shades of the dresses. It looks almost coordinated. Beautiful all together. However, the Empress' velvet gown looks too much like a housecoat/dressing gown to me. But then it was perhaps because of her recent illness (a cold, I gather?) that she chose a fabric more suitable to keep her warm and comfy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous20/1/22 18:11

    Such lovely colors. The Empress’s color and fabric is beautiful, I miss her hat. Princess Kako’s color, hat and dress are my favorite (I’d the bow is changed to a dress fabric band maybe trimmed in the lovely lace).
    Glo

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

(We will not publish anonymous comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname)

Previous Post Next Post