Princess Kako Wins Hearts With Elegant and Approachable Fashion Sense

Princess Kako, the second daughter of Prince and Princess Akishino, turned heads with her fashion sense during her visit to Greece. 

From traditional Japanese attire to elegant dresses and chic pantsuits, Kako has showcased a range of styles during her previous trips abroad. 

Experts observe that her fashion selections show her careful attention to the time, place, and occasion (often abbreviated as "TPO" in Japanese). They also note that her style mirrors her authentic and approachable personality.

Skilled Sign Language

Princess Kako arrived in Athens on May 26 local time. In the afternoon, she visited the Parthenon Temple at the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greece. She wore a stylish, deep blue short-sleeved knit top, white wide-legged pants, and blue sneakers. The color combination evoked the colors of the Greek flag.

Later, the princess changed into a pink dress at a gathering with honors recipients held at her hotel. She exchanged greetings, saying "Γεια σας" ("Hello" in Greek).

This was Princess Kako's third official state visit. During her trip to Peru in November 2023, she donned various outfits for different occasions. 

For the commemorative ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Japan, she attended in a light-colored long-sleeved kimono. Known in Japanese as furisode, the kimono was adorned with floral and botanical motifs. During meetings with the local Japanese diaspora, Kako wore the same kimono once again.

At an elementary special needs school in the capital, Lima, the princess wore a pinkish-red lace dress. The bold red hue of the dress accentuated her hand movements while conversing with hearing-impaired children through sign language. Princess Kako often opts for vibrant dresses like these when she attends events in Japan involving sign language.

Inherited Spirit

Junko Aoki, an expert on the history of the imperial family and fashion, remarked on Kako's style and etiquette. "Apart from the fashion itself, there is also a sense of mindfulness in picking attire suited to each occasion," she noted. "For example, choosing delicate pink when visiting nursing homes and bold red in facilities for children with special needs." 

Aoki recalls that Empress Emerita Michiko demonstrated similar thoughtfulness. During her previous overseas visits, Empress Michiko would often choose dresses in colors that matched the flag colors of the host country. "Within the imperial family, there's a longstanding tradition of expressing consideration through attire, whether at home or abroad," she says.

Incidentally, Princess Kako was also spotted wearing an alpaca pendant in Peru at the Saqsaywaman archaeological site. The area is renowned for its alpaca breeding.

Casual Attire

Overseas visits offer occasions to display casual attire that differs from those worn at domestic official events, such as during outings. 

When Princess Kako visited the Machu Picchu archaeological site in Peru, she wore a beige hoodie. The jacket quickly became a sensation, with many people flocking to social media to try to identify it. At that time, she was also sporting sneakers, and it seems that her understated attire is now inspiring others.

"It's not only the relative inexpensiveness of Princess Kako's clothes," Aoki says. "Her ability to wear such outfits with subtlety and elegance also adds to the phenomenon." She added, "Kako's relaxed and casual fashion sense is coupled with a consideration of time, place, and occasion. This could be nurturing a sense of intimacy (among the public) with the imperial family."

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(Read the article in Japanese.)

Author: Tomomi Yoshizawa, The Sankei Shimbun