Something of a sartorial firebrand in an Imperial Family that tends to stick to more neutral colours, the public fervour for the Princess’s outfits is so devout that it has been given a name – the ‘Kako Craze’. Like the so-called ‘Kate Effect’, clothes worn by the royal see a skyrocketing of demand and very frequently sell out in shops.
Dubbed ‘Japan’s hope’ by local media, the public has been seeing more of Princess Kako recently, after her sister, Princess Mako, left the royal family to marry a commoner in New York in 2021. Under Imperial Household law, women who marry outside of the Imperial Family are stripped of their royal status and titles. Ever since, Princess Kako – who was previously a competitive figure skater, even claiming top prize at a championship in 2007 – has been taking on an increased number of royal engagements, often representing the nation abroad.
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The Princess has spent plenty of time in Britain, studying performing arts and psychology at the University of Leeds, and is fluent in sign language, which she often uses during her charitable outings. In September, she attended the 41st sign language contest for high schoolers, and during her official visit to Greece in 2024, she addressed the crowd in Greek sign language.
AloJapan.com