Imperial Household Agency
Encyclopedia
The is a government agency of Japan
in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal
and the State Seal
. In the 18 centuries before the Second World War
, it was named the .
The Agency is unique among conventional government agencies in that it does not directly report
to the Prime Minister at the cabinet level, nor is affected by legislation such as that which established national museums as Independent Administrative Institution
s.
, which was promulgated in 701-702 AD during the reign of Emperor Monmu.
establishment of the Ministry of the Imperial Household
was designed to meet the needs of the Heian period
Imperial court. The fundamental elements of its organization and functions evolved over the course of centuries. The basic structures remained in place until the Meiji Restoration
.
(the Constitution of the Empire of Japan) were simultaneously proclaimed by Emperor Meiji
. In the context of a Westernized constitutional monarchy, the Imperial House Law established that internal matters of the Imperial Household were independent of oversight by the Diet of Japan
. In this period, the officials and staff of the household were identified as the Imperial Household Ministry. An Imperial Order in 1908 confirmed that the Imperial Household Minister, as the chief official was then called, was responsible for assisting the Emperor in all matters concerning the Imperial House.
was promulgated at the same time as the post-war Constitution of Japan
. At that time, the Imperial Household Ministry became the Imperial Household Office, and was positioned in an organizational hierarchy under the office of the Prime Minister of Japan
. The staff numbers were greatly reduced and the organization was streamlined. In 1948, Seihin Ikeda
was named as head of the Imperial Household Office.
In 2001, the Imperial Household Agency was organizationally re-positioned under the Cabinet Office.
The current Grand Steward is Shingo Haketa
.
The agency's headquarters is located within the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
. The Agency's duties and responsibilities encompass the daily activities, such as state visit
s, organising events, preservation of traditional culture, administrative functions, etc., the agency is also responsible for the various imperial residences
scattered throughout the country. Visitors who wish to tour the Kyoto Gosho
, the Katsura Detached Palace, and other sites, should register for guided tours with the agency first.
The Agency has responsibility for the health, security and travel arrangements of the Imperial family, including maintaining the Imperial line. A "Grand Master of the Household" helps manage the schedules, dining menus, and household maintenance for the family.
has himself done much to make the Japanese monarchy less aloof.
Prince Naruhito
, in May 2004, criticised the then-Grand Steward
of the Imperial Household, Toshio Yuasa, for putting pressure on Princess Masako, Naruhito's wife, to bear a male child. At a press conference, Naruhito said that his wife had "completely exhausted herself" trying to adapt to the imperial family's life, and added "there were developments that denied Masako's career (up to our marriage) as well as her personality." It has officially been stated that Masako is suffering from an "adjustment disorder
", but there has been extensive speculation in the press that she is suffering from clinical depression
as a result of her treatment by Imperial Household officials.
Increasingly in recent years, the Agency's prevention of archaeological research regarding a large number (more than 740) of Kofun Era tombs putatively designated as "imperial" has come under criticism from academics. Such research, particularly on the ancient tombs in the Kansai
region of western Japan, has the potential to yield a great bounty of information on the origins of Japanese civilization. The possibility that such finds could verify theories of formative civilizational ties with contemporary civilizations in China
and the Korean Peninsula
, with commensurate influence on thought about the origins of the Imperial Household itself, is generally considered to be the greater part of the jealousy with which the agency guards its authority over this large number of tombs (many of which are likely imperial only in name), and prevents scientific inquiry into these sites.
The Agency has been portrayed as controlling every aspect of the lives of the members of the Imperial Family, both public and private, and exerting near-total control over them, from staff appointments to wardrobe selection. As with the imperial family itself, positions in the 1300-year-old Agency are hereditary. Nine out of ten requests from the imperial family, even the Emperor himself, are rejected. Masako, for instance, was denied browsing a bookstore, visiting her family, or calling her old college friends around the world or even going out for a cup of coffee
.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in charge of the state matters concerning Japan's imperial family and also keeping the Privy Seal
Privy Seal of Japan
The Privy Seal of Japan is the Emperor of Japan's official seal. It is square and its inscription "天皇御璽" is written in the seal script . It has two lines of vertical writing. On the right-hand side is "天皇" and on left-hand side is "御璽"...
and the State Seal
State Seal of Japan
The Great Seal of Japan is the Japanese official seal of state. It is cubic. The characters 大日本國璽 are carved in the archaic Chinese Seal script...
. In the 18 centuries before the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, it was named the .
The Agency is unique among conventional government agencies in that it does not directly report
to the Prime Minister at the cabinet level, nor is affected by legislation such as that which established national museums as Independent Administrative Institution
Independent Administrative Institution
An Incorporated Administrative Agency or in lay terms an Independent Administrative Corporation or Independent Administrative Institution is a newly designed type of legal body for Japanese governmental organizations regulated by the Basic Law on Reforming Government Ministries of 1998...
s.
History
The organization and functions of the Imperial Household were defined and regulated in the Taiho CodeTaiho Code
The was an administrative reorganization enacted in 701 in Japan, at the end of the Asuka period. It was historically one of the . It was compiled at the direction of Prince Osakabe, Fujiwara no Fuhito and Awata no Mahito...
, which was promulgated in 701-702 AD during the reign of Emperor Monmu.
Ministry of the Imperial Household, 701–1889
The ritsuryōRitsuryo
is the historical law system based on the philosophies of Confucianism and Chinese Legalism in Japan. The political system in accord to Ritsuryō is called "Ritsuryō-sei"...
establishment of the Ministry of the Imperial Household
Ministry of the Imperial Household
The was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto, instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period. The Ministry was replaced in the Meiji period.-Overview:...
was designed to meet the needs of the Heian period
Heian period
The is the last division of classical Japanese history, running from 794 to 1185. The period is named after the capital city of Heian-kyō, or modern Kyōto. It is the period in Japanese history when Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height...
Imperial court. The fundamental elements of its organization and functions evolved over the course of centuries. The basic structures remained in place until the Meiji Restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
.
Imperial Household Ministry, 1889–1947
The Imperial House Law of 1889 and the Meiji ConstitutionMeiji Constitution
The ', known informally as the ', was the organic law of the Japanese empire, in force from November 29, 1890 until May 2, 1947.-Outline:...
(the Constitution of the Empire of Japan) were simultaneously proclaimed by Emperor Meiji
Emperor Meiji
The or was the 122nd emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession, reigning from 3 February 1867 until his death...
. In the context of a Westernized constitutional monarchy, the Imperial House Law established that internal matters of the Imperial Household were independent of oversight by the Diet of Japan
Diet of Japan
The is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
. In this period, the officials and staff of the household were identified as the Imperial Household Ministry. An Imperial Order in 1908 confirmed that the Imperial Household Minister, as the chief official was then called, was responsible for assisting the Emperor in all matters concerning the Imperial House.
Imperial Household Office, 1947–1949
The Imperial Household Law of 1947Imperial Household Law
is a statute in Japanese law that governs the line of imperial succession, the membership of the imperial family, and several other matters pertaining to the administration of the Imperial Household.-Passage of the Law:...
was promulgated at the same time as the post-war Constitution of Japan
Constitution of Japan
The is the fundamental law of Japan. It was enacted on 3 May, 1947 as a new constitution for postwar Japan.-Outline:The constitution provides for a parliamentary system of government and guarantees certain fundamental rights...
. At that time, the Imperial Household Ministry became the Imperial Household Office, and was positioned in an organizational hierarchy under the office of the Prime Minister of Japan
Prime Minister of Japan
The is the head of government of Japan. He is appointed by the Emperor of Japan after being designated by the Diet from among its members, and must enjoy the confidence of the House of Representatives to remain in office...
. The staff numbers were greatly reduced and the organization was streamlined. In 1948, Seihin Ikeda
Seihin Ikeda
was a Japanese businessman and central banker. He was the 14th Governor of the Bank of Japan .-Early life:Ikeda was born at Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture. He was educated at Keio University and Harvard University, class of 1895.-Career:...
was named as head of the Imperial Household Office.
Imperial Household Agency, 1949–present
In 1949, the name of Imperial Household Office was changed to the Imperial Household Agency. In this way, the Imperial Household became an external agency of the Prime Minister's Office.In 2001, the Imperial Household Agency was organizationally re-positioned under the Cabinet Office.
Organization and Functions
The Agency is headed by the Grand Steward and he is assisted by the Vice-Grand Steward. The main organization elements are:- the Grand Steward's Secretariat
- the Board of the Chamberlains
- the Crown Prince's Household
- the Board of Ceremonies
- the Archives and Mausolea Department
- the Maintenance and Works Department
- the Kyoto Office
The current Grand Steward is Shingo Haketa
Shingo Haketa
is a Japanese bureaucrat. He was installed as Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency on 1 April 2005.Appointed by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, promoter of absolute primogeniture, Haketa is known as a supporter of the report submitted by the Advisory Council on the Imperial House Law,...
.
The agency's headquarters is located within the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo
Kokyo
is the main residence of the Emperor of Japan. It is a large park-like area located in the Chiyoda area of Tokyo close to Tokyo Station and contains several buildings including the main palace , the emperor left Kyoto Imperial Palace for Tokyo...
. The Agency's duties and responsibilities encompass the daily activities, such as state visit
State visit
A state visit is a formal visit by a foreign head of state to another nation, at the invitation of that nation's head of state. State visits are the highest form of diplomatic contact between two nations, and are marked by ceremonial pomp and diplomatic protocol. In parliamentary democracies, heads...
s, organising events, preservation of traditional culture, administrative functions, etc., the agency is also responsible for the various imperial residences
House
A house is a building or structure that has the ability to be occupied for dwelling by human beings or other creatures. The term house includes many kinds of different dwellings ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures...
scattered throughout the country. Visitors who wish to tour the Kyoto Gosho
Kyoto Gosho
The is an imperial palace of Japan, though the Emperor of Japan is not in residence. The Emperor has resided at the Tokyo Imperial Palace since 1869 and ordered the preservation of the Kyōto Imperial Palace in 1877....
, the Katsura Detached Palace, and other sites, should register for guided tours with the agency first.
The Agency has responsibility for the health, security and travel arrangements of the Imperial family, including maintaining the Imperial line. A "Grand Master of the Household" helps manage the schedules, dining menus, and household maintenance for the family.
Criticism
The Agency has frequently been criticized for isolating members of the Imperial Family from the Japanese public, and for insisting on hidebound customs rather than permitting a more approachable, populist monarchy. These criticisms have become more muted in recent years; Emperor AkihitoAkihito
is the current , the 125th emperor of his line according to Japan's traditional order of succession. He acceded to the throne in 1989.-Name:In Japan, the emperor is never referred to by his given name, but rather is referred to as "His Imperial Majesty the Emperor" which may be shortened to . In...
has himself done much to make the Japanese monarchy less aloof.
Prince Naruhito
Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan
is the eldest son of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, which makes him the heir apparent to the Chrysanthemum Throne of Japan.-Early life and education:...
, in May 2004, criticised the then-Grand Steward
Grand Steward
The is an official within the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. He is the senior official of the Imperial Household, and is responsible for managing the part of the household staff who are omote, or "outside the house"; these employees serve as drivers, cooks, gardeners, or administrative...
of the Imperial Household, Toshio Yuasa, for putting pressure on Princess Masako, Naruhito's wife, to bear a male child. At a press conference, Naruhito said that his wife had "completely exhausted herself" trying to adapt to the imperial family's life, and added "there were developments that denied Masako's career (up to our marriage) as well as her personality." It has officially been stated that Masako is suffering from an "adjustment disorder
Adjustment disorder
Adjustment disorder is a psychological response to an identifiable stressor or group of stressors that cause significant emotional or behavioral symptoms that do not meet criteria for anxiety disorder, PTSD, or acute stress disorder...
", but there has been extensive speculation in the press that she is suffering from clinical depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
as a result of her treatment by Imperial Household officials.
Increasingly in recent years, the Agency's prevention of archaeological research regarding a large number (more than 740) of Kofun Era tombs putatively designated as "imperial" has come under criticism from academics. Such research, particularly on the ancient tombs in the Kansai
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo, and Shiga. Depending on who makes the distinction, Fukui, Tokushima and even Tottori Prefecture are also included...
region of western Japan, has the potential to yield a great bounty of information on the origins of Japanese civilization. The possibility that such finds could verify theories of formative civilizational ties with contemporary civilizations in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and the Korean Peninsula
Korean Peninsula
The Korean Peninsula is a peninsula in East Asia. It extends southwards for about 684 miles from continental Asia into the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by the Sea of Japan to the south, and the Yellow Sea to the west, the Korea Strait connecting the first two bodies of water.Until the end of...
, with commensurate influence on thought about the origins of the Imperial Household itself, is generally considered to be the greater part of the jealousy with which the agency guards its authority over this large number of tombs (many of which are likely imperial only in name), and prevents scientific inquiry into these sites.
The Agency has been portrayed as controlling every aspect of the lives of the members of the Imperial Family, both public and private, and exerting near-total control over them, from staff appointments to wardrobe selection. As with the imperial family itself, positions in the 1300-year-old Agency are hereditary. Nine out of ten requests from the imperial family, even the Emperor himself, are rejected. Masako, for instance, was denied browsing a bookstore, visiting her family, or calling her old college friends around the world or even going out for a cup of coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
.
See also
- Chamberlain of JapanChamberlain of JapanThe is a domestic caretaker and aide of the Emperor of Japan. He also keeps the Privy Seal and the State Seal and has been an official civil servant since the Meiji Period. Today the Grand Chamberlain, assisted by a Vice-Grand Chamberlain, heads the Board of the Chamberlains, the division of the...
- Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal of JapanLord Keeper of the Privy Seal of JapanThe was an administrative post not of Cabinet rank in the government of the Empire of Japan. The Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal was responsible for keeping the Privy Seal of Japan and State Seal of Japan....
- Imperial Household DepartmentImperial Household DepartmentThe Imperial Household Department was an institution of Qing-dynasty China...
, China
Further reading
- Kokusai Kyōiku Jōhō Sentā. (1986). The Imperial Family of Japan. Tokyo: International Society for Educational Information. OCLC 24145536