On March 20, 2024, Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, has attended her graduation ceremony at the Gakushuin University in the Mejiro area, Tokyo. Princess Aiko arrived at Gakushuin University, dressed in a sakura (cherry blossom) furisode kimono and navy blue hakama. Princess Aiko will make her first solo trip to Ise Jingu, in order to report her graduation from Gakushuin University.
Princess Aiko will visit Mie and neighboring Nara Prefecture on March 26-27. She will arrive in Mie and visit the Geku and Naiku areas of the shrine on the first day. On March 27, she will visit the Saiku Historical Museum in the Mie town of Meiwa and then travel to Nara, where she will pay a visit to the mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu.
Japanese dresses are lovely, almost without exception. I have a problem with the white socks.
ReplyDeleteCalzini con infradito...
DeleteTabi socks are traditionally white. This is a very traditional outfit, I think. The hakama surprised me, but it's great to see them.
DeleteFYI, if you ever want divided-toe socks to wear with zori (flip-flops), there are many available in a variety of colors and patterns, usually knit, rather than the woven white fabric of the traditional set.
Congratulations to Princess Aiko on her graduation! She looks so happy and her smile says it all. I also like her kimono - it is quite different from the ones we usually see her mother and her aunt wearing. This one is more colourful thanks to a bolder print (pink cherry blossom?), seems more flared as well as shorter in length, and has a dark panel in front. I wonder if it is even a kimono or some other related type of garment? Or a style of kimono reserved for young ladies or young graduating students? I'll have to do some research to find out. But no matter what, Aiko looks lovely.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
The Kimono is a Furisode with its typical long sleeves. It is worn by young unmarried women at any time a kimono is worn. Her navy blue hakama skirt that she wears over the kimono is worn at formal occasions like a graduation. All very traditional and very beautiful. Now is cherry blossom season in Japan and one can see lots of young women in Furisode with intricate Obe belts visiting temples and also young men in their typical samurai like outfits. Just lovely!
DeleteDear Anonymous 14:03, Your comments are very constructive and very polite. It would be so much esier to react and reply if you gave yourself a name, perhaps you could think about this point coming from someone, and there are many like me, who uses a signature, whatever the outcome. This is what reciprocity is all about. Thank you.
Delete🌞 Virginia
I completely agree with the original comment. Thank you Lady of the Manor, for the explanation. Do you have an explanation for the shoes? Her feet look really uncomfortable.
DeleteI can't believe she is so grown up already. She looks so happy in these pictures, she should be very proud of herself. I'm looking forward to see her doing solo outings so we can get to know her a bit (as much as that's possible in Japan).
Damsel Dragonfly
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakama ...
DeleteDear Damsel Dragonfly. No explanation about the shoes ( geta) only that they are traditional. The tight kimono allows only a very shuffling gait and the shoe is always shorter than the foot. I have asked many times and the answer varies but most often it is said that the smaller foot is more feminine.
Delete@Anon 17:24 Dear Virginia Perhaps you missed it, but if you look again at the end of my post, you will see that I have signed it as "Anon 9:13". This is my nickname, just as yours is Virginia. I have been using this nickname for 2 nearly 3 years and I sign all my posts with this nickname.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Thank you Damsel Dragonfly for the explanation. You are a font of information! It is lovely to discover these traditional Japanese cultural forms of behaviour and dress, and you have enlightened in great detail (and saved me some research work after a busy day, lol). Much appreciated.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Dear Ladyofthemanor, I think I may have incorrectly referenced Damsel Dragonfly when in fact I meant you - to thank you for your kind explanation of the Furisode. My comment hasn't been posted so I cannot check if I used the wrong name but if I did, my apologies to both of you and thank you again for the great information. If I did reference you correctly, then kindly ignore this comment. It's been a crazy evening after a busy day at work; I was stuck for 3 hours in traffic in the middle of a snow storm and just got home an hour ago.
Delete- Anon 9:13
nice to see a different version of the kimono. i assume she only wore this for the photo shoot.
ReplyDeleteDès la première photo, j'ai trouvé qu'Aiko était de plus en plus jolie ; ce kimono très printanier lui va à merveille. J'aimerais bien que l'avenir nous réserve de la voir plus souvent peut-être en dehors du Japon !
ReplyDeleteTrès jolie tenue.
ReplyDeleteElegant! Happy! She looks so nice! Ba
ReplyDeleteJust really lovely--the princess, her kimono, and her beautiful smile! Aiko looks radiant here on her special day. Love her whole look and the traditions that are represented on such an important day for the princess. Congratulations to Princess Aiko on her big day and her big accomplishment!!!
ReplyDeleteJanet
Nice outfit different from the regular Kimono. Now that she graduated, we may get lucky and see her more often. css
ReplyDeleteMy, my how time has flown by. I can't believe Princess Aiko has already graduated university. I wonder whether she will pursuing post-graduate studies like the rest of her family has done. I do admire the academic achievements of the Japanese royal family as well as that of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg's royal family, particularly their women.
ReplyDeleteT
Congratulations to Princess Aiko on her graduation, how marvellous, well done to her. Its great to see this Kimono, its so different. Doesn't she look so radiant? beautiful smile.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Princess Aiko.
ReplyDeleteMay this be a step to enhance her life with joy and happiness.
I find her handbag (leather ?)a bit out of character with her kimono.
I think a small-ish shoulder bag made from a combination, for example, cotton, woven metal and/or silk more appropriate.
Perhaps a fellow blogger could advise on what is appropriate as a handbag whilst wearing a kimono.
Thanks in advance.
Lovely
ReplyDeleteLovely
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, stylish in her Kimono, knowledgeable, and likeable. Too bad the Japanese will not allow her to become the next 'head of the family', simply because she is a woman.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Japan is not the only country that has male primogeniture in its culture.
DeleteBut what I found very sad was when Princess Aiko's sister, Princess Mako was thrown out with the dish water because she married a commoner.
I think she now lives in New York with her husband.
Sorry for the deviation Helen
à Anonyme 21/03/24 15:49
DeleteJe pense vraiment comme vous mais peut-être que les mentalités vont évoluer avec le temps ; on peut rêver !
@deadeggs, Princess Aiko has no siblings, she's an only child. Mako is her cousin.
DeleteT
Congratulations the feeling when you receive your degree is euphoric. Mary
ReplyDeleteYes @T, you are right.
ReplyDeleteIt was Princess Aiko’s cousin, Princess Mako who got thrown out with the dishwater for marrying a commoner.
It's about three years ago now that this happened.
Sorry, I’m getting all my “ko’s” mixed up.
Again, I can’t understand that this is still being done today.
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