The Imperial Household Agency where the office of the Board of Chamberlains is located

The Board of Chamberlains (侍従職, Jijū-shoku) is a department of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan.

History

According to Taihō Code around the 8th century, it was presupposed that a chamberlain belonged to the Ministry of the Center. When the kurōdodokoro (蔵人所) was installed during the Heian era, the chamberlain's role was quickly reduced, limited to matters of courtesy. In 1869, the chamberlain was brought into the Imperial Household Ministry. The position of Grand Chamberlain was placed within the merit system in 1871, and three people—Tokudaiji Sanetsune, Masataka Kawase, and Higashikuze Michitomi—were appointed. According to the Imperial Household Ministry regulations,^[1] the Grand Chamberlain supervises chamberlains who closely attend to the appointed person, report to that person, and announce their orders.

After World War II, the chamberlains were organized into the Board of the Chamberlains, within the Imperial Household Agency, through the temporary Imperial Household office (宮内府, kunaifu). After the passage of the National Public Service Law (Shōwa 22 Law No. 120), the chamberlain became a special service national public servant. Although distinctions between first-class officials, second-class officials, and so forth continued, the class publication of an appointment document would no longer be carried out after the 2001 Central Government Reform.^[2]

Organisation

The Grand Chamberlain (侍従長, Jijūchō) is a chief functionary of the Imperial court 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 Grand Chamberlain's position is that of an attestation official (認証官 Ninshōkan), i.e. his appointment and dismissal are at the discretion of the Emperor.

Crown Prince

The Crown Prince of Japan is also served by a chamberlain. This official is called East Palace Chamberlain (東宮侍従, Tōgū-jijū) because the Crown Prince lives in the Tōgū Palace ("East Palace"). The Grand Master is the head of the Board of the Crown Prince's Household.^[3]