The is the head department of the Imperial Household Agency of Japan.
The origins of the structure of the Imperial Household can be traced back to the reign of Emperor Monmu, with the organisation of the government structure in 701 AD.
Prince Naruhito, in May 2004, criticized the then-grand steward, Toshio Yuasa, for putting pressure on Masako Owada, Naruhito's wife, to bear a male child. At a press conference, Naruhito said that his wife had "completely exhausted herself" trying to adapt to royal life, and added "there were developments that denied Masako's career (up to our marriage) as well as her personality".
The is the head of the secretariat, and is responsible for managing the part of the household staff who are , or "outside the house"; these employees serve as drivers, cooks, gardeners, or administrative officials.
The secretariat is composed of these divisions: