Board of Ceremonies

The Board of Ceremonies (式部職, Shikibu-shoku) is a department of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan.

The history dates back to the Asuka period of the 8th century under the Taihō Code, when the Ministry of Ceremonial Affairs (式部省, Shikibu-shō) was formed.

The Bureau of the Ceremonies was initially under the administration of the Great Council of State (太政官, Dajō-kan), but was transferred to the control of the Imperial Household Ministry in September 1877.

[1] The first Vice-Grand Master has subordinate "officials of ceremonies" (式官, shikikan) underneath him, variously charged with ceremonial rites, music, and duck netting parties at the duck netting preserves (鴨場, kamoba).

[1] The hunting parties at the kamoba preserves invites guests to participate in traditional wild-duck netting, where the wildfowl are tagged.