On April 13, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the Japan Prize Presentation Ceremony that was held for winners of the year of 2023, at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. The prize is awarded annually to scientists and engineers from around the world who have made significant contributions to the advancement of science and technology, thereby furthering the cause of peace and prosperity of mankind.
She is so serene, such a lady. Her outfit is very beautiful, the colour just adds to her beauty.
ReplyDeleteAgree.
DeleteAnd I love the Japanese way of bowing. Beautiful.
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Delete100%!
Delete- Anon 9:13
🙏.
DeleteMabel
This ensemble looks superb, a two piece outfit and it fits beautifully, lovely pastel shade. The neckline and cuffs have lace features, adding interest to the overall look. The dense pearl necklace and pearl drop earrings look splendid. I love her light colored shoes and bag.
ReplyDeleteJe ne l'ai jamais vue aussi belle que dans cette couleur rose pâle nacré ; la dentelle ainsi que les perles de ses boucles d'oreilles pendantes et le collier rehaussent son look ; j'aime beaucoup son nouveau chignon bas !
ReplyDeleteHow lovely and elegant the Empress looks in this evening suit! Beautiful color for her and I love the lace accent at the neckline--wish the lace on the sleeves at and near the cuff was a bit less, maybe as much as an inch. But, the lace issue aside, what a regal lady!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Lovely.
ReplyDeleteFinally, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended their official duties without wearing masks. I am glad to see them. Empress Masako dressed in her new gorgeous gown. She is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOn 10 April, the Imperial Household Agency announced that they do not serve any food at the garden party in May, which will hold for the first time since the spread of the new coronavirus. The Emperor, Empress, and members of the Imperial Family will wear masks. Attendees must wear a mask.
Standard masks are to prevent infection to others. If they want to protect Their Majesties, ask the attendees to pass a test that will give the results in 10 minutes.
It is a sad announcement when the occasion for finally contact with the public.
This way, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako take off their masks indoors.
The Garden Party is outdoors.
There is no need to announce the wearing of masks a month in advance.
I hope the Imperial Household Agency will change its plans.
Thank you for the información!
DeleteThe pandemic is not over. I think wearing masks in crowded places is first and foremost a sign of respect and inclusion - otherwise vulnerable groups will not be able to have an equal share in official events. I'm glad the imperial family is still upholding those values when the rest of the world has forgotten about them.
Delete-Nika-
01.25. it is none of your or our business, if and where masks are mandatory. Or are you invited?
Deletestill the same thing, doesn't make any sense at all.
Deletej.
Oh well, the whole masking thing makes a very, very limited amount of sense, especially if you have a no-mask indoor event and a masked outdoor event. No sense at all.
DeleteAs Nika wrote, wearing mask is a respectful custom - and respect is very much at the heart of the Japanese culture. For those of you who haven’t travelled through Asia before, in many countries masks have long been worn by individuals who are sick to keep others safe, and this was the case for many years before this pandemic.
DeleteI think we all know that; nevertheless, the argument that it's a matter of respect doesn't make a lot of sense if the Imperial Court are to have a masked outdoor event and a non-masked indoor event. It would just mean that the Japanese court respects the people at the former event more than the guests at the latter.
DeleteI suspect they considered the relative crowding at the two events. It doesn't look like anyone is near the Emperor or Empress at the indoor event, but that will probably not be true at a garden party.
DeleteBeautiful raw silk, and in such a delicate and subtle coral-rose colour. Perfect for the serene composure of Empress Masako,
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
Dignity, beauty, perfection.
ReplyDeleteWarms my heart to see that it still exists.
Lovely said Deadeggs!
DeleteI too think they own our respect by keeping their own style and tradition ( with a slight modern touch now and than).
The champagne (?) colour I find exquisite,
Mabel
So pitty the so boring dress .... I know the Court doesn't allow something more modern! but something more colorfull would be great on her. She is gracious, charming etc... but like a shadow of her self the same for their daughter....
ReplyDeleteA shadow of herself? When you visit Japan, you’ll see that it’s a country with long held traditions, and fashions and customs are quite different from other lands. And that’s ok! She is most likely wearing something she finds beautiful and appropriate, and that’s great, eh! - Janna.
DeleteMost beautiful colour I have ever seen the empress in !!
ReplyDeleteThe Empress looks great. Personally, I don't like the suit she's wearing (too shiny, outdated lace overload), but you can't argue that this is impeccably tailored and really compliments Masako's colouring and features. She looks very elegant and graceful.
ReplyDelete-Nika-
I'm afraid I have to agree with the minority here. The color is nice but that is all I can say. The design, the lace parts are so old fashion. From what we can see of it the shoes looks like they have a nice shape.
ReplyDeleteLovely outfit, except for that wide bit at the bottom, it takes away from the overall flow of the look. Beautiful hair styled in that manner.
ReplyDeleteDear Deadeggs, Dear Janna, Totally agree with you. Customs and traditions are totally different in Japan, especially at the Imperial Court. I wonder how Japanese
ReplyDeleteroyals judge SOME of the European royals, especially their lack of sartorial dignity and overuse of makeup, if only they could speak, but even then, their
discretion and beautuful manners would prevent them from doing so.
🌞 Virginia
Yes Virgina, I wonder how they would judge the outfit of a daughter of a royal princess who was recently seen going to an important church service wearing a loud pink coloured dress with the front opening showing almost three quarters of her leg.
DeleteHmmmmmm.
No need to break down European Royals because they have the freedom to dress and to choose their make-up as they want to. It has nothing to do with dignity. The way we dress in Europe is one thing. The way royals behave is another also in Japan. What we see is what they let us see. Speaking of beautiful manners. I had a Japanese neighbour once. Never saw somebody so rude.To reach his appartement he trespassed my property and walked on the flowers in my garden. He put his garbich in one of my bins (the wrong one). He destroyed the fence between my garden and his' so that he could trespass easier. I could tell you a lot more about his good manners but then my comment would be too long. Everywhere in the civilized world you encounter people with good manners and people with bad manners. And you can find them among the rich and famous as well as among the common people.
DeleteThe comment referring to Zara was unkind. Is there some rule about wearing that shade of pink? I found it refreshing in a sea of blue. The slit in her dress did not go up as high as described either. It went just above her knee, and the dress length was midway between her knees and ankles. If her dress had been a few inches below the knee instead, with the slit ending in the same spot, it would have appeared more acceptable because the slit would be shorter even though more leg would have been showing. The slit goes up much higher on the model's dress. So much pearl clutching! The Japanese and European royals are so different that I can't see how it is fair to compare them, one huge difference being the lack of sartorial freedom for the Japanese royals. There is a comment above about them keeping their own style and traditions. This out of date fashion the women wear are not in keeping with their traditions. It is a throwback to another time when there was an idea for the Imperial Family to modernize. What we see today is their updated version of that 1960s Western look, which was the last time there was any approved fashion update. Their true style/traditional garments are kimonos and the like.
DeleteLangweilig und altmodisch aber so ist es leider am Kaiserhof in Japan. Abgesehen davon sieht sie sehr gut aus und das Ensemble sitzt perfekt.
ReplyDeleteAlways classy and elegant. Beautiful suit. I just wonder if their way of representing themselves, with bows and a bit of distance. Would work here. Sadly I would have to say never, a lost Culture.? at least for here. css
ReplyDeleteDear CSS, Anon 18:46, A lost culture? Are Europeans superior? What are you trying to insinuate? I have had plenty of contact with Japanese as have others in my family. Obviously ruffians can be found everywhere. All I ever encountered were good manners, punctual payments, generosity etc. etc. I deeply respect the dignity of the Japanese court and the necessary restrictions, which basically reflect a culture of which most of us, including myself, know very little. Some figures among our Europen royalty are certainly no examples to follow as far as sartorial choices are concerned.
ReplyDelete🌞 Virginia
@ Virginia. Who said Europeans were superior ? I didn't insinuate nothing. I just gave the example of that Japanese neighbour to prove that in any culture you find people with good and people with bad manners. In fact I had the feeling the one and only time I talked to him that he acted as he was superior to me. I was learned when I was a young child to show respect for older people and not to destroy what didn't belong to me. I was glad the day he left. In any case he was not a good example for his race.
DeleteTo end on a positive note : everybody can wear what he/she likes. If everybody make the same choice or always dress in the same old fashion the economy cannot grow. I am glad I am free to make my own choices and I do not need any royal for an example. I buy what I like and if it is something a queen or a princess has too, well so be it but it can also be something my friend bought for herself or the woman next door has in her wardrobe. Vive la liberté.
@ Virginia. I did not expect my comment, to cause this much of a negative reaction. It was a comment about the Respectful way, some not all Japanese people, treat others. And yes, Respect needs to be earned, it is not to freely given. My question if it would fit in today's world? I meant it would not fit with the Woke Generation today. This World is in trouble, we need to wake up and get back to Normal again. That is all I wanted to say. I am from a norther Generation, this Wokeness or whatever it is scares me. css
ReplyDeleteThe empress looks like a really nice person. She has a great, sweet smile. But I don’t like her outfit. The color washes her out and it looks old fashioned. Probably Japanese protocol is too restricted. There are other stylish, elegant and appropiate outfits possible. Otherwise I would like too see more colorfull traditional outfits.
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