Article 1The purpose of this Act is to determine the necessary particulars concerning the establishment and operations of museums, to promote their sound development, and thereby to contribute to the educational, academic, and cultural development of the nation, based on the spirit of the Social Education Act (Act No. 207 of 1949) and the Basic Act on Culture and the Arts (Act No. 148 of 2001).

Article 2(1)The term "museum" as used in this Act means an institution that, in addition to being accredited pursuant to the provisions of the following Chapter, collects, stores (including raising specimen; the same applies hereinafter), exhibits, and makes available to the general public, for the purpose of education, materials related to history, art, folklore, industry, natural science, etc., performs services necessary to facilitate public education, research, and recreation, etc., and also conducts its own research and studies related to these materials (excluding community centers under the Social Education Act and libraries under the Library Act (Act No. 118 of 1950)).

(2)The term "public museum" as used in this Act means a museum established by a local government or a local incorporated administrative agency (meaning a local incorporated administrative agency prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Local Incorporated Administrative Agency Act (Act No. 118 of 2003); the same applies hereinafter).

(3)The term "private museum" as used in this Act means a museum, other than a public museum.

(4)The term "museum materials" as used in this Act means materials (including electronic or magnetic records (meaning records made by electronic, magnetic, or other means that cannot be perceived by human senses); the same applies in item (iii) of paragraph (1) of the following Article) collected, stored, or exhibited by a museum.

Article 3(1)In order to achieve the purpose prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a museum generally engages in the following services:

(2)In order to enhance the services set forth in each item of the preceding paragraph, a museum is to endeavor to cooperate with other museums, designated facilities prescribed in Article 31, paragraph (2), and other similar facilities through the mutual lending of materials, exchanging of staff members, exchanging of publications and information, and other activities, in a coordinated manner.

(3)A museum is to use the results of the services set forth in each item of paragraph (1) and cooperate with local governments, schools, social education facilities and other related organizations, and private organizations in a coordinated manner, promote educational, academic and cultural development, cultural tourism (meaning tourism aimed at deepening the understanding of culture through viewing of tangible or intangible cultural products and other culture-related resources (hereinafter referred to as "cultural resources" in this paragraph), hands-on activities related to cultural resources, and other activities), and other activities in the region where the museum is located, and thereby contribute to invigorating the region.

Article 4(1)A museum is to have a director.

(2)A director administers the affairs of the museum, supervises the staff members, and strives to achieve the mission of the museum.

(3)A museum is to have curators as professional staff members.

(4)Curators are responsible for technical matters related to the collection, storage, exhibition, and investigative research of museum materials, and other related services.

(5)In addition to a director and curators, a museum may have assistant curators and other staff members.

(6)An assistant curator is to assist a curator with their duties.

Article 5(1)A person who falls under any of the following items is qualified to become a curator:

(2)The position of assistant curator referred to in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph includes positions in public agencies, schools, or social education facilities (including facilities that conduct services similar to those of a museum), which are designated by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as positions equivalent to or higher than those of a social education supervisor, librarian, or other assistant curators.

Article 6A person who falls under any of the following items is qualified to become an assistant curator:

Article 7The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and prefectural boards of education are to endeavor to provide directors, curators, assistant curators, and other staff members with the training necessary to improve their qualities.

Article 8In order to promote the sound development of museums, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is to specify and publicize the desirable standards for the establishment and operations of museums.

Article 9A museum must evaluate the status of its operations, and endeavor to take necessary measures to improve the operations of the museum based on the results of the evaluation.

Article 10A museum must endeavor to actively provide information on the status of its operations in order to deepen the understanding of local residents and other persons concerned about the services of the museum and to contribute to the promotion of coordination and cooperation with those persons.

Article 11A person who seeks to establish a museum is to obtain accreditation for the museum from the board of education of the prefecture where the museum is located (if the museum (excluding those established by the prefecture) is located within the area of a designated city (meaning a designated city prescribed in Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947); the same applies hereinafter), the board of education of the designated city; hereinafter the same applies excluding Article 31, paragraph (1), item (ii)).

Article 12(1)A person who seeks accreditation under the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as "accreditation") must submit a written application for accreditation stating the following particulars to the prefectural board of education, as specified by the prefectural board of education:

(2)The following documents and drawings must be attached to the written application for accreditation referred to in the preceding paragraph:

Article 13(1)A prefectural board of education must grant accreditation to the museum when it finds that the museum related to the application for registration falls under all of the following items:

(2)In establishing the standards referred to in items (iii) through (v) of the preceding paragraph, prefectural boards of education are to take into consideration the standards specified by Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

(3)A prefectural board of education must obtain in advance the opinions of persons with relevant expertise concerning museums prior to granting accreditation.

Article 14(1)The prefectural board of education grants accreditation by entering the following particulars in the museum accreditation register:

(2)When a prefectural board of education has granted accreditation, it must notify the person who has applied for the accreditation to that effect without delay, and also publicize the particulars set forth in each item of the preceding paragraph via the internet or by other means.

Article 15(1)When an establisher of a museum changes the particulars set forth in Article 12, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii), they must notify the prefectural board of education to that effect in advance.

(2)When a prefectural board of education has received a notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it must register the changes in the registered particulars related to the notification and publicize the changes via the internet or by other means.

Article 16An establisher of a museum must periodically report the status of the operations of the museum concerned, as specified by the prefectural board of education.

Article 17When a prefectural board of education finds it necessary to ensure the proper operation of a museum that has been granted accreditation, it may request the establisher of the museum to submit reports or materials on the status of its operations.

Article 18(1)When a prefectural board of education finds that a museum that has been granted accreditation no longer falls under any of the items of Article 13, paragraph (1), it may recommend the establisher of the museum to take necessary measures.

(2)If an establisher of a museum that has received a recommendation under the preceding paragraph fails to take measures related to the recommendation without legitimate grounds, the prefectural board of education may specify a deadline and order the establisher of the museum to take measures related to the recommendation.

(3)The provisions of Article 13, paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to a recommendation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) and an order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Article 19(1)A prefectural board of education may revoke the accreditation of a museum if the establisher of a museum that has been granted accreditation falls under any of the following items:

(2)The provisions of Article 13, paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the revocation of accreditation under the preceding paragraph.

(3)When a prefectural board of education has revoked the accreditation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), it must promptly notify the establisher of the museum related to the accreditation to that effect as well as make a public announcement to that effect via the internet or by other means.

Article 20(1)When a museum is closed, the establisher of the museum must promptly notify the prefectural board of education to that effect.

(2)A prefectural board of education must, upon receiving notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, delete the accreditation of the museum which the notification concerns and publicize that fact via the internet or by other means.

Article 21(1)The provisions of Article 15 paragraph (1), Articles 16 through 18 and paragraph (1) of the preceding Article do not apply to museums established by prefectures or designated cities.

(2)With regard to the application of the provisions of Article 15, paragraph (2), Article 19, paragraphs (1) and (3), and paragraph (2) of the preceding Article to a museum established by a prefecture or a designated city, the phrase "upon receiving a notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, make a registration of the change in the registered particulars related to the notification" in Article 15, paragraph (2) is deemed to be replaced with "when there is a change in the particulars ser forth in Article 12, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii) with regard to the museum to be established, register those changes"; the phrase "if the establisher of a museum that has been granted accreditation falls under any of the following items" in Article 19, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "if it is found that the museum to be established no longer falls under items (iii) through (vi) of Article 13, paragraph (1)"; the phrase "notify the establisher of the museum that has been granted the accreditation to that effect as well as make a public announcement to that effect" in Article 19, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "make a public announcement to that effect"; and the phrase "upon receiving notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, delete the accreditation of the museum which the notification concerns" in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "upon closing a museum it has established, revoke the accreditation of the museum".

Article 22In addition to what is provided for in this Chapter, the particulars necessary for accreditation of museums are governed by the rules of the prefectural board of education.

Article 23(1)A public museum may establish a museum council.

(2)A museum council is an organ that responds to consultations from the director of a museum on the operation of the museum, and states its opinions to the director.

Article 24For a museum established by a local government, members of a museum council are appointed by the board of education of the local government that establishes the museum concerned (or the head of the local government when the head of the local government is to manage and execute the affairs concerning the establishment, management and closure of the museum pursuant to the provisions of the ordinance under Article 23, paragraph (1) of the Act on Organization and Management of Local Education Administration (Act No. 162 of 1956)), and by the president of the local incorporated administrative agency for a museum established by a local incorporated administrative agency.

Article 25The establishment of a museum council, the criteria for appointing its members, the fixed number of members and the term of office, and other necessary particulars concerning the museum council must be governed by the ordinance of the local government establishing the museum for a museum established by a local government, and by the regulations of the local incorporated administrative agency for a museum established by a local incorporated administrative agency. In such a case, the criteria specified by Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is to be taken into consideration when establishing the criteria for the appointment of council members.

Article 26A public museum may not collect admission fees or any other compensation for the use of museum materials; provided, however, in case of unavoidable circumstances for the maintenance and operation of the museum, necessary compensation may be collected.

Article 27(1)The national government within the scope of its budget, may assist local governments or local incorporated administrative agencies that establish museums by subsidizing a part of the expenses required for museum facilities and equipment and other necessary expenses.

(2)The particulars necessary for the grant of subsidies under the preceding paragraph are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 28If the national government has granted subsidies to a local government or local incorporated administrative agency establishing a museum pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article and any of the following items apply, the national government must not grant subsequent subsidies for the relevant fiscal year, and must have the local government or the local incorporated administrative agency return the subsidies already granted when the reason for the revocation under item (i) is that Article 19, paragraph (1), item (i) applies to the local government or the local administrative agency, and return the subsidies already granted for the relevant fiscal year when item (iii) or (iv) of that paragraph applies to the local government or the local incorporated administrative agency:

Article 29(1)A prefectural board of education may request a private museum to make reports necessary for the purpose of preparing instructional materials and conducting research and studies concerning museums.

(2)Upon request, a prefectural board of education may provide a private museum with professional and technical guidance or advice regarding the establishment and operation of the museum.

Article 30Upon request, the State and local governments may provide a private museum with assistance in securing necessary materials.

Article 31(1)A person set forth in any of the following items may designate a facility that engages in services similar to those of a museum, which is specified in the relevant item, as a facility equivalent to a museum, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology:

(2)When a person who has made a designation under the provisions of the preceding paragraph finds that the facility they have designated (hereinafter referred to as "designated facilities" in this Article) no longer falls under a facility that performs services similar to those of a museum or falls under other reasons prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science and Technology, the person may revoke the designation under the provisions of the preceding paragraph of the designated facilities, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

(3)A person who has made a designation under the provisions of paragraph (1) must, upon having made the designation or having revoked the designation under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, make a public announcement to that effect via the internet or by other means.

(4)A person who has made a designation under the provisions of paragraph (1) may, upon request, provide the establisher of the designated facilities with expert and technical guidance or advice on the operation of the designated museum.

(5)In performing its services, a designated facility is to endeavor to cooperate and with museums, other designated facilities, local governments, schools, social education facilities, and other related organizations and private organizations in a coordinated manner, taking into account of the purpose of the provisions of Article 3, paragraph (2) and (3).

(6)A designated facility established by the State or an incorporated administrative agency is to endeavor to provide necessary cooperation, such as lending materials for public use at museums and other designated facilities, and providing training for staff members, in order to enhance the services of museums and other designated facilities.