| Privy Seal of Japan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Armiger | Naruhito,Emperor of Japan |
| Adopted | Nara period |
| Motto | Tennō/Gyoji (天皇御璽, "The Emperor's Imperial Seal") 天皇 |
ThePrivy Seal of Japan (御璽,Gyoji) is one of thenational seals and is theEmperor of Japan's official seal.
The Privy Seal of Japan is square, and its inscription天皇御璽 ("The Emperor's Imperial Seal") is written inseal script (篆書,tensho). It has two lines ofvertical writing, with the right-hand side containing the characters天皇 (Tennō, Emperor), and on the left-hand side containing the characters御璽 (Gyoji, Imperial Seal).
The present Privy Seal is made of pure gold and is about 3sun (about 9 cm) in size and weighs 4.5 kg. The master-hand of the seal was Abei Rekido (安部井 櫟堂; 1805-1883) of Kyoto. He was commissioned to manufacture theState Seal of Japan within one year, in 1874 (Meiji 7).
When not in use, the seal is kept in aleather bag. The seal is used with specialcinnabar seal ink specially made by theNational Printing Bureau.
The Privy Seal of Japan is printed on Imperial rescripts,proclamation of sentences oflaws,cabinet orders,treaties, instruments ofratification,ambassadors' credentials and their dismissal documents, documents ofgeneral power of attorney,consular commissions, letters authorizing foreignconsuls, letters of appointment or dismissal ofgovernment officials whose appointment requires the Emperor's attestation, andappointment documents and documents of thePrime Minister andChief Justice, and their respective dismissals.[1]
At the2019 Japanese imperial transition, the Privy Seal – together with theState Seal and two of theImperial Regalia – featured twice during the ceremonies: During the abdication ofEmperor Akihito on 30 April, and during the accession of Emperor Naruhito on 1 May, chamberlains carried the seals into theHall of Pines, where they were placed on tables near the reigning Emperor.[2][3][4][5]
The history of the Privy Seal of Japan dates back to theNara period. Although it was originally made from copper, it was manufactured from stone in 1868 (Meiji) and later, was made from pure gold.
If the State Seal or the Privy Seal are illegally reproduced, the penalty is at least two years or more of terminable penal servitude according to the first clause of Article 164 of theCriminal Code of Japan.[6]
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