On April 22, 2025, Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako hosted the traditional Spring Imperial Garden Party at the Akasaka Imperial Garden in Tokyo. The Emperor and Empress of Japan invited 1,800 guests to the 2025 Spring Garden Party, including a professional golfer, an international ballet dancer, and other distinguished individuals, along with their families, in recognition of their outstanding service.
Princess Aiko, Crown Prince Akishino, Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Kako, Princess Hisako, Princess Akiko, Princess Tsuguko, Princess Hanako, Princess Nobuko, Princess Yoko, and other members of the Imperial Family attended the 2025 Spring Imperial Garden Party.
Invited for their contributions in various fields, the guests included mangaka Tetsuya Chiba and former women’s softball national team coach Taeko Utsugi. Also present was professional golfer Isao Aoki. The garden parties are believed to date back to 1880, when Emperor Meiji held a chrysanthemum viewing party.
As always, Kako is the loveliest!
ReplyDeleteFor me the Empress outshines all in her understated but beautiful kimono. LRB
DeleteKimonos are always beautiful and interesting. The empress's kimono is quite understated and elegant. I prefer kimonos with colorful patterns like those worn by Kako, Kiko and other ladies. But the overall look is very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI used to live in Japan and got to learn quite a bit about Japanese customs while I was there.
DeleteBy tradition, unmarried women's kimonos are allowed to be more colourful/flamboyant than a married woman's kimono. Married women's kimonos are, by tradition, much more understated. A kimono is meant to communicate a lot of information with its style, colour, patterns, and how it's worn. I found it fascinating. ~LadySlippers
I love these outfits! I do wonder about the clutches. It looks a bit odd to me they are wearing them at a garden party, combined with the kimonos. Their rules are normally very severe (just look at the footwear of the women, it looks really uncomfortable).
DeleteDamsel Dragonfly
(Anon 15:35) Now it makes sense. Thanks for the information.
DeleteBeautifull traditional dresses!
ReplyDeleteLike a fairytale.
Superbes kimonos surtout celui de Kako et de sa cousine Aiko !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Kimonos overload!! :D Jumpy-happy-claps!! This almost too much, y'all! I might have to go lay down. LOL!
ReplyDeleteThis is also a perfect illustration of how there are so many women in the royal family and so few men.
ReplyDeleteWow so colourful each in their own way. The wisteria pattern is so subtle. P Aiko has a more modern pattern not so floral as the others. Nice to see this traditional garment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat,to see such an array of kimonos. Each as elegant as the wearer herself. Nice to see more of the wider and younger generation of the RF taking part and wearing the traditional dress.
ReplyDeleteLowri.
Dear Lady Slippers, Thank you for your very useful information. I hope you can help us with other aspects of Japanese culture. Beautiful scene.
ReplyDelete🌞 Virginia
C'est si agréable d'admirer tous ces kimonos fleuris aux coloris doux et printaniers, tellement plus cohérents avec la saison, alors qu'à Windsor plusieurs tenues étaient bien ternes et tristes pour Pâques. Paloma.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat. A lineup of beautiful Kimonos. Let's enjoy them we may not see so many at any other event. The IL looked stunning.
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愛子様の着物の模様は「かいおけ」と呼ばれます。
ReplyDelete「かいあわせ」はぴったりとかみ合う二つの貝殻を探す優雅な遊びで、「かいおけ」は美しい絵を描いたはまぐりの殻を入れた桶です。
「かいおけ」は、かつて上流階級の女性が結婚するときに持参する道具のひとつでした。
Dear Anon 04:17, Thank you for that very interesting detail! I am fascinated to learn about the shell icon, and also what it meant as a status symbol. Thank you again.
DeletePerhaps you could tell us more about these garden parties. They look very formal, and the guests seem to be behind barriers when interacting with the Imperial family. But is there a more relaxed atmosphere elsewhere in the grounds during these events? Is there traditional music to listen to? Are refreshments served, and if so, what kind of refreshments? I'm not expecting a Western style protocol, but I would love to know more about this traditional event. (I have searched the net but haven't been able to find much.) Thank you in advance.
- Anon 9:13
Anon 9:13様ありがとうございます
Delete「かいあわせ」は夫婦和合の象徴とされ、「かいおけ」は結婚の持参品として意味のある品物でした。
嫁入りの際には「かいおけ」を引き渡す儀式もあったようです。
こちらは宮内庁が秋の園遊会の様子を紹介した短い動画です。
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA_Xy3NhCMk
皇室専用の牧場や農場で育てられた食材を使った料理が提供されます。
宗教上の配慮から、料理には鶏と羊の肉を使うそうです。
寿司、やきとり、サンドイッチ、焼き菓子などの軽食に加え、羊の焼き肉はおいしいと人気だそうですよ。
Thank you once again, Anon 04:17/16:44! I appreciate your response very much. That video is wonderful and the garden parties look fantastic! The food, the music (western and traditional), the entertainment and the beautiful grounds and flowers. I wish I could attend one of the parties :) It's is also nice to see the members of the Imperial family relaxing and laughing while interacting with their guests. We never get to see this lighter side of them and their personalities. It's also interesting to know that all the food is sourced from farmers and artisans who supply exclusively to the Imperial court.
DeleteI also notice that apart from the Emperor and the Crown Prince, there are no other men representing the Imperial family, only female Princesses. Is there a reason for this (other than if the male spouses have passed away)?
- Anon 9:13
男性皇族は現在、天皇陛下、父、叔父、弟、甥の５名です。
Delete現在の皇室典範では、女性皇族がご結婚されても夫は皇族にはなりません。
陛下の甥の悠仁様が今年大学生になられました。
彼が園遊会に加わる日は近いと思います。
Thank you, Anon 08:01! You have been most helpful. I have learned so much from you.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Wow! the understated elegance of the Empress's beautiful kimono is breathtaking to me. In saying that all the kimono's looks stunning. The ladies of the Imperial family look beautifully groomed and splendid in their ensembles.
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