Article 1The purpose of this Act is to ensure that: if a disaster occurs or is likely to occur, the State provides necessary relief as emergency measures through cooperation with local governments, organizations such as the Japanese Red Cross Society, and citizens, and promotes the protection of people who have been affected or are likely to be affected by a disaster and the preservation of social order.

Article 2(1)Unless otherwise provided for in this Act, relief under this Act (hereinafter referred to as "relief") is provided by a prefectural governor to people who have been affected by a disaster of a level specified by Cabinet Order and who currently need relief within the area of a city (including a special ward; the same applies hereinafter), town, or village where the disaster has occurred (hereinafter referred to as "municipality where the disaster has occurred" in paragraph (3) and Article 11) (in the case of the designated city referred to in Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947) (referred to as "designated city" in paragraph (2) of the following Article), within the area of the designated city or the area of a ward or an administratively consolidated ward of the designated city; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and paragraphs (1) and (2) of the following Article).

(2)If a disaster is likely to occur, and the specified disaster management headquarters prescribed in Article 23-3, paragraph (1) of the Basic Act on Disaster Management (Act No. 223 of 1961), extraordinary disaster management headquarters prescribed in Article 24, paragraph (1) of that Act, or headquarters for emergency disaster control prescribed in Article 28-2, paragraph (1) of that Act is established, and the area of jurisdiction of the relevant headquarters is announced by public notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 23-3, paragraph (2) of that Act (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 24, paragraph (2) or Article 28-2, paragraph (2) of that Act; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), the prefectural governor may also provide relief to people who are likely to be affected by the disaster and who currently need relief within the area of a municipality located within the area of jurisdiction (referred to as "municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the headquarters" in the following paragraph and Article 11); provided, however, that, this does not apply if the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply or the abolition of the headquarters is announced by public notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 23-3, paragraph (2) of that Act.

(3)When providing relief under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the prefectural governor must give public notice of this fact and the area of the municipality where the disaster has occurred or the municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the headquarters in which the prefectural governor will provide the relief. The same applies when the prefectural governor ends the relief.

Article 2-2(1)Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of the preceding Article, in the area of a city designated for relief implementation (meaning a city designated by the Prime Minister, taking into consideration circumstances such as its disaster management system and fiscal situation, as one that is capable of providing relief smoothly and promptly at the time of a disaster; the same applies hereinafter), the mayor of the city designated for relief implementation provides relief to people who have been affected by the disaster prescribed in paragraph (1) of that Article or are likely to be affected by the disaster prescribed in paragraph (2) of that Article and who currently need relief.

(2)When providing relief under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the mayor of a city designated for relief implementation must give public notice of this fact (if the mayor is the mayor of a designated city, public notice of the abovementioned fact and the area where the mayor will provide the relief). The same applies when the mayor ends the relief.

(3)The designation under the provisions of paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as "designation" in this Article) is made pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order, upon an application by the city that intends to provide the relief referred to in that paragraph.

(4)When intending to make a designation, in advance, the Prime Minister must hear opinions of the governor of the prefecture that includes the city that is to be designated.

(5)Having made a designation, the Prime Minister must immediately give public notice of this fact.

(6)Beyond what is provided for in paragraph (1) and the preceding three paragraphs, Cabinet Office Order prescribes necessary matters concerning designation and rescission thereof.

Article 2-3If the disaster prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) occurs or the disaster prescribed in paragraph (2) of that Article is likely to occur across the area of a city designated for relief implementation and the areas of municipalities other than the city designated for relief implementation, the prefectural governor is to undertake liaison and coordination with relevant persons, such as the mayor of the city designated for relief implementation and persons engaging in the business of production, etc. (meaning production, collection, sale, distribution, storage, or transportation; the same applies hereinafter) of goods so that the supply of goods or the provision of services necessary for the relief to be provided by the prefectural governor and the mayor of the city designated for relief implementation is performed properly and smoothly.

Article 3In order to ensure all possible means of providing relief, the prefectural governor or mayor of a city designated for relief implementation (hereinafter referred to as a "prefectural governor, etc.") must make constant efforts to formulate necessary plans, establish strong relief organizations, and make preparations for labor matters, facilities, equipment, goods, and funds.

Article 4(1)The types of relief under the provisions of Article 2, paragraph (1) are as follows:

(2)The type of relief under the provisions of Article 2, paragraph (2) is provision of shelters.

(3)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, when a prefectural governor, etc. finds it necessary, relief may be provided by providing money to a person who needs relief (if the relief is burial, a person who conducts burial).

(4)Cabinet Order prescribes necessary matters concerning the level, method, and period of relief.

Article 5(1)When finding it particularly necessary in order to provide relief, pursuant to the provisions of a disaster management operation plan (meaning the disaster management operation plan prescribed in Article 2, item (ix) of the Basic Act on Disaster Management), the head of a designated administrative organ (meaning the head of a designated administrative organ prescribed in Article 2, item (iii) of the Basic Act on Disaster Management; if the relevant designated administrative organ is a commission prescribed in Article 49, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office (Act No. 89 of 1999) or Article 3, paragraph (2) of the National Government Organization Act (Act No. 120 of 1948), an organ referred to in Article 2, item (iii), (b) of the Basic Act on Disaster Management or an organ referred to in (d) of that item that is based on a council system, the relevant designated administrative organ; the same applies in the following Article) and the head of a designated local administrative organ (meaning the head of a designated local administrative organ prescribed in Article 2, item (iv) of the Basic Act on Disaster Management; the same applies in the following Article) may order persons engaging in the business of production, etc. of goods as are necessary for providing relief to store the goods they handle, or expropriate the goods as are necessary for providing relief.

(2)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, a requisition order must be issued.

(3)When the disposition referred to in paragraph (1) is made, losses that would generally be caused by the disposition must be compensated for.

Article 6(1)When it is necessary for an order for the storage of goods or for expropriation of goods pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the head of a designated government organization and the head of a designated local government organization may have the relevant employees enter and inspect the places where the goods are ordered to be stored or the places where the goods are located.

(2)The head of a designated administrative organ and the head of a designated local administrative organ may seek a necessary report from the person that stores the goods as ordered pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, or may have the relevant employees enter and inspect the places where the relevant goods are stored as ordered.

(3)When entering the relevant places pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the relevant employees must notify the managers of the places to that effect in advance.

(4)When entering the relevant places pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), the relevant employees must carry proof of identification.

(5)The authority under the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) must not be construed as being granted for criminal investigation purposes.

Article 7(1)A prefectural governor, etc. may have persons related to medical care, civil engineering and construction, or transportation engage in the operations for relief when finding it particularly necessary in order to provide relief, and have persons related to medical care or civil engineering and construction engage in the operations for relief when finding it necessary in order to implement the instructions of the Prime Minister based on the provisions of Article 14.

(2)The Director-General of a District Transport Bureau (including the Director of Transportation Administration Department) may have persons related to transportation engage in the operations for relief when a prefectural governor, etc. finds it necessary and requests to do so in order to implement the instructions of the Prime Minister based on the provisions of Article 14.

(3)Cabinet Order prescribes the scope of medical care, civil engineering and construction, and transportation prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs.

(4)The provisions of Article 5, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis in the cases referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(5)If the relevant persons are engaged in providing relief pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), they must be compensated for the actual costs they have incurred.

Article 8A prefectural governor, etc. may have persons who need relief and persons who are in their neighborhood cooperate in the operations for relief.

Article 9(1)When finding it particularly necessary in order to provide relief, or finding it necessary in order to implement the instructions of the Prime Minister based on the provisions of Article 14, a prefectural governor, etc. may manage hospitals, clinics, hotels and other facilities specified by Cabinet Order, use land, buildings, or goods, order persons engaging in the business of production, etc. of goods to store the goods they handle, or expropriate the goods.

(2)The provisions of Article 5, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis in the case referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 10(1)When it is necessary in order to manage facilities, use land, buildings or goods, order the storage of goods or expropriate goods pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a prefectural governor, etc. may have the relevant employees enter and inspect the facilities, land, buildings, the places where the goods are located, or the places where the goods are ordered to be stored.

(2)A prefectural governor, etc. may seek a necessary report from the person that stores the goods as ordered pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, or may have the relevant employees enter and inspect the places where the relevant goods are stored as ordered.

(3)The provisions of Article 6, paragraphs (3) through (5) apply mutatis mutandis in the cases referred to in the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 11If an extraordinary disaster occurs or is likely to occur, and it is currently necessary to provide relief as emergency measures, the Prime Minister, a prefectural governor, etc., the head of a municipality where the disaster has occurred or municipality within the area of jurisdiction of the headquarters (both excluding a city designated for relief implementation; hereinafter referred to as a "municipality where the disaster has occurred, etc.") who administers part of the affairs under the authority of a prefectural governor concerning the implementation of relief pursuant to the provisions of Article 13, paragraph (1), or a person that has received an order from any of the above persons may use on a priority basis telecommunications facilities used for business purposes by the telecommunications carriers prescribed in Article 2, item (v) of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984), or use wire telecommunications facilities or radio facilities installed by the persons referred to in Article 3, paragraph (4), item (iv) of the Wire Telecommunications Act (Act No. 96 of 1953).

Article 12If a person engaging in or cooperating in the operations for relief pursuant to the provisions of Article 7 or Article 8 has been injured, has contracted a disease, or has died because of doing so, an assistance allowance is paid pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

Article 13(1)When finding it necessary in order to provide relief promptly, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, a prefectural governor, etc. may decide that part of the affairs under their authority concerning the implementation of relief is to be administered by the head of a municipality where the disaster has occurred, etc.

(2)Beyond the affairs to be administered by the head of a municipality where the disaster has occurred, etc. pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the head of a municipality where the disaster has occurred, etc. is to assist a prefectural governor, etc. in providing relief.

Article 14With regard to relief provided by a prefectural governor, etc., the Prime Minister may instruct other prefectural governors, etc. to provide support in providing relief.

Article 15(1)The Japanese Red Cross Society must cooperate in providing relief in light of its mission.

(2)The government may have the Japanese Red Cross Society undertake liaison and coordination with regard to the cooperation of organizations other than local governments or individuals (excluding cooperation under the provisions of Article 8) in providing relief pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, under the government's direction and supervision.

Article 16A prefectural governor, etc. may entrust the Japanese Red Cross Society with necessary matters concerning the implementation of relief or support thereof.

Article 17Among the affairs to be processed by local governments pursuant to the provisions of this Act, the following affairs are classified as the Item (i) statutory entrusted function prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act:

Article 18(1)Expenses required for providing relief pursuant to the provisions of Article 4 (including expenses necessary for administration of affairs for relief) are paid by the prefecture, etc. governed by the prefectural governor, etc. who has provided relief.

(2)Expenses required for compensation for actual costs under the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (5) and payment of an assistance allowance under the provisions of Article 12 that are related to persons that have engaged in or cooperated in the operations for relief according to an order for work under the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) or an order for cooperation under the provisions of Article 8 are paid by the prefecture, etc. governed by the prefectural governor, etc. who issued the order for work or order for cooperation; and expenses required for such compensation and payment that are related to persons that have engaged in the operations for relief according to an order for work under the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (2) are paid by the prefecture, etc. governed by the prefectural governor, etc. who made a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (2).

(3)Expenses required for compensation for losses under the provisions of Article 5, paragraph (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 9, paragraph (2) are paid by the prefecture, etc. governed by the prefectural governor, etc. who conducted management, use, or expropriation or ordered storage.

Article 19A prefecture, etc. compensates the Japanese Red Cross Society for expenses incurred thereby to carry out the matters entrusted by the prefectural governor, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 16, up to the amount of such expenses minus income gained to cover the expenses, such as donations.

Article 20(1)With regard to expenses paid by a prefecture, etc. to provide support for the relief provided by the prefectural governor, etc. of another prefecture, etc., the prefecture, etc. may seek reimbursement of the expenses from the other prefecture, etc.

(2)If an extraordinary disaster of an extremely unusual or devastating nature has occurred, a prefecture, etc. that has received a request for reimbursement pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as the "requested prefecture, etc.") may, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order, demand that the State make payment, on behalf of the requested prefecture, to a prefecture, etc. that has requested reimbursement pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph with regard to the expenses prescribed in that paragraph (hereinafter referred to as the "requesting prefecture, etc.").

(3)If the requested prefecture, etc. makes a demand under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, and the State finds it necessary in consideration of circumstances such as the status of damage within the area of the requested prefecture, etc., the State may, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order, pay the expenses related to the request for reimbursement under the provisions of paragraph (1) (hereinafter referred to as the "requested expenses") to the requesting prefecture, etc. on behalf of the requested prefecture, etc.

(4)Having paid the requested expenses pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the State is to seek from the requested prefecture, etc. reimbursement of the expenses paid.

Article 21(1)If the total amount of expenses paid by a prefecture, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 18 and expenses incurred by a prefecture, etc. for which compensation is requested under the provisions of Article 19 (excluding those for which reimbursement may be sought pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article) and expenses incurred by a prefecture, etc. for which payment of reimbursement sought under the provisions of that paragraph (including expenses incurred for which payment of reimbursement sought under paragraph (4) of the preceding Article) exceeds the amount specified by Cabinet Order, the national treasury is to bear 50 percent of that total amount when that total amount is 2 percent or less of the estimated amount of revenue for the relevant fiscal year as calculated by applying the standard tax rate referred to in Article 1, paragraph (1), item (v) of the Local Tax Act (Act No. 226 of 1950) to general taxes prescribed in that Act (excluding non-statutory general taxes; the same applies in Article 23) regarding the prefecture, etc. (or by applying the tax rate specified in that Act to local taxes for which the standard tax rate is not designated) (such amount is hereinafter referred to as the "estimated amount of revenue" in this paragraph), and bear the expenses according to the following categories when that total amount exceeds 2 percent of the estimated amount of revenue; in this case, the method of calculation of the estimated amount of revenue is as prescribed in Article 14 of the Local Allocation Tax Act (Act No. 211 of 1950):

(2)If the requested prefecture, etc. makes a demand under the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, and the State finds that the case falls under both of the following items, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order, the State may pay to the requesting prefecture, etc. all or part of the amount to be borne by the national treasury under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in lieu of the payment under the provisions of paragraph (3) of that Article:

(3)With regard to the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) in the case where the State pays the requested expenses pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the phrase "incurred for which payment of reimbursement sought under paragraph (4) of the preceding Article" in paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "related to the demand under the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article".

Article 22A prefecture, etc. must establish a disaster relief fund to be allocated for covering the payment of expenses prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

Article 23The minimum amount of the disaster relief fund for each fiscal year is the amount specified in the following items according to the categories of prefectures, etc. set forth in the respective items, and if the disaster relief fund does not reach that minimum amount, a prefecture, etc. must reserve the amount specified by Cabinet Order for the relevant fiscal year:

Article 24Revenue generated from a disaster relief fund must be totally transferred to the disaster relief fund.

Article 25If the amount to be borne by the national treasury pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (1) (including as applied pursuant to paragraph (3) of that Article following the deemed replacement of terms; hereinafter the same applied in this Article) exceeds the amount expended from financial resources other than the disaster relief fund in order to pay the expenses prescribed in Article 21, paragraph (1), the amount of excess must be transferred to the disaster relief fund.

Article 26A disaster relief fund must be operated by the following methods:

Article 27Expenses required for the management of a disaster relief fund may be expended from the disaster relief fund.

Article 28If a disaster relief fund established by a prefecture exceeds the minimum amount under the provisions of Article 23, and a municipality within its area saves funds for disaster relief, the prefecture may provide a subsidy to the municipality from the disaster relief fund, up to the amount in excess of the minimum amount.

Article 29If a disaster relief fund established by a prefecture, etc. exceeds the minimum amount under the provisions of Article 23, the prefecture, etc. may withdraw funds from the disaster relief fund, up to the amount in excess of the minimum amount.

Article 30If a prefectural governor has decided pursuant to the provisions of Article 13, paragraph (1) that part of the affairs under their authority concerning the implementation of relief is to be administered by the head of a municipality where the disaster has occurred, etc. or if a prefecture has no time to pay expenses required for providing relief, the prefectural governor may have the city where the disaster has occurred, etc., to which the relief has been provided divert funds to temporarily cover the expenses required for the implementation of relief.

Article 31If a person that has provided relief requests information to be provided pursuant to the provisions of Article 90-3, paragraph (4) of the Basic Act on Disaster Management, a prefectural governor is to provide information set forth in paragraph (2), items (i) through (iv) of that Article concerning the persons regarding whom information is requested which is in their possession.

Article 32A person falling under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or a fine of not more than 300,000 yen:

Article 33A person that has received relief or caused another person to receive relief by deception or other wrongful means is punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or a fine of not more than 300,000 yen; provided, however, that the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) applies if there are applicable provisions in that Code.

Article 34A person that has refused, obstructed, or avoided an on-site inspection by the relevant employees pursuant to the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (1) or (2) or Article 10, paragraph (1) or (2), or has failed to make a report or made a false report under the provisions of Article 6, paragraph (2) or Article 10, paragraph (2) is punished by a fine of not more than 200,000 yen.

Article 35When a representative of a corporation, or an agent, an employee or any other worker either of a corporation or individual commits any of the acts of violation referred to in Article 32 or the preceding Article with regard to the business of the corporation or individual, not only the offender but also the corporation or individual is subject to a fine prescribed in the respective Articles.