On January 22, 2025, Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, Princess Aiko, Crown Prince Akishino, Princess Kiko, Princess Kako, Princess Takamado, and Princess Tsuguko attended the 'Utakai Hajime' New Year's Poetry Reading Ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. This year, Princess Aiko attended the New Year's Poetry event for the first time.
Poems composed by Imperial Family members and guests were recited in traditional form at the ceremony held in the palace's 'Matsu-no-Ma' state room. This year's theme was 'yume,' meaning 'dream.' Princess Aiko wrote a poem expressing her anticipation of reuniting with her friends. 'Until the day we meet again / My friends and I will / Each follow our dreams,' reads the English translation of her poem released by the Imperial Household Agency.
Emperor Naruhito wrote a poem reflecting his delight at hearing local children share their dreams and aspirations during a trip outside Tokyo last year. Empress Masako, on the other hand, reminisced about her days studying at Britain's University of Oxford and working at Japan's Foreign Ministry before joining the Imperial Family.
J'ai tout de suite remarqué l'élégance même classique de la princesse Takamado ainsi que la princesse Aiko portant un tambourin qui n'est pas du tout tendance contrairement à sa cousine la princesse Kako avec son joli bibi !
ReplyDelete愛子様のドレスと帽子は雅子様から譲られたようです。優しげな印象で愛子様にとても良くお似合いですね。
DeleteI like Empress Masako's dress.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the height of elegance or royalty, but it suits her well and has something different about it.
I also like her jewellery: well chosen.
-Astrid.
How completely wonderful to have a small glimpse into an imperial poetry tradition! Anyone know - is this in the haiku form or other? Long live Japan’s unique traditions and may they be very slow to change from what has served them well traditionally.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waka_(poetry) Wikipediaをご覧ください。
Delete愛子様が詠まれた和歌は、大人しいドレスとは対照的に、若々しく溌剌としたものでした。
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. I wish that I could have heard her recite it.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Thank you, @Anon 14:25. You have a very pretty full stop, if this: 。is a full stop :-)
DeleteThe way how elegantly that three-strang pearl necklace is integrated into the neckline of Masako's gown is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and was just thinking the very same thing - that the collar style and the pearls together are beautiful.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Yes I noticed that too. Those pearls are stunning! (V.M.)
DeleteExquisite fabric and jewellery make the scene so serene. I like how they cover the table with fabric.
ReplyDeleteThe neckline of Empress Masako's gown is exquisitely designed and the perfect platform for those gorgeous pearls. Aiko's poem is lovely. Kako's bright blue is wonderful to see in this sea of creams, ivories, and pastels.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Oh my goodness, Princess Aiko looks sooo beautiful. Breathtaking, imo. Her hat and the jacket are especially lovely on her, imo. I knew she had the potential to look this exquisite, and it’s all here. Another delight is the very subtle mermaid-ish cut of Empress Masako’s skirt. It’s something I’ve never seen on her, and is another unexpected treat. All the ladies look wonderful; that’s business as usual for the Imperial family on these occasions — but mother and daughter really have made my day ♥️. — Jane
ReplyDeleteFashion: I know for sure that I would never, never wear these long dresses worn by the ladies of the Japanese imperial family. I will say it openly and freely: the dresses are old-fashioned, they look "hard" (maybe brocade), ossified.
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered why the tables in front of the emperor are so carelessly covered with tablecloths and why the staff does not iron the tablecloths.
Stephanie
Carelessly?? Hardly; the beautiful table coverings are clearly crafted, fitted and tied with great care. Any appearance of creasing can safely be assumed to be deliberate. I would love to learn about the entire process, including the history of this custom.
DeleteI am sure that you will be spared the experience of wearing formal court dress for attending a ceremony like this anyway. The tables are carefully (!!!) and traditionally wrapped in cloth, most likely a silk fabric with certain prints on them that have a special meaning. The wrapping itself is an art form, and the not ironed look is in fact part of it. Nothing is left to chance on such an occasion at the Imperial Court.
Deleteこの机を包む布の折り目を見て私はこんなことを考えました。
Delete日本には「折り目正しい（orimetadasii）」という言葉があります。着物は元の折り目通りに正しく畳むことで美しさが保たれます。そのことから「折り目正しい」は、礼儀作法にかなっていて態度がきちんとしていることを表すのです。
TO DSC: 21: 41
DeleteI respect that someone likes the clothes of Japanese royal ladies.
So please respect that I don't like their dresses and in my opinion their dresses suppress their natural charm. It would be lovely to see them in dresses in the style of Queens Mary of Danemark or Mathilde or Princess of Wales.
I don't know much about the tablecloths in the Japanese imperial court, I just expressed my subjective impression of the arrangement.
Yes, I will probably be spared the experience of wearing formal JAPAN court dress for attending a ceremony like this.
But I have attended diplomatic receptions several times - even those where queens, kings or presidents were present. I know diplomatic protocol, but I have my own personal preferences for fashion, design and style and in a free discussion on the fashion blog I express them honestly and openly.
Stephanie
Thank you, Anon 03:34 for the explanation. Helena
ReplyDeleteFrom Joann - For 21:20 You were very close in explaining the Japanese "wrapping ceremony" called Furoshiki. I did some research, but couldn't paste it, for some reason. So I'm just writing down what I read. (Actually, DSC explained it all.) I thought I would add this little bit about the name. Furoshiki- a traditional wrapping cloth that was used to wrap not only gifts, but to transport goods. Furoshiki embodies a profound respect for the art of giving. Each fold symbolizes not just the giver, but a profound understanding of the recipient's needs and desires. DSC 's comment, "Nothing is left to chance...." sums it all up. My feeling is the Emperor and Empress, when seated behind those tables, are performing a deliberate act: to show their respect for their people.
ReplyDeleteFrom Joann: I forgot to mention this, but if you look closely you will see the folds of the Emperor's table are different than those of the Empress. A different meaning obviously is being sent. Probably it has to do with the Emperor's exalted rank.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I wanted to point out as well, but then went over it without posting. The overlapping is done more down towards the floor on the Emperors table, whereas Her Imperial Majesty has a more symmetric folding done on hers. Given the precision of the IHA and the staff accordingly, this had to be done with a certain meaning, otherwise the supervisor checking the room before the ceremony started would have corrected it. They adhere to very strict rules and traditions there.
Deleteみなさん良く観察していて感心しました。以前の写真も調べてみましたが、たしかにご指摘通り、二つの机は布の包み方が違いますね。これは私の想像ですが、もしかしたら天皇陛下の机は、陛下の足を隠すように写真写りを考えているのではないでしょうか。皇后陛下のドレスの裾が前に広がっている写真もありました。ドレスに触らないように包み方を調整しているのかもしれません。
Deleteちなみに、この布は伝統的な織物で精密な模様は全て絹糸で織り出されたものです。
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