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How to Dress Like a Japanese Princess • This Summer the Public Is Snapping up Princess Kako’s Affordable Styles

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Japanese princess style is all the rage in Japan after Japan’s Princess Kako chose some surprisingly reasonably-priced pieces for her recent visit to Greece.

Princess Kako’s Ambassadorial Duties

Image Source: Sponichi Annex

Japan’s Princess Kako of Akishino is the second daughter of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan, the niece of the current Emperor of Japan, and while her day job involves part-time work with the Japanese Federation of the Deaf, her status as “Her Imperial Highness” also qualifies her for occasional ambassadorial work visiting other countries as a foreign dignitary. Now in her late twenties, official visits as a member of the imperial family in recent years have taken her to Austria, Hungary, and Peru. Though surely valuable opportunities to foster strong ties and build relationships between Japan and each of the three countries, press coverage on these trips from media outlets within Japan has been relatively light, with cursory descriptions of her itinerary and the historical significance of each destination.

Reporting on Princess Kako’s work as a foreign dignitary has been fairly bland and appropriately informational, that is, until her recent trip to Greece. After visiting the Mediterranean, it looks like the Japanese imperial princess has found a new position as a Japanese style icon, ready to join the ranks of Kate Middleton and start some new princess fashion trends.

Japanese Princess Fashion

While Princess Kako has not earned a particularly notable reputation as a fashionista in past years, her sartorial choices on her recent trip to Greece have caused a buzz online, blowing up on X (Twitter) and inspiring shoppers all over Japan. The main reason for this huge reaction is clear: dressing like a Japanese princess is, it would seem, surprisingly achievable for the general public.

After Princess Kako took a trip to the Acropolis to see the ruins of the Parthenon dressed in the kind of breezy summer outfit any Japanese girl might want to wear during her summer travels, posts on social media have called attention to one knit top in particular:

“That knit is cute, and the price is surprising.”

“I snatched it up without thinking… I’m excited for it to arrive.”

“This outfit is reasonable without looking cheap or like any particular age. Princess Kako might have a talent for shopping.”

Image Source: Nikkei

The royal blue knit top that has brought Princess Kako into the spotlight, perhaps chosen to reflect the blue roofs of Santorini as she visited Greece, is indeed surprisingly affordable for princess fashion. Sold by the online-only Japanese brand Pierrot, the 2-Way Puff Half Sleeve Knit (wayパフハーフスリーブニット) is simple and chic, and available for the very approachable price of 2,990 yen (currently less than 20 USD due to the weak yen). Clearly more than a few shoppers “snatched it up without thinking” from the online shop, as the shirt sold out entirely within days of the princess’s trip.

Image Source: Yomiuri Online

To truly cement her reputation as a trendsetter, Princess Kako chose an eye-catching lacey sky blue dress from the brand Celford for her visit to the island of Corfu later in her trip. Despite the significant step up in formality (Celford aims to design “first lady fashion”) as well as a step up in price (27,500 yen or about 175 USD), the dress has also been a hit in Japan, quickly selling out in all colors. With just two outfits, a new star in the world of fashion has been born, and aiming for Princess Style has become an achievable goal for the Japanese general public. With all eyes on Princess Kako, we’re eager to see what style choices she makes next! In the meantime, if you just can’t wait for Princess Kako’s fashion choices to come back into stock, you can register to pre-order the Pierrot knit top and the Celford lace dress on their respective webshops. If they make you feel like a princess, they might just be worth the wait.

▶︎ New Source: Yahoo News, TV Asahi

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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