The is a department of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan. The board is the chief administration charged with ceremonial matters.
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.
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 .[1]
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.[1]
The board's performs both, i.e. ancient court music, and Western classical music.[1]
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.[2]
Below is a historic list of grand masters from 1947:
| Number | Name | Term in Office | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Mar 27, 1947 – May 2, 1947 | Granted status.[3] | ||
| May 3, 1947 – May 31, 1949 | ||||
| 1 | Matsudaira Yasumasa | Jun 1, 1949 – Jan 4, 1957 (died in office) | ||
| 2 | Feb 1, 1957 – Sep 10, 1968 (resigned) | |||
| 3 | Sep 10, 1968 – Jan 16, 1973 (resigned)[4] | |||
| 4 | January 16, 1973 – August 14, 1979 (resigned) | |||
| 5 | Aug 14, 1979 – Jun 20, 1989 (resigned) | |||
| 6 | Jun 20, 1989 – Sep 8, 1995 (resigned) | |||
| 7 | Sep 8, 1995 – Dec 12, 1996 | |||
| 8 | Dec 12, 1996 – Jul 8, 2003 (resigned) | |||
| 9 | Jul 8, 2003 – Jun 15, 2007 | |||
| 10 | Jun 15, 2007 – Oct 4, 2009 (died in office) | |||
| – | Oct 8, 2009 – Oct 20, 2009 | Acting GM (Vice-GM) | ||
| 11 | Oct 20, 2009 – Sep 1, 2012 (resigned) | |||
| 12 | Sep 1, 2012 – present | |||