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Jewels of Emperor Naruhito’s Enthronement (Part 2)

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

The enthronement celebrations in Japan continued with the first of four court banquets (called Kyoen-no-gi) that will be held at the imperial palace over the next several days. We got major tiaras from the imperial ladies and their foreign guests for this dinner — enjoy! (And catch up with our first enthronement jewel post over here!)

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

Now officially proclaimed and enthroned, Emperor Naruhito presided over the banquet at the imperial palace.

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

He was joined by Empress Masako. She wore the Meiji Tiara, further reinforcing its status as the most important tiara in the Japanese imperial vaults.

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

With the tiara, she wore diamond floral earrings, a pair of diamond rivieres, and a diamond bracelet.

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We also caught a few (emphasis on few) decent glimpses of other imperial jewels. Crown Princess Kiko dazzled in the tiara and necklace from the family’s crown princely parure during the banquet.

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And Princess Kako wore her diamond parure, which was given to her on her twentieth birthday.

DAVID MAREUIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The foreign tiaras sparkled mightily at the banquet, too. Queen Mathilde of the Belgians paired diamonds with a champagne-colored gown.

DAVID MAREUIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Her jewels included the meander base of the Nine Provinces Tiara, diamond fringe earrings, and a diamond bracelet.

DAVID MAREUIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan also attended the banquet.

DAVID MAREUIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

She wore an impressive necklace and earrings with a gorgeous bandeau-style hair ornament.

STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

Queen Letizia of Spain, here with King Felipe, wore a magnificent pink gown.

PIERRE EMMANUEL DELETREE/AFP via Getty Images

She also piled on the diamonds, including Queen Ena’s Fleur-de-Lis Tiara (aka “La Buena”), the diamond earrings also from the joyas de pasar collection, and the fleur-de-lis brooch from her diamond and pearl tiara.

STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands also went with a pinkish-red gown with contrasting black elements.

PIERRE EMMANUEL DELETREE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

She wore the tiara, earrings, necklace, bracelet, and brooch from the Mellerio Ruby Parure for the occasion.

DAVID MAREUIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark shimmered in a gown with a built-in sparkling cape.

DAVID MAREUIL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

She wore her Edwardian Tiara with the earrings that were made to coordinate with it.

PIERRE EMMANUEL DELETREE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden wore one of the tiaras she owns personally — the Boucheron Laurel Wreath Tiara — with earrings, a brooch, and a necklace from the royal vaults.

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Update: Thanks to lovely reader Lucas, we’ve got a few more jewels to share! Here’s a look at the tiara and topaz suite worn by the Queen of Malaysia. (The queen herself shared with Lucas via Twitter that the topazes belong to her mother!) The necklace from the topaz set was clearly designed with the Delhi Durbar Necklace in mind. Her tiara is the Malaysian state diadem.

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We’ve also got a look at a diamond suite worn by Queen LaMashwama, one of the wives of King Mswati III of Eswatini.

Jewels of Emperor Naruhito’s Enthronement (Part 1)

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KAZUHIRO NOGI/Pool/Getty Images

Get ready, everyone: time to survey the jewels of today’s magnificent enthronement in Japan! (And this is only part one…!)

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

Emperor Naruhito began his reign when his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicated in May. On Tuesday, he began his official enthronement ritual with a visit to the Kashikodokoro sanctuary on the grounds of the Imperial Palace. Inside the shrine, he prayed and informed his ancestors — and the sun goddess — of his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

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

Empress Masako also attended the ceremony, wearing similar traditional attire.

STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

Other members of the imperial family were there, too. Leading this rainy procession was the emperor’s brother and heir, Crown Prince Fumihito. He was followed by his wife, Crown Princess Kiko, and their daughters, Princess Mako and Princess Kako. Next walked Princess Akiko of Mikasa, Princess Yoko of Mikasa, Princess Takamado, and Princess Tsuguko of Takamado.

KAZUHIRO NOGI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

After the first ritual was complete, the entire imperial family gathered for the official enthronement ceremony, the Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi, at the palace. A pair of lacquered platforms had been constructed, topped by a pair of curtained pavilions with elaborate decorations, including two golden phoenixes.

ISSEI KATO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The curtains were pulled back to reveal Emperor Naruhito in his finery. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bowed low in front of the newly enthroned emperor during the ceremony.

Pool/Getty Images

Empress Masako was impressive in her imperial attire during the ceremony.

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

During the ceremony, Emperor Naruhito officially read out the proclamation of his ascension to the throne.

Kimimasa Mayama/Pool/Getty Images

At the culmination of the ceremony, the gathered Japanese dignitaries shouted “banzai!” — wishing long life to the emperor.

KIMIMASA MAYAMA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The imperial family was also gathered and carefully dressed in traditional attire. The crown prince always wears orange during this ceremony, and you’ll see the Crown Prince Fumihito followed that tradition.

ISSEI KATO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Crown Princess Kiko stood near her husband during the enthronement ceremony…

ISSEI KATO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

…as did their daughters, Princess Mako and Princess Kako.

Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool/Getty Images

Emperor Naruhito’s uncle and aunt, the Prince and Princess Hitachi, were present as well.

Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool/Getty Images

During the ceremony, Princess Akiko of Mikasa and Princess Yoko of Mikasa stood behind Prince and Princess Hitachi.

Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool/Getty Images

Beside Princess Hitachi was Princess Tomohito of Mikasa, and behind her were Princess Takamado and Princess Tsuguko of Takamado.

AKIO KON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Foreign dignitaries from around the world witnessed the ceremony, including numerous royals. For the enthronement, they followed a formal daytime dress code, similar to the one mandated for Prinsjesdag in the Netherlands.

Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, who are close friends of the new emperor and empress, attended the ceremony. Here, you’ll see them greeting Prince Albert II of Monaco, who attended without Princess Charlene.

Koji Sasahara/Pool/Getty Images

Maxima glittered in diamonds, including the family’s gorgeous lattice necklace and earrings made using clusters from the Stuart Tiara.

ISSEI KATO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia represented Spain at the ceremony.

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Queen Letizia wore emerald earrings that come from the collection of her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia. (See another previous outing here!) But it was her necklace — the diamond collet necklace from the joyas de pasar — that grabbed most of the attention. The necklace appears to have been shortened. I’m wondering perhaps if the bracelet she’s wearing here was made using part of the necklace? It’s possible that the piece is convertible.

CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The Sultan of Pahang, who was recently elected King of Malaysia, attended the ceremony with his wife, Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah.

CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

She sparkled in a diamond necklace and a scattering of bejeweled butterfly pins.

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde traveled from Belgium for the occasion. (It’s a short trip, so they can make it home in time for the Duchess of Brabant’s eighteenth birthday celebrations.) Mathilde tipped her hat to the ladies of the imperial family, wearing sleek pastels for the enthronement.

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She wore Queen Fabiola’s diamond and pearl drop earrings, and the outline of her dress and cape sparkled, too.

CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan were there, too.

CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

She wore a gorgeous beaded necklace and earrings for the occasion.

Koji Sasahara/Pool/Getty Images

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden accompanied her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, to the ceremony.

Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images

With her royal blue gown and hat, she wore earrings with circle pendants, plus a glittering bracelet and one of the brooches from the family’s amethyst parure.

CARL COURT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark represented the Danish royal family at the enthronement.

STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Images

Mary was seated directly beside another prominent royal — the Prince of Wales — during the ceremony.

Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty Images

Mary wore the earrings, necklace (sans pendants), and bracelet from the grand ruby parure for the ceremony. If you know your royal jewel history, you’ll realize that this means that the ruby set has witnessed both a Japanese imperial enthronement (Naruhito, Imperial Palace in Tokyo, 2019) and a French imperial coronation (Napoleon I, Notre-Dame de Paris, 1804). Amazing.

Oh, and PS: there were even more (former) Japanese princesses in attendance! The emperor’s sister, Sayako Kuroda, wore the typical Japanese imperial daytime jewelry uniform (pearls and a brooch). Noriko Senge, the second daughter of Princess Takamado, jumped the jewelry gun just a bit and wore a diamond fringe tiara (!) for the enthronement.

Speaking of tiaras, we’ll have a look at the jewels from the evening banquet shortly! Stay tuned…

Looking Back at Emperor Akihito’s Enthronement

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KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

Today in Tokyo, the world will watch as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan are officially enthroned. I’ll have a full post on the festivities later today, but first, here’s a look back at his father and mother’s enthronement ceremony, which took place almost thirty years ago.

AFP/Getty Images

Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko became Emperor and Empress of Japan on the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito, in January 1989. More than a year passed before Akihito was officially enthroned on November 12, 1990.

AFP/Getty Images

On November 8, the Imperial Household Agency released formal portraits of the new emperor and empress in Western-style gala dress ahead of their enthronement. Akihito was pictured wearing the collar and star of the Order of the Chrysanthemum; the sash, badge, and star of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, and the star of the Order of the Sacred Treasures.

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An official portrait of Empress Michiko in gala dress was also published. She wore the grand Meiji Tiara, one of the most important Western-style jewels in the Japanese imperial vaults. She also wore the sash and star of the Order of the Precious Crown.

Charles and Diana visit a Commonwealth war cemetery in Yokohama on the day before Emperor Akihito’s enthronement, November 1990 (KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images)

More than 150 official guests flocked to Tokyo for the festivities, but two in particular captured the attention of the Japanese public. The correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald wrote, “Prince Charles and Princess Diana have come to town for the Japanese enthronement and their presence is the cause for much celebration by the local tabloid press, television networks and their audiences. So charmed are Japan’s popular media by the British royals, especially Princess Diana, that poor Emperor Akihito now appears in some danger of scoring second billing at his own enthronement ceremony.” Television networks, which were required to air the ceremonies, supposedly even instructed their camera operators to focus on Diana in a bid to boost ratings, as many members of the Japanese public noted that they weren’t enthusiastic about the enthronement itself.

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On the morning of November 12, Emperor Akihito began the day with a private ceremony at a Shinto sanctuary inside the Imperial Palace.

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During the early morning ceremony, Akihito prayed; he also reported his enthronement to his ancestors and imperial deities.

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After completing the morning ceremony, Akihito changed into the highly symbolic traditional garments worn for the enthronement ceremony. One syndicated American press report described his attire: “The emperor wore a bulky robe of stiffened, reddish-brown silk, called a korozen no goho, woven with a complex pattern of paulownia trees, bamboo, legendary phoenixes and mythical animals known as kirin.” The imperial household released a formal portrait of Akihito in his enthronement attire before the ceremony.

JAPAN POOL/AFP/Getty Images

The enthronement itself took place inside the imperial palace. The emperor and empress both stood atop lacquered platforms surrounded by curtains and topped by golden phoenixes. After being seated in a simple chair, the emperor was presented with a wooden scepter.

AFP/Getty Images

Like Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko wore traditional clothing for the enthronement. Press reports described her attire as “a five-layered red silk damask costume embroidered with a floral motif and covered by a white tunic and apronlike garment.” She also held a ceremonial fan during the proceedings.

JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

The Japanese prime minister plays a central role in the enthronement ceremony, acting as the representative of the Japanese people. In 1990, Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu led the traditional cheer at the end of the enthronement, shouting “banzai” three times. (It’s worth noting that press outlets around the world at the time placed special significance on the cheer, which is essentially a wish for long life for the emperor, during Akihito’s enthronement. His was the first enthronement in 62 years, and in the interim, the term banzai took on a different level of significance, having been used as a battle cry during World War II.)

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The other senior members of the imperial family were also present at the palace for the festivities. All three of the emperor and empress’s children — Crown Prince Naruhito, Prince Akishino, and Princess Nori — attended the ceremony, along with their brand-new daughter-in-law, Princess Akishino. (Fumihito and Kiko, formally known as Prince and Princess Akishino, married in June 1990. At this point, Naruhito was still in the process of wooing his future wife, Masako Owada. Meanwhile, Sayako, formally known as Princess Nori, would remain a member of the family until she married Yoshiki Kuroda in November 2005.) Also shown in this photo are Prince and Princess Hitachi, younger brother and sister-in-law of Emperor Akihito.

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After the enthronement ceremony, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko changed into Western-style gala dress for a parade through the streets of Tokyo. Michiko wore the Meiji Tiara for this important spotlight moment.

KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

The couple processed in an open motorcade during the parade. We won’t see this moment replicated in today’s ceremonies — because of the tragic consequences of the recent typhoon, the parade has been rescheduled for November 10.

While you wait for more enthronement content, you might want to check out my recent radio interview! I chatted with Julie Buck and Nicole Genovese on KTRS about royal jewels (and Jeopardy, too!). You can find the interview here, starting around 8:30!