Empress Masako of Japan's Best Looks of All Time
As the Empress arrives in the UK for a State Visit, take a look back at her best fashion moments over the years.
Empress Masako, born as the commoner Masako Owada, is a Japanese diplomat who married Crown Prince Naruhito in 1993, becoming Crown Princess and then Empress in May 2019.
Masako's life story is fascinating, and unusual for an Empress of Japan. She was born in Tokyo, moved to Moscow, then finished the her last years of high school in Massachusetts at the Belmont High School. She then earned a bachelor of arts degree, graduating magna cum laude at Harvard University before studying law at Oxford University. Although she didn't finish her thesis for unknown reasons, she still continued on to work for Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a diplomat, where she met the then Crown Prince Naruhito at a diplomatic event in 1986. He proposed to her three times before she finally accepted, and the couple married in 1993.
Naruhito and Masako have one child, Aiko, Princess Toshi (more commonly known as Princess Aiko), who was born in 2001. However, under Japanese Imperial law, only a son can succeed the throne, causing great stress when the couple failed to produce a male heir. In 2004, Masako was diagnosed with "adjustment disorder," a psychological condition caused by environmental and situational stress. In a statement on her 55th birthday, Masako explained the root cause of her disorder to the public, saying that "I sometimes feel insecure about the extent to which I will be able to be of service to people." She largely withdrew from the public between 2004 and 2014, but since, she has resumed her political duties and diplomatic work.
When she became Empress in 2019, Masako was given the imperial personal emblem of the Japanese Ramanas rose—a delicate flower which blooms in colors like mauve, lilac, red, and white, and has a cultivar—a selectively-bred flower strain—that blooms in yellow. The characters of the name 'Masako' itself mean 'truth or elegance,' and her fashion styles definitely reflect both her floral emblem's colors and the nature of her name.
In the few pictures that the Japanese royal family shares with the public, Masako wears mostly monochromatic sets (in the colors of her flower) with midi skirts and matching blouses, jackets, and hats. As she grows older, she has also been seen wearing white gloves to the Imperial Palace's balcony in Tokyo, where she resides. In chronological order, take a look at Empress Masako's best fashion moments:
June 9, 1993
On her wedding day, Masako wore Western-style gown—an exquisite, soft A-line dress that ends in a petal-like collar and harbors a soft floral pattern. She paired the dress with elbow-high white gloves, a white bag with cream accents, and a dazzling tiara and matching necklace. The tiara, worn formerly first by her mother-in-law, Michiko, is encrusted with diamonds in swirling patterns that end in circles resembling chrysanthemums, the floral symbol of the imperial family.
June 26, 1993
In a baby pink A-line dress, Masako passes before shinto priests upon leaving the historic Ise Grand Shrine in 1993. The adorable dress is tied back with a bow, and she wears an elegant hat with lace details.
December 9, 1993
The Princess looks happy in side-swept hair, smiling in a pleated red suit on her birthday in 1993. The crimson autumn leaves of the tree behind the couple her red outfit.
February 8, 1995
Upon meeting the late Princess Diana in 1995, the then-Crown Princess Masako wore an electric blue suit with black velvet accents and black pumps. An elaborate silver brooch holds her jacket closed, and the slightest hint of the white undershirt ties the look harmoniously. Masako even color coordinated with Princess Diana, who wore similarly wore a blue skirt suit with black accents.
March 1, 1996
Continuing the monochromatic looks, Masako wears a magenta-red suit in 1996, complete with double-stacked pearl necklaces.
July 20, 1996
Masako wears a smart peacock green suit with black accents and a gold brooch. This time, her gloves are not white but green. She is visiting an exhibition in 1996, and her set makes her stand out in the sea of dark suits.
May 10, 1997
This silk, lattice-patterned baby pink suit looks youthful yet professional, and the tiny bag adds only adds to the playful atmosphere. The heels, black with gold accents, match the bag. Here, Masako and Naruhito are seen walking into their hotel in Fukuoka.
November 25, 1998
Upon welcoming the Chinese president Jiang Zemin to Japan in 1998, Masako wears a powerful green velour suit and sophisticated breton hat. Her double-breasted jacket and matching green clutch complete the layers of green.
June 2, 1999
When welcoming Austrian President Klestil to Tokyo in 1999, Masako wore a beautiful, all white set, sporting a small vintage hat, lace undershirt, sturdy jacket, and classic pumps. Evidently, she is holding her white leather gloves.
December 11, 2002
As the imperial couple walk to their airplane at Haneda Airport in 2002, Masako wears a navy, midi-length coat with sleek black heels. The highlight of this coat are the brown-fur details of the collar and of the sleeves, which give her an air of old Hollywood glamour.
December 15, 2002
In a sweet snap, Masako and Naruhito wave to the camera in their hiking outfits—baggy shades of beige and black. They are on a trip the South Island in New Zealand, 2002, and the view of the mountains is breathtaking. The then-Crown Prince Naruhito seems eager to take pictures with his camera, as does the Princess with her point-and-shoot!
November 15, 2005
In a luxurious velvet set (but this time with a midi-length skirt!) Masako opts for a deep maroon, burgundy red color. Her hair, cropped short in 2005, gives a touch of elegance and edge, which can also be seen with her modern sling-back heels. The dark colors of the outfit highlight her dazzling necklace: a chunky, diamond choker.
March 5, 2006
In this rare, casual look, Masako wears a black and white lozenge-patterned jacket with surprising black leather details on the cuff and collar. Her white turtleneck and black pants balance the outfit superbly as she arrives at the Tokyo Dome stadium to watch a baseball game.
June 8, 2006
Holding a pair of delicate white gloves, Masako and her husband see Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko off as they depart on a voyage in 2006. Masako matches Naruhito's navy and white tie with a similarly white jacket with bold navy accents. Her hat is classic—in a boater shape, the navy ribbon emphasizes her elegance. Pearl earrings match her pearl necklace and pearl ring.
July 24, 2006
Holding Princess Aiko's hand in 2006, Masako wears a long yet fitted black suit with thin white stripes, elongating her figure. Black pants, pumps, and bag give her an air of elegant mystery as the family visits a new train station north of Tokyo.
August 17, 2007
Masako and her daughter, Aiko, wear beautiful shades of baby blue while Naruhito wears light grey, forming a pastel palette that looks splendidly familial. Masako, in a pant suit with white undershirt and heels, looks elegant yet casual.
May 15, 2007
Masako holds her daughter's hand during a trip to Princess Aiko's kindergarten in 2007. Coordinating with her daughter's navy and pleated-skirt uniform, Masako wears a pleated grey skirt and navy cardigan with a classic white-collared shirt tucked underneath. Instead of wearing sneakers like Aiko, however, Masako wears black pumps.
October 22, 2019
Masako wears beautiful traditional garb upon becoming Empress in 2019. Dressed in swaths of sunset orange, chrysanthemum-patterned white, and pistachio green, she looks regal. The sleek, ceremonial hairstyle is adorned with gold decorations.
June 27, 2019
It is no surprise that Masako wears blue to meet "les bleus," a.k.a. the French, upon a visit by France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte in 2019. In an embossed, monochromatic silk suit, Empress Masako's outfit matches Emperor Naruhito's tie.
February 9, 2024
Although Masako is usually seen in Western-style clothing, she occasionally wears the traditional kimono for special events. In this case, the imperial couple were welcoming Kenya's President Ruto at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. The kimono, in a pale mint color, is adorned with delicate gold motifs of nature, and is accompanied by a matching, diamond-patterned obi, or belt.
Sofia Yadigaroglu is the Digital Editorial Intern for Town & Country where she covers fashion, culture, entertainment, and other life ‘essentials.’ A student at Amherst College, she studies English and Art History, loves to paint, and speaks four languages. Follow her at @sofiayadigaroglu on Instagram.
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