Imperial Household Agency

The Imperial Household Agency (宮内庁, Kunaichō) is a government agency of Japan. This bureaucracy is concerned with Imperial House of Japan (Japan's imperial family).

Imperial Household Agency building on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo

The Imperial Household Agency building is located near the Sakashita gate of the palace.

Kunaichō keeps the Privy Seal of Japan and the State Seal of Japan.

In the 18 centuries before the Second World War, it was named the Imperial Household Ministry (宮内省, Kunaishō).

The current Grand Steward is Shingo Haketa.

History

The organization and functions of the Imperial Household were established in the eighth century. The fundamental elements of this system evolved during the course of centuries.

The main focus of attention is the living Imperial family. At the same time, the agency looks 890+ sites which may contain the remains of imperial family members.

Organization and Functions

The Grand Steward is charged with overseeing all activities of today's agency.

Grand Steward

Grand Steward's Secretariat

Board of Chamberlains

Crown Prince's Household

Board of Ceremonies

Archives and Mausoela Department

Maintenance and Works Department

Kyoto Ofice

Legal foundation

The basic structures remained in place until the Meiji Restoration; and some elements of the ancient organizing template remain:

• 2001—present

Imperial Household Agency became an external agency of the Cabinet Office.
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• 1949—2001

Imperial Household Agency was the new name of Imperial Household Office; and the Imperial household became an external agency of the Prime Minister's Office.
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• 1947—1949

Imperial Household Office was organized under The Imperial Household Law of 1947 along with the current The Constitution of Japan which was adopted in the post-war period
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• 1889—1947

Imperial Household Ministry was organized under the Imperial House Law of 1889 Archived 2010-07-27 at the Wayback Machine and the Meiji Constitution which was proclaimed in the course of the Meiji Restoration
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•   701—1889

Ministry of the Imperial Household was organized under the Taiho Code, which was adopted in during the reign of Emperor Monmu.

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Related pages

• Emperor of Japan
• List of emperors of Japan
• Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of Japan

References

The chrysanthemum symbol of the Japanese emperor and his family.

Further reading

• Shigeru, Yoshida and Hiroshi Nara. (2007). Shigeru: Last Meiji Man. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-7425-3932-7; ISBN 978-0-7425-3933-4; OCLC 238440967
• Kokusai Kyōiku Jōhō Sentā. (1986). The Imperial Family of Japan. Tokyo: International Society for Educational Information. OCLC 24145536

Other websites

• The Imperial Household Agency Website