you know how in most photos from the latter half of the 19th century or the early half 20th century the emperor of japan is wearing western style military uniforms or suits. At the time (IE after 1860 and before 1945) would the emperor have genuinely dressed like that regularly? | AskHistorians Archive Observer

you know how in most photos from the latter half of the 19th century or the early half 20th century the emperor of japan is wearing western style military uniforms or suits. At the time (IE after 1860 and before 1945) would the emperor have genuinely dressed like that regularly?

by grapp

or would they have still worn traditional Japanese dress away from the cameras?

Historyisrad

Aside from certain Shinto rituals, emperors would wear European style military uniforms in public or sometimes a morning coat or some other very formal suit. The Meiji Emperor was recast by the government as a symbol of modernity and Westernization (even though he was technically part of an ancient institution).