Lunch celebration held on His Majesty's birthday, where the Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice President of the House of Councilors; Diet members; the Prime Minister; Ministers of State; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; other government officials with Imperial attestation (Ninshokan); Administrative Vice Ministers of Ministries and Agencies and other leading figures of legislative, executive and judicial branches; and prefectural governors and representatives from all fields and their spouses are invited.
His Majesty's Birthday Celebration
Collective term for events held on His Majesty's birthday every year, where His Majesty receives congratulations. Events held on the day include Shukuga no Gi (Congratulatory Ceremony), Enkai no Gi (The Emperor's Birthday Lunch), Chakai no Gi (Reception), Ippan Sanga (Visit of the General Public to the Palace for His Majesty's Birthday), and other such events.
His Majesty's Birthday Celebration Ceremony
Ceremony held on Their Majesties birthday, where His Majesty receives congratulations from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and the rest of the Imperial Family; the Prime Minister; the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the House of Councilors; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court.
His Majesty's Birthday Tea
Celebration tea held on His Majesty's birthday, where heads of the diplomatic missions from other countries and their spouses are invited.
Baicho
Being allowed to listen to the lectures (goshinko) with Their Majesties and other Imperial Family members
Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading)
Ceremony held in January every year, where in the presence of the Emperor, poems chosen from those presented by the general public, poems written by senja (the selectors), poems written by meshiudo (people who select the poems), poems written by members of the Imperial family, a poem written by Her Majesty the Empress, and a poem written by His Majesty the Emperor are introduced in this order.
The majority age for the Emperor, the Kotaishi (Crown Prince, son of the Emperor) and the Kotaison (Crown Prince, grandson of the Emperor) is eighteen, while the age for other Imperial Family members is twenty (Designated by the Imperial House Law, Article 22, and the Civil Code, Article 3).
Coming of Age Ceremony
Ceremony held when a member of the Imperial Family reaches the coming-of-age
Ceremony to announce the accession to the throne. This is considered as an act in matters of state designated by the Constitution, and consists of Kenji-to-Shokei-no-gi (Accession Ceremony to inherit the Imperial Regalia and the State and Privy Seals), Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi (His Majesty's First Audience Ceremony after the Accession with the Head of the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary and other Representatives of the people), Sokuirei-Seiden-no-gi (Enthronement Ceremony), Shukuga-Onretsu-no-gi (Imperial Procession by motorcar after the Enthronement Ceremony) and Kyoen-no-gi (Court Banquets) (Designated by the Imperial House Law, Article 24).
Ceremony of Appointment of Official with Imperial Attestation
Ceremony of appointment of Ninshokan (officials whose appointment and dismissal requires Imperial acknowledgement)
Choken-no-gi
Audience with Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, held at the times of investiture of the Crown Prince, wedding, and other such events
Conferment Ceremony for the Order of Cultural Merit
Conferment Ceremonies where the Orders of Cultural Merit are conferred upon the recipient by His Majesty the Emperor
Grand banquet after the Daijokyu-no-gi, in which the Emperor bestows white sake, black sake and a relish upon those present, and all partake together.
Daijokyu-no-gi
Ceremony after the enthronement, in which the Emperor offers new rice to the Imperial Ancestor and to the Tenjin Chigi (the deities of heaven and earth) at both the Yukiden and Sukiden at the Daijokyu (temporary hall for the Daijosai), and partakes of it
The Daijosai (Rite of Offering of New Rice after the Enthronement Ceremony)
Rite where His Majesty offers new rice to the ancestors and to the gods of heaven and earth. His Majesty eats to appreciate and pray for public peace and productiveness of grain for the state and the people. (The term Daijosai is used for the term that means the main rite itself and as the collective term for the series of rites held before and after the main rite.)
Daitohu (the Record of Imperial Lineage)
Book that records facts pertaining to the Imperial status of His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress and the Empress Dowager
Ceremony where His Majesty the Emperor declares his enthronement, and then representatives from home and abroad offer congratulations for His Majesty's enthronement.
While there is one of the reception of State Visits by the Imperial Family, this means the ceremonies for farewell for guests of state.
Sokui-go-Choken-no-gi (His Majesty's First Audience Ceremony after the Accession)
Ceremony where His Majesty the Emperor officially meets the representatives of the people for the first time after the accession to the throne. The representatives include the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the House of Councilors (legislative), Prime Minister (executive) and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (judicial).
Feasts held in Akasaka Imperial Ground, twice a year, once in spring and once in fall, where Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress invite dignitaries including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the House of Councilors, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who are the heads of the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial), prefectural governors, and individuals who have rendered distinguished service in various fields including industry, culture, the arts and social activities, and their spouses.
Gyokei
Visits of Her Majesty the Empress, the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess
Gyokou
Visits of His Majesty the Emperor
Gyokoukei
Visits of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress together
Gyosei (the poems of His Majesty the Emperor)
Poems composed by His Majesty the Emperor. (In the Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime (Imperial New Year's Poetry Reading), they are called Oomiuta.)
Return from visits of the members of the Imperial Family other than Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, the Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess
Goshinko (meeting in which experts offer lectures on their subjects of specialty)
Experts offering lectures in their specialty to Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and other members of the Imperial Family
Expenses for the Imperial Family's official duties, including ceremonies, state banquets, receptions, and domestic and overseas visits. These expenses also include those for the management and maintenance of the Imperial Palace facilities and other properties. They are public funds to be accounted for by the Imperial Household Agency (Designated by the Imperial House Economy Law, Article 5).
The member of the Imperial family to next ascend the throne
the Imperial House Economy Council
The council deliberates important matters pertaining to the economy of the Imperial Household including changing the amount of the Inner Court Appropriation and the Allowance for Imperial Family members designated by law. The council has eight members: the Speaker and the Vice-Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President and the Vice-President of the House of Councilors, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance, the Grand Steward of the Imperial Household Agency, and the President of the Board of Audit.
The State properties assigned to the use of the Imperial House
Properties categorized as administrative properties among the national properties that are or will be provided to the Imperial Family
An annual allowance provided to each member of the Imperial Families so that the Imperial Families are able to maintain a life style that befits their position. The quantum to be used to calculate the Imperial Family Appropriations are designated by laws. The Imperial Family appropriations will be used as the Privy Purse for each member of the Imperial Family. Other than the Privy Purse, the appropriations will and can be used as a lump sum payment when a member of the Imperial Family establishes his/her independent household, or when a member of the Imperial Family leaves his/her Imperial status (Designated by the Imperial House Economy Law, Article 6 and the Law for the Enforcement of the Imperial House Economy Law, Article 8).
Shukuga-Onretsu-no-gi (Imperial Procession by motorcar after the Enthronement Ceremony)
The ceremony is held after the Enthronement ceremony for announcing to the general public the accession to the throne and to receive congratulations.
Imperial Investiture
Ceremony where His Majesty the Emperor appoints the Prime Minister or the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
the Inner Court Appropriation
Expenses for His Majesty and members of the inner court of the Imperial Family (Naitei-Kozoku) in daily living and activities. The amount for these expenses is stipulated. Used for the Privy Purse, these expenses are not public funds use and accounting for by the Imperial Household Agency (Imperial House Economy Law, Article 4, the Law for the Enforcement of the Imperial House Economy Law, Article 7).
Book that records facts pertaining to the Imperial status of Imperial Family members other than those of His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and the Empress Dowager
Kotohu (the Record of Imperial Lineage)
Books that record facts pertaining to His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Family. These are equivalent to the official family register. The books consist of Daitofu and Kozokuhu (Designated by the Imperial House Law, Article 26).
Ceremony where Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress receive New Year greetings from His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and the rest of the Imperial Family; the Speaker and Vice Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President and Vice President of the House of Councilors; Diet members; the Prime Minister; Ministers of State; the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court; other government officials with Imperial attestation (Ninshokan); Administrative Vice Ministers of Ministries and Agencies and other leading figures of legislative, executive and judicial organs; prefectural governors and chairpersons of prefectural assemblies; and heads of diplomatic missions to Japan and their spouses. The ceremony is held at the Imperial Palace each year on 1 January.
Nosai
Equivalent to yuino (exchange of engagement gifts) held among the general public
Personal expenses not categorized as public funds to be used and accounted for by the Imperial Household Agency (Designated by the Imperial House Economy Law, Article 4 and 6)
The Privy Seal with Tenno Gyoji engraved on it. The seal is used to attest the promulgation documents of Imperial Edicts, laws, cabinet orders and treaties, instruments of ratification of pacts, full powers and credentials of ambassadors and ministers, and appointment and dismissal notices of Ninshokan (officials whose appointment and dismissal requires Imperial acknowledgement).
Senka (poems chosen from submissions by the general public)
Poems that are chosen from the eishinka, ones submitted by the general public, which are introduced in the Ceremony of the Utakai Hajime (The composer of senka is called yosenja)
Traditional properties as are to be handed down with the Throne
The traditional properties as are to be handed down with the Throne includes the Three Sacred Treasures (the sacred mirror, the sacred sword and the sacred jewel) and the Imperial Palace Sanctuaries (Kashikodokoro, Koureiden, and Shinden) (Designated by the Imperial House Economy Law, Article 7).
The Takamikura (Imperial Throne for the Emperor)
Throne that His Majesty the Emperor uses during Sokui-no-Rei (Ceremony of the Accession to the Throne)
Visit of the General Public to the Palace for the New Year Greeting
Ceremony where Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress, accompanied by other members of the Imperial Family, receive New Year Greetings from the general public at the Imperial Palace each year on 2 January
Visit of the General Public to the Palace for His Majesty's Birthday
Event held on His Majesty's birthday, where His Majesty, accompanied by Her Majesty, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince and other members of the Imperial Family receive congratulations from the general public