Happy Birthday to Princess Tomohito of Mikasa, who turns 70 today! A member of the prominent Asō Family and the sister of a former Prime Minister, she received this spectacular Pearl and Diamond Mikimoto Tiara and Parure when she married Emperor Hirohito’s nephew 45 years ago!

When Nobuko Asō married Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, the eldest son of Prince and Princess Mikasa, in 1980, she receiving this striking Mikimoto Pearl and Diamond Tiara and Necklace, which was first worn for an Audience with Emperor Hirohito at the Imperial Palace on the Wedding Day.

Unlike the three Tiaras of her sister-in-law, Princess Takamado,  Princess Tomohito has only ever worn this Mikimoto Pearl and Diamond Tiara, most often spotted at the various New Year’s Receptions and Banquets hosted by the Imperial Family over the years.

Princess Tomohito has been mainly seen in the Mikimoto Pearl and Diamond Tiara and Necklace in the lineup of Imperial Ladies at the annual Ceremony of New Year’s Celebration at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, which she has sporadically attended in the past two decades due to her ill health.

The Mikimoto Pearl and Diamond Tiara and Necklace were worn by Princess Tomohito to the Japanese New Year’s Reception in 2019, as well as for the Accession of Emperor Naruhito of Japan a few months later.

Princess Tomohito also wore the Mikimoto Pearl and Diamond Tiara for the Enthronement Banquet at the Imperial Palace later that year, and the Japanese New Year’s Reception in 2020 a few months later, but has not attended recent New Year’s Receptions due to her ill health. We hope Princess Tomohito and her Tiara make a return soon!

Meiji Scroll Tiara