Today marks the 25th Anniversary of the Death of Empress Kōjun of Japan, who passed away on this day in 2000! The longest-serving Japanese consort, the late Empress Nagako of Japan wore all three of the magnificent Imperial Diamond Rivières acquired by the Meiji Emperor 140 years ago!
Meiji Scroll Tiara | Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara | Imperial Diamond Rivières | Empress Nagako’s Pearl Sautoir
In 1885, the Meiji Emperor commissioned a series of new jewels by Leonhard and Figel in Berlin, which included the Meiji Scroll Tiara as well as these three large Diamond Rivières. The Jewels were created as the Japanese Court was adopting western Court Dress
The Meiji Scroll Tiara and the three Diamond Rivières first appeared on Empress Shōken for a series of Official Portraits taken as Japan adopted court dress in the 1880s.
Then the three Diamond Rivières belonged to Empress Teimei between 1912 and 1926, being notably worn with the Meiji Scroll Tiara and the Chrysanthemum Tiara worn as a Corsage.
Following the Accession of Emperor Hirohito in 1926, the three Imperial Diamond Rivières passed into the possession of Empress Nagako, posthumously known as Empress Kōjun, who wore them with the Meiji Scroll Tiara for official portraits during the 1930s and the 1930s.
After the Second World War, Empress Kōjun usually wore one or two of the Diamond Rivières for several gala occasions, including the Wedding of Crown Prince Akihito of Japan in 1959, Princess Alexandra’s visit to Japan in 1961, a German State Visit, the Thai State Visit to Japan in 1963 and the Belgian State Visit to Japan in 1964.
The Japanese Imperial Couple made their first post-war visits to Europe in the 1970s, and Empress Kōjun wore three Diamond Rivières with the Meiji Scroll Tiara and the Chrysanthemum Tiara for the Japanese State Visit to Belgium, the State Visit to Germany and the State Visit to Britain in 1971, as well as the Japanese State Dinner at the White House in 1975 and the Jordanian State Visit to Japan in 1976.
After the Accession of Emperor Akihito in 1989, Empress Michiko inherited the three heirloom Diamond Rivières of the Japanese Imperial Family, but only ever wore one Diamond Rivière at a time, first for the Enthronement of Emperor Akihito in 1990, as well as for a series of Official Portraits.
Empress Michiko wore the Diamond Rivière with the Meiji Scroll Tiara and Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara for numerous New Year’s Courts, the Wedding of Prince Akishino of Japan in 1991, the Japanese State Visit to Thailand in 1991, the Japanese State Visit to Malaysia in 1991, the Wedding of Crown Prince Naruhito in 1993, the Japanese State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Madrid in 1994, the Belgian State Visit to Japan in 1996, and the State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1998.
Empress Michiko also frequently wore the Diamond Rivière with her Diamond Pendant, like for the Japanese State Visit to Belgium in 1993, the Japanese State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Madrid in 1994, the Japanese State Visit to Denmark in 1998, the Norwegian State Visit to Japan in 2001, the Danish State Visit to Japan in 2004, and a Banquet at Uppsala Castle in 2007 as well as during the Spanish State Visit to Japan in 2008, in addition of various New Year’s Courts.
When Empress Michiko stopped wearing Tiaras, the Diamond Rivière and the Diamond Pendant became her primary jewels for a variety of gala occasions, including several New Years Courts as well as the Dutch, Belgian and Spanish State Visits to Japan.
In 2019, Empress Michiko wore one Diamond Rivières with her Diamond Pendant for Emperor Akihito’s final New Year’s Reception at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, just a few months before their Abdication.
Then, Empress Masako wore two Diamond Rivières with the Meiji Scroll Tiara on the day of the Accession of Emperor Naruhito of Japan, for the Sokuigo Choken no Gi Ceremony in the Matsu no Ma State Room in the Imperial Palace.
Empress Masako wore the two Diamond Rivières with Meiji Scroll Tiara for the spectacular Enthronement Banquet held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, and the Enthronement Parade through Tokyo.
The two Diamond Rivières were also worn by Empress Masako with the Meiji Scroll Tiara for the Japanese New Year’s Reception in 2020, as well as for the Rikkoshi no Reimei Ceremony at the Imperial Palace of Tokyo later that year.
After the pandemic, Empress Masako has worn just one of the Diamond Rivières with the Meiji Scroll Tiara for the Japanese New Year’s Reception in 2024 and the New Year’s Reception at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo earlier this year.
However, Empress Masako wore two of the Diamond Rivières with the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara for the magnificent State Banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, and there is no doubt we will continue to see these magnificent heirlooms for years to come!
Meiji Scroll Tiara | Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara | Imperial Diamond Rivières | Empress Nagako’s Pearl Sautoir
Meiji Scroll Tiara
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara
Imperial Diamond Rivières
Empress Nagako’s Pearl Sautoir
Meiji Scroll Tiara
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara
Japanese Pearl Sunburst Tiara
Diamond Scroll Tiara
Japanese Imperial Tiaras
Chrysanthemum Earrings
Pearl Necklace
Diamond Scroll Tiara
Princess Sayako’s Mikimoto Diamond Tiara
Princess Kako’s Diamond Tiara
Princess Mako’s Diamond Tiara
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara
Meiji Scroll Tiara
Japanese Diamond Scroll Tiara
Pearl Sunburst Tiara
Empress Michiko’s Diamond Necklace
Diamond Pendant
Chrysanthemum Earrings
Pearl Sautoir
Japanese Imperial Tiaras
