Figure 1.--Here is a formal portrait of Prince Naruhito in traditional robes in 1963. The event was Shishigosan. This holiday celebrates children at ages 3, 5, and 7 years old. I am not sure for what events he wore traditional clothing other than these formal portraits. He looks to be about 3 years old.

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.

Traditional Clothes

Here is a formal portrait of Prince Naruhito in traditional robes in 1963 (figure 1). The event was Shishigosan. This holiday celebrates children at ages 3, 5, and 7 years old. I am not sure for what events he wore traditional clothing other than these formal portraits and special events. He looks to be about 3 years old.

Rompers

Prince Naruhito as a todler wore rompers. I am not sure how commonly, but we note a photograph of him with his father wearing rompers, They seem to be rather a French style. We do not note many Japanese boys wearing them. This it would have been rather a high-society style based on European (French fashions). It is interesting that the royal family seems to have preferred European fashions rather than traditional Japanese outfits. Presumably that must have been something discussed by the family and their afvisers.

Suspender Shorts

Suits

School Uniform

We do not know a great seal about the schools Prince Naruhito attended. Like his father he did attend schools rather than being educated in the palace by tutors as his grandfather was. We do not have details on the schools, except that they were all schools that required uniforms. We have found some photographs of Prince Nauruhito, so we know what the uniforms he wore were. He attended several different schools so there were different uniforms.

Created: 2:26 AM 10/15/2006
Last updated: 12:43 AM 5/23/2009