New Year Tiaras in Tokyo

STR/Japan Pool via Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako led the Japanese imperial family in receiving New Year greetings at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Wednesday, and as always, the ladies of the family wore their best diamonds.

STR/Japan Pool via Jiji Press/AFP via Getty Images

The New Year reception was the first for the new Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, who ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne in a series of bejeweled events last year.

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Empress Masako sparkled in some of the family’s most important diamonds for the reception, including the Meiji Tiara, which is reserved for the use of the empress. She also wore diamond earrings, a grand double diamond riviere, and a diamond chrysanthemum brooch.

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The Akishinos, who are the nation’s crown princely family, stood beside the imperial couple during the reception.

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Crown Princess Kiko wore the family’s crown princely tiara and its matching mirrored necklace. She also added a pair of pearl drop earrings and a diamond clip brooch.

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Princess Mako of Akishino (right) wore the diamond parure she received on her twentieth birthday, as did her younger sister, Princess Kako (left). (More on the Akishino tiara collection here!)

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The ladies of the extended Mikasa branch of the imperial family were also present and bejeweled for the reception.

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Princess Nobuko, widow of the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, wore her diamond and pearl wedding parure, including her tiara. Her daughters, Princess Akiko and Princess Yoko, both wore their usual sets of jewels.

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Princess Hisako, widow of the late Prince Takamado, wore her diamond wedding parure, as well as her gorgeous diamond bird brooch. (More on her tiaras here!) Her daughter, Princess Tsuguko, wore her diamond parure, which has a lovely natural design.

The incredible splendor of these imperial diamonds isn’t really captured well by photographs, so I thought I’d leave you with a moving image of the empress that reflects just a little of the sparkle of these wonderful jewels. You can read more about all of the imperial tiaras in our Tiarapedia!