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| Carl Court/Getty Images |
On Saturday, the Japanese imperial family gathered at the palace in Tokyo for the first official public appearance of the new Emperor Naruhito.
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Naruhito was joined by his wife, Empress Masako, as he greeted his people from the palace balcony. Naruhito delivered a speech to the cheering, flag-waving crowd. He urged the tens of thousands of people who had gathered to work together to achieve world peace.
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For her first balcony appearance as empress, Masako wore golden pearls with a lovely ribbon-like diamond brooch. I also love the sunburst embellishments at the neck of her dress; the beading adds extra dimension to her necklace.
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| BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images |
Naruhito and Masako were supported by his brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko. Because Naruhito and Masako have no sons, Fumihito is now the heir presumptive to the Chrysanthemum Throne.
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Kiko wore a double strand of pearls with pearl drop earrings and a diamond and pearl bow brooch.
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Fumihito and Kiko’s daughters, the Akishino princesses, stood beside their parents, uncle, and aunt.
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| Carl Court/Getty Images |
Princess Mako wore classic pearls with an intriguing modern brooch set with diamonds and pearls.
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| Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images |
Princess Kako wore pearls with a simpler version of her mother’s diamond and pearl bow brooch.
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| Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images |
The Princess Hitachi and the Princess Mikasa were both present, and each wore versions of the usual pearls-and-brooch daytime jewelry uniform of the Japanese princesses. Hanako’s brooch features a wave motif rendered in diamonds, while Yuriko chose a sautoir-style necklace of pearls.
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| Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images |
Princess Tomohito of Mikasa wore classic pearls with a floral diamond and pearl brooch, plus an eye-catching pearl ring.
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Her elder daughter, Princess Akiko, kept her jewelry very simple, sticking to a single strand of pearls and pearl stud earrings. (Princess Yoko, her younger sister, did not attend the balcony appearance.)
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| BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP/Getty Images |
The Princess Takamado attended the public appearance with her daughter, Princess Tsuguko.
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Hisako wore pearls, pearls, and more pearls: earrings, necklace, and bracelet.
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| Carl Court/Getty Images |
Princess Tsuguko wore perhaps the most intriguing jewels of the day: an intricate silver necklace, plus a gorgeous brooch set with a bright blue gemstone.
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| Carl Court/Getty Images |
Which jewels fascinated you most from this imperial appearance?
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