Another outing for the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara ... every year, I'm still amused at how big this tiara is in comparison to Michiko's usual tiny tiny hats.

PHOTO CREDITS: yuko2ch.net

There's a new princess at this year's Imperial New Year Gala -- as she turned twenty this year, Princess Mako gets to join in the festivities, wearing the new diamond tiara she debuted recently.  Her mother, Princess Kiko, is to her right, wearing her wedding tiara, and to Mako's left is Princess Hanako, wearing her usual fringe tiara.

I'm all for consistency, but man, why don't these princesses ever get to wear new tiaras/colorful dresses like the ladies beside them?

PHOTO CREDITS: yuko2ch.net

Masako sighting!  As per usual, we see Masako arriving for the Imperial New Year Gala; she hasn't been pictured inside the gala with the rest of the imperial family for years.  But we've got her here, Japanese Sunburst Tiara and all!

PHOTO CREDITS: yuko2ch.net

Happy birthday to a princess making her hattery debut on her twentieth birthday, and with a Tiara Alert, too!  This is Princess Mako, the daughter of Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko of Japan (the Prince and Princess Akishino).  She's the eldest grandchild of the emperor and empress, and she's a college student studying in Tokyo.

Turning 20 is something of a marker of adulthood in the imperial family; Mako gave a press conference in which she talked about the devastating earthquake that struck her country earlier this year as well as her own plans for the future, including royal duties.  She also appeared in full court dress for the first time, debuting this diamond tiara.  Looks a lot like the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, doesn't it?

PHOTO CREDITS: AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi

Thanks to lovely reader Brian for sending along this photo of Princess Kiko!  She and her hubs are on an official visit to Costa Rica at the mo, and I think she's got it just right on the "Imperial Highness making a visit to another nation" hattery front.  Good shape, good size, neutral color -- I love how the hat sort of looks pearly to go along with her necklace.  Thumbs up from me!

(Also, don't you just love Fumihito's goofy expression in the background?  LOL!)

PHOTO CREDITS: REUTERS/Kent Gilbert

It's a little tough to see here, because they're out of focus, but I believe we've got Princess Kiko in the ivory gown (second from the right) wearing her wedding tiara, and Princess Hanako on the right of the photo in the blue gown, wearing the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara.  Same tiaras from last year as well -- looks like the Japanese follow strict tiara traditions on set occasions?

Also -- no sightings of Crown Princess Masako inside this year; last year, we saw her in a car arriving at the event, but not inside.  I was really crossing my fingers that we'd get a Masako tiara sighting this new year!

PHOTO CREDITS: yuko2ch.net

Thanks to lovely reader Brian for sending in photos from this year's Imperial New Year Gala!  It's one of the few Tiara Alert occasions that we get each year from the Japanese imperial family.

Here's Empress Michiko in the Imperial Chrysanthemum Tiara, the same tiara she wore to last year's gala.  Quite an impressive floral piece!

PHOTO CREDITS: yuko2ch.net

The Japanese imperial hatters are really coming out of the woodwork for the Emperor's birthday this year!  On the far right of this photo is Princess Kiko -- we haven't seen her since a tiara appearance last year to mark the new year.

Love Kiko's delicate pillbox hat here, though I can't tell exactly what color it is.  It's very Audrey Hepburn, isn't it?

PHOTO CREDITS: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

Two Masako appearances in a month's time?  It really must be the holiday season!

Masako is gathered here at the Imperial Palace with the family to celebrate Emperor Akihito's birthday.  I like this hat much better than the one she wore to her own birthday outing a few weeks ago -- much more proportionate.  What do the rest of you think of this one?

PHOTO CREDITS: KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP/Getty Images

It's wonderful to see Crown Princess Masako out and about in Tokyo -- she's heading to the Imperial Palace for her birthday celebrations -- but, oy, this hat.  What a mess!  Unlike her mother-in-law's forehead fascinators, which look deliberately miniature, this one looks like it went through the dryer and shrunk!

PHOTO CREDITS: AP Photo/Kyodo News