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The Japanese public was very interested in the Royal Family. Thus the Royal family released large number of formaly posed photographs to the media. We do not note much in the way of informal sfamily snapshots or papparazi photographs. The Japanese press is more respectful than the British press. The boys seem dressed a little formally. They often appear in suits. They attended schools with uniforms so we commonly see them in these unforms. There are some informal settings, but eventhese seem posed. The princes were often outfitted in identica; clothes, although their age differences mean that this was to an extent limitee. Prince Naruhito, a boy of seven here wears a grey double breasted short pants suit with white shirt and tie (fugure 1). He wears white ankle socks and Oxford-style shoes. His younger brother Akishino wears rompers held up by suspender straps with a white long-sleeved top, white hightop shoes, and white socks. The boys were commonly photographed in suits. The family always had a New Years portrait taken which shows how the children were dressed over time.
We notice Prince Naruhito and Akishino wearing a variety of outfits. The often wore suits for formal portraits. We are not sure to what etent Crown Princess Michiki personally selected the chikldren's clothes. We see the boys earing romper suits when very young. As boys they wore short pants, usually with white ankle socks until they began junior high school. The The boys commonly wore double-breasted short pants suits while stillm in primary school (through age 12). They continued wearing the same suits with long pants when they began junior high school. We note a range of school uniforms reflecting the various schools they attended. The boys also wore a variety of casual clothing reflecting the popular styles at the time. The Crown Princess appears to have liked to dress the boys identically when Prince Akishino was old enough. The age difference was 5 years so this was not always psiible. After Prince Naruhito began wearing long pants, they were still dressed alike for a time except Akishino wore short pants. We see the boys dressed alike in both r both suits and casual clothing. Some times when dressed in suits only the color of the ties differed. We also see the children wearing traditional clothing for special occassions.
Crown Prince Akahito had three children, two boys and a girl. The two princes were Naruhito and Akishino. The princess was Sayako.
We have some information about Prince Naruhito's childhood clothing based on the available photographic record. . As a todler he wore French style rompers. We note him as a younger boy wearing short pants suits, often with ankle socks rather than kneesocks. We also see the Prince in his school uniforms. We also see him in formal portraits with traditional robes. I am not sure for what events he wore traditional clothing other than these formal portraits. What we do not see is how he was dressed from day to day as most of the images are formal portraits.
Prince Akihino was at time dressed just like Prince Naruhito, depending on their ages. This ws the case when the two were both in primary school. And then for a while when Prince Naruhiti graduated to long pbt, the sanme garments were worn, except that Prince Akishino wore short pants. This convention cn be seen here in 1977.
Princess Sayalo wore a variety of prim Western-dtyled dresses as well as school uniforms. Footwear was commonly white socks and strap shoes.
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