noun
Imperial New Year's Lectures
A formal annual ceremony where the Emperor and imperial family attend expert lectures in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
講書始は、毎年1月に皇居で行われる伝統的な行事です。
The Imperial New Year's Lectures are a traditional event held at the Imperial Palace every January.
The term is composed of 講書 (lecture) and 始 (beginning), referring to the first lectures of the year. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; it is a specific imperial ceremony name.