Wedding send-off

That is formal.

It's amazing that this thread of history is still active... amazing.

I saw this on TV last night. The women looked so stiff and formal. Those long dresses are so unfashionable. Just once, I'd like to see the emperor and empress give a departing princess or prince a hug and a kiss.

"I'd like to see the emperor and empress give a departing princess or prince a hug and a kiss."

In private maybe(maybe), but Japan is all about ritual and even at this time the Imperial family won't deviate from protocol.

"in an ancient Japanese formal court attire"

Looks like a western style long dress to me. Shouldn't the emperor wear kimono too?

It looks European, not "ancient Japanese formal court attire". Is it?

She gets a gift of 100 million yen for marrying out of the royal family. Our tax money at work!

Imagine how much laughter there'd be in Japan if the royal families of Europe wore 19th century Japanese formal attire.

I really really dislike this royal family and question it's the purpose. They don't do anything. They don't support anything or condemn anything or stand up for anything. There are no charities they champion or are passionate about any cause, they don't do anything except raise robotic offspring.

@turbotsat

It looks European, not "ancient Japanese formal court attire". Is it?

She wore the "formal Japanese court attire" when she visited Izumo Taisha. They shored it on TV.

Imagine how much laughter there'd be in Japan if the royal families of Europe wore 19th century Japanese formal attire.

Why would they? They aren't Japanese.

Why would they? They aren't Japanese.

And the Imperial family aren't westerners or Audrey Hepburn.

It looks European, not "ancient Japanese formal court attire". Is it?

It is. It's from early Heian era more than 1,000 years ago. The most well known Heian dress is called Jyu-ni-hitoe, the one Princess Masako wore at her wedding.

boraxOct. 03, 2014 - 08:30AM JST She gets a gift of 100 million yen for marrying out of the royal family. Our tax money at work!

What does "gift" mean? )) Dowry or ransom? )))

I find some comments hypocritical. When we have similar ceremonies happening in the west - protocols becomes traditions, celebrations are seen more grandeur than prodigal, and all our televisions are filled with such images for weeks. I dont think japanese royal family deserves this criticism if you are in awe of royal families elsewhere.

tinawatanabe: It is. It's from early Heian era more than 1,000 years ago. The most well known Heian dress is called Jyu-ni-hitoe, the one Princess Masako wore at her wedding.

OK, I see it now, in the second photo. I did look for the additional photo(s) mentioned, before posting my comment, which was based on the first photo, of European dress. Maybe the article page was updated later, or it failed to load correctly the first time.

But thank you for the clarification.

harvey pekarOct. 03, 2014 - 08:50AM JST ‘’I really really dislike this royal family and question it's the purpose. They don't do anything. They don't support anything or condemn anything or stand up for anything. There are no charities they champion or are passionate about any cause, they don't do anything except raise robotic offspring.’’

Without the emperor sitting there as head of the nation, Kakuei Tanaka would have been a Ieyasu Tokugawa II, Yukio Hatoyama formed a military alliance with China. Which would have suited you better?

Just once, I'd like to see the emperor and empress give a departing princess or prince a hug and a kiss.

How many times have you hugged or kissed your cousin's kids. Heck, I never even met my cousin's kids.

15 years age difference. Hmm. Could have had me Nori chan!

Hi tmtmsnb!

I'm talking about the modern incarnation of the royal family, not their whole family history or what their role was dating back centuries. They don't decide or determine or dictate anything anymore. They live an opulent lifestyle based on outdated or antiquated notions.

it is nice that they are geting some attention. havent seen any news about noriko before

Good luck to her.

@harvey pekar

The emperor is very passionate about ichthyology. Which I guess supports your point ...

She looks nice in the pictures, particularly in the white frock. I saw her on the street wearing jeans a couple of weeks ago.

Looks like Downton Abbey, minus the glamour.

@harvey pekar

The Emperor is Japanese people’s ‘’our very own’’, which turns Mr. Abe a mere servant of the people, not a chance for him to turn himself, or anyone else for that matter, into a dictator.

With all due respect for the freedom of commenting I see no grounds for most of the negative comments here. Most of the Japanese see their royals as a symbol of Japanesenes and this is the way it is. They are not arrogant like the most of the Western Europe's royalty. They do not hit the front pages of every newspaper on a daily bases and specially not with the public and personal intrigues and blunders like the blue blood of Europe do. Yes they are very traditional and very Japanese and they should stay that way.