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| The Meiji Scroll Tiara |
One of the oldest (perhaps the oldest) tiaras currently in use in the Japanese imperial collection is this one: a diamond tiara with base of scrolls that support a series of large single diamonds. Those single diamonds can be removed, and the tiara can be worn without them (as seen on Empress Kōjun below) or with a series of diamond star brooches attached (as seen on Empress Shōken).
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| Empress Shōken (left), Empress Teimei (right) |
It's said to be a Chaumet tiara dating from about 1885 or so, and indeed it can be seen gracing the head of each empress in the modern era from Empress Shōken on. Shōken (1849-1914) was the wife of the Meiji emperor, who reigned from 1867 to 1912. During the Meiji era, Japan became more open to Western influence - including the introduction of tiaras like this one, which were not a part of traditional Japanese dress.
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| Empress Kōjun |
The tiara has been passed to each empress since the Meiji era. It was worn by Empress Teimei (1884-1951), the wife of the Taishō emperor, and then by Empress Kōjun (1903-2000), wife of the Shōwa emperor (also known as Emperor Hirohito, the previous emperor). It is today worn by Empress Michiko, wife of the current emperor, Akihito.
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| Empress Michiko |
Like the
Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara, it is a tiara for the empress alone. Michiko has three tiaras she uses as empress (this, the Chrysanthemum, and her honeysuckle tiara), but we don't see her in a tiara that often. Which is a shame, because this is a beautiful tiara with a design that never ages, and I'd love to see it more - it may just be my favorite Japanese tiara.
Is this your favorite Japanese tiara?
Photos: IHA/Wikipedia/Corbis
