On January 3, 2025, members of Japan's Imperial Family, including Princess Aiko, Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Kako, Prince Hisahito, Princess Hisako, Princess Tsuguko, Princess Akiko, and Princess Yoko, attended the 50-day anniversary memorial ceremony for the late Princess Yuriko at Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Tokyo. Princess Yuriko, the wife of wartime Emperor Hirohito's brother, passed away on November 15, 2024, at the age of 101 at St. Luke's International Hospital in Tokyo.
I like the hats the ladies are wearing, clever shape to incorporate the veil. P Aiko’s hair nice twist. I wonder if she were to wear her hair should length if it would frame her face better. I know the trend is long for your girls and she likes it, but fashion wise not the best look for all.
ReplyDeleteAll very elegant. I can’t help but wonder who is making P.Aiko’s clothing choices. Her coat is too big on her, and the shape seems too full. She just looks dowdy compared to the others. Such a shame to see her not shine more.
ReplyDeleteI don't critique what is worn at funerals or memorials, but in general, Aiko's clothes are as you describe. It is a pity to present her in such a motherly or grandmotherly way at such a young age.
DeleteI will say that I love the detail and formality of their attire, from the veiled hats, to the mourning jewelry, to the black fans. It feels very respectful.
My opinion: Aiko has a naturally fuller body, which is not exactly typical for Japanese women and this is the exact reason why she looks fuller. And the fuller your body, the worse you look in tight outfits (cf. Sarah Ferguson :-). The cut of her coat is as perfect as that of the other ladies. To put mothers and grandmothers in the not-well-dressed or dowdy category ... well, it makes me quite sad.
Deleteanon 10:57 Isn't it more that they all wear the same basic designs? The young princesses, their mothers, and their grandmothers alike? There is very little variation in what they all wear. When you have all the generations basically dressed the same, it ages the youngest. I like the clean, simple designs on the oldest women, making them look very elegant for their ages. I don't think the designs work as well for the women in middle age, and I think their designs fail for the youngest. Personally, I take no offense to the motherly or grandmotherly comparison because it doesn't apply to me. I choose to dress contemporarily. When I think back, my grandmothers always looked like stereotypical grandmothers. I think the trend is that each generation tends to look younger for their age than when I was a child. In my opinion, it is sad to expect these young women to look like carbon copies of their elders.
DeleteI know this is a memorial Service but I want to say how very lovely Kako looks!
ReplyDeleteYes, Kako is the poster girl for blossoming young royalty and has that fresh "girl next door" look about her with her seemingly "sweet disposition" that she displays wherever she visits
DeleteMême si c'est pour une cérémonie commémorative, les chapeaux de ces dames ont été très bien choisis ; le style tambourin convient à merveille à la princesse Kako qui le porte joliment sur ses cheveux coiffés en chignon !
ReplyDeleteThey all look so dignified and elegant
ReplyDeletePrincess Aiko has a beautiful profile (s. last picture). Which brings me to write down what I always think when I see a photo of her: Maybe the styling of her fringe could make a big difference. Because that fringe almost always looks odd. Partly because the placement of the parting of the hair is not so good (too much white skin visible?), and partly because it looks as if the fringe was, well, greasy, which is certainly not true. Seemingly a hair styling problem and not a very difficult one at that ...
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell me what all the Japanese females have in their hands? I see it often: kind of small bag with a floss or is it a fan??
ReplyDeleteA fan
DeleteI believe it is gloves and a fan, and held in a specific way, too.
Deleteこれは葬儀用の扇子です。これは皇族独特の扇子です。一般の日本人は葬儀の際、着物の時に帯の間に挿すこともありますが、洋装の場合は持ちません。葬儀用の扇子には、あの世とこの世の結界の意味があり、故人への敬意を表しています。
DeleteFrom Anon 07:22, the Japanese Text given to G**gle Translator: "This is a funeral fan. This is a fan unique to the imperial family. Ordinary Japanese people sometimes put it between their obi obi (Kimonogürtel) when wearing a kimono at a funeral, but they do not carry it when wearing Western clothing. Funeral fans have the meaning of a barrier between the next world and this world, and show respect for the deceased. " Thank you.
DeleteThank you Anon 7:02. Very informative.
Delete@Anon 07:22 Thank you for your explanation. These are interesting facts to know.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Thank you, Anonymous 07:22.
DeleteAlways a certain sadness, with these Services, it reminds one of the losses of dear family members. I like their coats and hats. I like Pss Aiko's hair up.
ReplyDeletecss
They all look very elegant, and the mourning jewelery is exquisite.
ReplyDeleteLuna
The details on Princess Takamado's coat are beautiful, with the sort of dufflecoat clasps. Also the tailoring of Crown Princess Kiko's coat is impeccable. However, the coat of Princess Aiko is swallowing her whole. Too big on her. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:22 thank you so much for explaining the funeral fan. Such a meaningful incite. Perhaps you can also explain the white fan the royals carry in formal occasions. Does it still mean the division from the afterlife?
ReplyDelete女性皇族がドレスの時に持つ扇子は洋装の導入と共に西洋の習慣を取り入れたものです。それが日本の皇室で独特の発展をして現在に至ります。
Delete天皇陛下即位の礼の女性皇族の伝統的な着物姿を思い出してください。手に持った飾りのついた扇は「檜扇（ひおうぎ）」と呼ばれ、檜の薄い板で作られています。かつて身分の高い女性はこの扇を広げて顔を隠しました。
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