The is a department of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. The board is the chief administration charged with ceremonial matters.
History The history dates back to the Asuka period of the 8th century under the Taihō Code, when the was formed. This stayed in existence until the reforms of the Meiji era in 1871, when the ministry was replaced with the , which was soon renamed in 1872. The Ministry of Divinities was abolished, with the bulk of duties moved to the and the administration of formal ceremonial functions transferred to the Bureau of the Ceremonies. The Bureau of the Ceremonies was initially under the administration of the , but was transferred to the control of the Imperial Household Ministry in September 1877. The Bureau underwent the current name change in October 1884.
Organisation The board is headed by the . However, the post has historically gone under the name .
The Grand Master is assisted by two . One of them has , while the other has . / (Wordings are not exactly identical.)
The first Vice-Grand Master has subordinate underneath him, variously charged with ceremonial rites, music, and duck netting parties at the .
The other Vice-Grand Master is charged foreign matters, i.e., with assisting in coordinating various court functions held for visiting foreign dignitaries. He is also responsible for such activities as the Imperial Family's State visits to foreign countries.
Music Department
The board's performs both , i.e. ancient court music, and Western classical music.
Wild duck preserves
The hunting parties at the kamoba preserves invites guests to participate in traditional wild-duck netting, where the wildfowl are tagged. The guests invited to the netting are often diplomatic missions and plenipotentiaries from foreign countries, although cabinet members, members of the National Diet, and Supreme Court Justices are extended invitations also. (Wordings are not exactly identical.)
Grand Masters of Ceremonies Below is a historic list of grand masters from 1947:
NumberNameTerm in OfficeRemarks – Mar 27, 1947 – May 2, 1947Granted status.A shinninkan is the highest ranked official, appointed by the emperor, higher in status than chokuninkan appointed by imperial edict/decree.May 3, 1947 – May 31, 19491Yasumasa MatsudairaJun 1, 1949 – Jan 4, 1957 (died in office)2Feb 1, 1957 – Sep 10, 1968 (resigned)3Sep 10, 1968 – Jan 16, 1973 (resigned)4January 16, 1973 – August 14, 1979 (resigned)5Aug 14, 1979 – Jun 20, 1989 (resigned)6Jun 20, 1989 – Sep 8, 1995 (resigned)7Sep 8, 1995 – Dec 12, 19968Dec 12, 1996 – Jul 8, 2003 (resigned)9Jul 8, 2003 – Jun 15, 200710Jun 15, 2007 – Oct 4, 2009 (died in office) – ()Oct 8, 2009 – Oct 20, 2009Acting GM (Vice-GM)11Oct 20, 2009 – Sep 1, 2012 (resigned) 12Sep 1, 2012 – Sep 1, 201413Sep 1, 2014 – May 1, 201514May 1, 2015 – Apr 1, 202315Apr 1, 2023 – January 16, 202615January 16, 2026 – present
Explanatory notes
Citations
References Titsingh, Isaac. (1834). Nihon Odai Ichiran; ou, Annales des empereurs du Japon. Paris: Royal Asiatic Society, Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland. OCLC 5850691 Varley, H. Paul. (1980). Jinnō Shōtōki: A Chronicle of Gods and Sovereigns. New York: Columbia University Press. ; OCLC 59145842
External links Imperial Household Agency | Board of Ceremonies