Happy Birthday to Empress Michiko of Japan, who turns 90 today! The first Commoner to become the Empress of the world’s oldest Monarchy, who is now the Empress Emerita as the mother of the current Emperor, Empress Michiko possessed some lovely heirloom jewels, which included the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara!
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara | Meiji Scroll Tiara | Japanese Diamond Scroll Tiara | Pearl Sunburst Tiara | Empress Michiko’s Diamond Necklace | Chrysanthemum Earrings | Diamond Pendant | Japanese Imperial Tiaras
In 1915, Empress Teimei of Japan commissioned a magnificent Diamond Corsage composed of Diamond Chrysanthemum Brooches by Mikimoto, which was created into this striking Tiara two years later.
Empress Teimei wore the Diamond Chrysanthemum Corsage for an official portrait with the Meiji Scroll Tiara, at some point between 1915 and 1917, and while the Scroll Tiara passed on to Empress Nagako in 1926, the Chrysanthemum Tiara seems to have remained with Empress Teimei until her passing in 1952.
The Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara came into the possession of Empress Nagako, who notably wore the Tiara for the Wedding of Crown Prince Akihito of Japan in 1959.
Alternating with the Meiji Scroll Tiara, Empress Nagako wore the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara for Princess Alexandra’s visit to Japan in 1961, the Thai State Visit to Japan in 1963, and the Belgian State Visit to Japan in 1964 among a series of other appearances.
Empress Nagako continued to wear the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara over the next few decades, with it being worn for the Afghanistan State Visit to Japan in 1969 and the Jordanian State Visit to Japan in 1976, as well as a few Official Portraits.
While Empress Michiko wore the Meiji Scroll Tiara in the first years of Emperor Akihito’s reign, she began wearing the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara few years later, most notably for the Wedding of Prince Akishino of Japan in 1991, the Japanese State Visit to Thailand in 1991 and the Japanese State Visit to Malaysia in 1991.
Empress Michiko wore the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara for the State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1998, the Japanese State Visit to Denmark in 1998, and the Luxembourg State Visit to Japan in 1999.
By the 2000s, the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara had become Empress Michiko’s primary tiara, being worn alongside her Honeysuckle Tiara on numerous occasions including the the Norwegian State Visit to Japan in 2001 and the Danish State Visit to Japan in 2004 among several State Visits.
Empress Michiko continued to wear the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara into the latter years of Emperor Akihito’s reign, with it making a final appearance at the New Year’s Court in 2012, following which, Empress Michiko stopped wearing Tiaras altogether.
After a gap of several years, the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara was most recently worn by Empress Masako for the magnificent State Banquet hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace, on the first evening of their long-awaited State Visit to the Untied Kingdom.
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara | Meiji Scroll Tiara | Japanese Diamond Scroll Tiara | Pearl Sunburst Tiara | Empress Michiko’s Diamond Necklace | Chrysanthemum Earrings | Diamond Pendant | Japanese Imperial Tiaras

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