Imperial Birthday Jewels in Tokyo

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The Japanese imperial family gathered in Tokyo this weekend to celebrate the birthday of Emperor Naruhito. Here’s a look at the jewels they wore for a celebratory tea with foreign ambassadors.

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The ambassadors gathered to deliver formal birthday greetings to the emperor…

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…and Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako graciously received them. This is Naruhito’s first birthday as emperor; he turned 60 on Sunday. The public celebrations were scaled back a bit, due to the coronavirus threat, and the annual balcony appearance was canceled.

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For the event, Empress Masako wore pearl earrings with the lovely diamond and pearl brooch that she often wears with the tiara and necklace from the Pearl Sunburst Parure. (More on that set, plus a clearer look at the brooch, over here!)

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The Akishino family — Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko, and their adult daughters — supported the imperial couple at the event.

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Kiko wore beautiful pearls with one of the most intriguing imperial brooches I’ve seen in quite a while. It looks like there’s a substantial sapphire drop suspended from that diamond design!

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Princess Mako wore simple pearls with an interesting geometric pearl and diamond brooch.

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We didn’t get a good look at the brooch worn by Princess Kako with her pearls, but it appears that there are definitely diamonds involved.

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Princess Tomohito of Mikasa wore a gorgeous four-stranded pearl choker necklace and a diamond and pearl floral brooch.

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Princess Akiko’s jewels were mostly hidden in the crowd, but we did get a look at her pearl drop earrings.

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Ditto Akiko’s sister, Princess Yoko — we mostly got a good look at her pearl earrings and the clasp of her single-stranded pearl necklace.

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One of my favorite imperial jewelry-wearers, Princess Takamado, nearly evaded the cameras altogether. That’s her in the center of the image, wearing the long champagne-colored gown and jacket, plus a matching hat.

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We did, however, get an excellent view of the jewels worn by her daughter, Princess Tsuguko. She’s one of the most inventive in the family when it comes to her jewelry, and there doesn’t appear to be a pearl anywhere here — just modern earrings, a coordinating choker necklace, and a leafy brooch.