Imperial Household Agency - Kunaichou

Japanese: 宮内庁 - くないちょう

In 1947, the Imperial Household Ministry became the Imperial Household Agency, and in 1949 it became the Imperial Household Agency, an external bureau of the Prime Minister's Office. Following a reorganization of ministries and agencies, it has been directly under the Cabinet Office since 2001. It handles national affairs related to the Imperial Household and supports the lives of the Emperor and Imperial Family. As of the end of fiscal 2006, the agency had 52 special position staff and 1,015 general position staff. Under the Chief Chamberlain and Deputy Chief Chamberlain, there are various departments, such as the Chief Chamberlain's Secretariat. Chamberlains serve the Emperor and Empress closely, and are responsible for storing the Imperial Seal (the Imperial Seal) and State Seal (the National Seal). The Emperor is assisted by the Grand Chamberlain, Deputy Grand Chamberlain and Chamberlains, while the Empress is assisted by the Chief Lady-in-Waiting and Lady-in-Waiting. Daily personal matters are assisted by the Denbu, Udoneri and Nyoju. Health management is handled by the Chief Chamberlain, Chamberlain and Nurse. The Togu Office serves the Crown Prince and Princess and the Crown Prince's Royal Highness. Under the Togu Daibu (Grand Chamberlain), there are the Togu's Grand Chamberlain, the Grand Chamberlain, the Grand Lady-in-Waiting, the Grand Lady-in-Waiting, the Grand Chamberlain's Chief Physician, and the Grand Chamberlain's Doctor. Each Imperial household has 3-8 palace officials and ladies-in-waiting who serve them, and are overseen by the Chief Palace Affairs Officer. The Ceremonies Office manages and administers ceremonies, foreign relations, gagaku music, duck hunting, and so on. In the Archives and Mausolea Department, (1) the Library Division manages the Imperial Lineage Chart, which is the family register of the Emperor and Imperial Family, keeps ancient documents handed down by the Imperial Family, and manages the Shosoin Treasure, (2) the Compilation Division compiles the chronicles of the Emperors and compiles historical materials and records of the Imperial Household System, and (3) the Mausoleum Division manages and investigates the mausoleums of the Emperors and Imperial Family. The Administration Department is responsible for the maintenance and construction of national properties such as the Imperial Palace and Imperial Villas, the Daizen Department is responsible for the cooking and serving of banquets and tea ceremonies at the Imperial Court, and meals for the Emperor and Imperial Family, and the Carriage and Horse Department is responsible for the operation of automobiles and horse-drawn carriages. In addition, the Kyoto Office, which manages the Imperial Ranch in Tochigi Prefecture and the Imperial Palace in Kyoto, and the Shosoin Office in Nara are also in charge.

(Katsumi Iwai, Asahi Shimbun reporter / 2008)

Source : "Chiezo" published by Asahi Shimbun Publications Co., Ltd. About Chiezo

Japanese:

1947年、宮内省が宮内府になり、さらに49年、総理府の外局としての宮内庁となった。省庁再編に伴い、2001年から内閣府直属に。皇室関係の国家事務や、天皇・皇族の生活を支える。06年度末の定員は特別職52人、一般職1015人。長官、次長の下に長官官房など各部局がある。侍従職は天皇、皇后の身近に仕え、御璽(ぎょじ=天皇の印)、国璽(こくじ=国印)を保管。天皇を侍従長、侍従次長、侍従が、皇后を女官長、女官が補佐する。日常の身の回りのことは殿部(でんぶ)、内舎人(うどねり)、女嬬(にょじゅ)などが補佐する。健康管理は侍医長、侍医、看護師。東宮(とうぐう)職は皇太子夫妻と敬宮に仕える。東宮大夫(だいぶ)の下、東宮侍従長、同侍従、同女官長、同女官、同侍医長、同侍医らがいる。各宮家には宮務官、侍女長ら3〜8人が仕えており、宮務主管が統括している。式部職は儀式、外国交際や雅楽、鴨場などを運営・管理し、書陵部では、(1)図書課が天皇・皇族の戸籍に当たる皇統譜を管理し、皇室伝来の古文書などの保管、正倉院の管理、(2)編修課が歴代天皇の実録の作成、皇室制度史料・記録の編修など、(3)陵墓課が歴代天皇・皇族の陵墓の管理・調査などを行う。管理部では皇居や御用邸などの国有財産の維持管理、建設を行い、大膳(だいぜん)課で宮中の饗宴、茶会や天皇・内廷皇族の食事の調理・配膳を、車馬課で自動車・馬車の運用を行う。また、栃木県の御料牧場や、京都の御所などを管理する京都事務所、奈良の正倉院事務所もある。

(岩井克己朝日新聞記者／ 2008年)

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