Ministry of the Center

Overview
This ministry encompassed those of the Imperial Household whose functions brought them closest to the emperor.

Duties

 * attendance upon the Emperor, including advice to him on his personal matters, supporting him in the maintenance of a proper dignity and helping him in the observance of proper forms of etiquette
 * assisting in the inspection and countersigning of drafts of Imperial Rescripts
 * making of representations to the Emperor
 * support in the issuance of imperial orders in time of war[5]
 * monitoring the reception of addresses to the Emperor
 * compilation of the history of the country
 * maintenance of the records relating to the gazetteer
 * maintenance of the records relating to the personal status of imperial princesses from the second to the fourth generation
 * maintenance of the records relating to the maids of honour and other court ladies
 * oversight of the submission to the Emperor of the census of the population in the various provinces
 * oversight of the submission to the Emperor of the accounts of the taxes to be levied
 * oversight of the submission to the Emperor of the lists of the priests and nuns in the provinces
 * supervision of the Imperial archives
 * administration of the annual expenditure of the court and to various articles to be provided for the use of the Imperial family
 * supervision of the astronomical calculations and the arrangement of the calendar
 * oversight of the pictorial artists at court
 * regulation of medicaments to be supplied to the Emperor and the medical advice to be given him
 * maintenance of order in the palace