According to the final announcement of the government at that time, the Onie no matsuri Festival was not considered as a state act, because unlike the emperor's state acts, which were not related to the state vaguely but needed advisement and authorization of the ministry, the Onie no matsuri Festival, a traditional noble ritual, was in a different category to the state acts belonging to the affairs of State, and thus was not considered as a state act.
当時の政府発表（最終のもの）によれば、大嘗祭が「国事行為」とされなかった理由は、憲法上の天皇の「国事行為」とは漠然と国に関わる行為を指すものではなく、すべて「内閣の助言と承認」を必要とするものであり、皇室の伝統祭祀である大嘗祭は「国事行為」に当たらない（大嘗祭は政務上の「国事行為」と次元を異にする尊貴な行為である）ためである。