The Board of Ceremonies 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 Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs was formed. This stayed in existence until the reforms of the Meiji era in 1871, when the ministry was replaced with the Board of Ceremonies, which was soon renamed Bureau of Ceremonies in 1872. The Ministry of Shinto Affairs 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 Great Council of State, but was transferred to the control of the Imperial Household Ministryin September 1877. The Bureau underwent the current name change in October 1884.
Organisation
The board is headed by the Grand Master of the Ceremonies. However, the post has historically gone under the name. The Grand Master is assisted by two Vice-Grand Masters of the Ceremonies. One of them has "purview over ceremonial matters", while the other has "purview over foreign related matters". The first Vice-Grand Master has subordinate "officials of ceremonies" underneath him, variously charged with ceremonial rites, music, and duck netting parties at the duck netting preserves. 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.
The hunting parties at the kamoba preserves invites guests to participate in traditional wild-duck netting, where the wildfowl are tagged. It should be mentioned that 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.
