Article 1Documents and drawings for filing applications or notifications concerning mining business, and for paying the registration and license tax must be prepared for each case.

Article 2If a person submits a document or drawing referred to in the preceding Article as correspondence mail prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (3) of the Act on Correspondence Delivery by Private Business Operators (Act No. 99 of 2002) that is delivered by a general correspondence delivery service provider prescribed in paragraph (6) of that Article or a specified correspondence delivery service provider prescribed in paragraph (9) of that Article (hereinafter referred to as "Correspondence Mail"), that person is deemed to have submitted the document or drawing on the day indicated by the date stamp except for cases in which it is handled as mail with certification of acceptance time. The same applies when the date stamp is not affixed or is unclear and the person who submitted the document or drawing proves the date of submission with a receipt of a postal item or Correspondence Mail.

Article 2-2The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry who receives an application for the establishment of or changes to mining rights, or an application for the establishment of or changes to mining lease rights must affix an application number using Form 1 to the written application and give a notice of the relevant number to the applicant.

Article 2-3The means specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 21, paragraph (2) of the Mining Act (Act No. 289 of 1950; hereinafter referred to as the "Act") are first-class mails handled as those with certification of acceptance time, Correspondence Mails for which acceptance and delivery are recorded, or those using electronic data processing systems (meaning electronic data processing systems that connect computers used by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (including input-output devices; the same applies hereinafter) and a computer used by a person who intends to file an application under paragraph (1) of that Article via a telecommunications line) that have a function to record the date and time of sending written applications referred to in Article 27, paragraph (1) of the Act.

Article 3A public notice of the outline of a disposition under Article 141 of the Act is given by posting it on the notice board of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry or a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 3-2Locations of the points constituting the vertices of a polygon that shows the shape of a mining site (hereinafter referred to as "Vertices of the Mining Site") and the points constituting the vertices of a polygon that shows the shape of a mining lease site (hereinafter referred to as "Vertices of the Mining Lease Site") are to be described with coordinate values based on the plane rectangular coordinate system (meaning the system specified by the Public Notice of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism No. 9 of January 2002) based on the Survey Act (Act No. 188 of 1949).

Article 23(1)A person who intends to file an application for the establishment of mining lease rights under Article 77, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 14, together with three copies of a map of the area using Form 26 and other documents specified in that paragraph, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.In this case, the map of the area must contain a clear description of the relationship between the area of land where the person intends to establish the mining lease rights and the mining sites for the digging rights subject to the mining lease rights.

(2)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph and when ore deposits are specified, maps of ore deposits prepared separating plane views and cross sectional views and a written explanation thereof must be attached to the map of the area.

(3)Documents set forth in the following items must be attached to the written application referred to in paragraph (1):

(4)The provisions of Article 4, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to written applications referred to in paragraph (1).

Article 24(1)A person who intends to file an application for an increase or decrease of the scale of a mining lease site under Article 78, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 15, together with three copies of a map of the area using Form 26 and documents specified in Article 77, paragraph (1) of the Act applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 78, paragraph (2) of the Act, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.In this case, the map of the area must contain a clear description of the relationship between the mining lease site and the area of land that the person intends to increase or decrease, as well as the mining sites for the digging rights where mining lease rights are established.

(2)The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) (excluding items (i) and (vii)) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to applications referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(3)The provisions of Article 4, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to written applications referred to in paragraph (1).

Article 24-2(1)A person who receives a notice of authorization for the establishment of or changes to mining lease rights must submit a registration and license tax receipt or a statement of payment with a stamp in an amount equivalent to the amount of the prescribed registration and license tax to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, together with a written notification, within the period prescribed in Article 77, paragraph (4) of the Act.

(2)The provisions of Article 17, paragraph (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the case referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 25A person who intends to file an application for the extension of the duration of mining lease rights under Article 76, paragraph (4) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 16, together with a document and drawing explaining the record of digging and a written contract, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 26The provisions of Article 6, Article 8, paragraphs (2) and (3), Article 11, and Article 19 apply mutatis mutandis to mining lease rights.

Article 26-2(1)A holder of mining rights who intends to file an application for authorization for the postponement of the initiation of business under Article 62, paragraph (2) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 17 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(2)A holder of mining rights who intends to file an application for authorization for the suspension of business under Article 62, paragraph (3) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 18 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(3)A holder of mining rights who intends to file a notification of the resumption of suspended business under Article 62, paragraph (4) of the Act must submit a written notification using Form 19 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(4)The provisions of Article 4, paragraph (4) apply mutatis mutandis to written applications or written notifications referred to in the preceding three paragraphs.

Article 27(1)A holder of general prospecting rights or a holder of general digging rights who intends to file a notification of an operational plan or file an application for authorization therefor under Article 63, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act must submit an operational plan using Form 20, together with an explanatory drawing thereof, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(2)A holder of general prospecting rights or a holder of general digging rights who intends to file a notification concerning changes to the operational plan or file an application for authorization therefor must submit a new operational plan using Form 20, together with an explanatory drawing thereof and a document stating the reasons for the changes, to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(3)Documents referred to in the preceding two paragraphs must be submitted with two copies each thereof.

(4)The Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry must consult with the Director of a Regional Industrial Safety and Inspection Department before granting authorization for operational plans.

Article 27-2(1)A person who intends to file an application for authorization for an operational plan under Article 63-2, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act must submit an operational plan using Form 20, together with an explanatory drawing thereof and a business plan, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(2)A person who intends to file an application for authorization for changes to the authorized operational plan referred to in the preceding paragraph must submit a new operational plan using Form 20, together with an explanatory drawing thereof and a document stating the reasons for the changes, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(3)The provisions of paragraphs (3) and (4) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to applications referred to in preceding two paragraphs.

Article 27-3The Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry must consult with the Director of a Regional Industrial Safety and Inspection Department before giving a recommendation under Article 100, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act or giving an order under paragraph (3) of that Article.

Article 27-4A holder of mining rights who intends to have the presence of the relevant minerals confirmed under Article 67 of the Act must submit a written notification using Form 21 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 27-5A holder of mining rights who intends to file a notification of the establishment of a mining office under Article 68 of the Act must submit a written notification using Form 22 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 28A holder of prospecting rights must enter the progress of prospecting as of the final day of the preceding month, the quantity of produced minerals during the preceding month, the number of operating days and man-hours in the prospecting schedule referred to in Article 69 of the Act by the final day of every month.

Article 29A holder of digging rights must prepare a survey map of the interior of a mining pit referred to in Article 70 of the Act using Form 27, separating plane views and cross sectional views, and enter the progress of digging as of the final day of the preceding month on the map by the final day of every month.

Article 30A holder of digging rights must enter the quantity of produced minerals during the preceding month, the quantity and amount of money of sold minerals, the number of operating days and man-hours in the mining registry referred to in Article 70 of the Act by the final day of every month.

Article 30-2(1)A prospecting schedule referred to in Article 69 of the Act or a survey map of the interior of a mining pit or a mining registry referred to in Article 70 of the Act may be prepared and kept by recording the matters prescribed in the preceding three Articles by electronic or magnetic means (meaning an electronic means, a magnetic means or any other means that is not perceivable by human senses).

(2)If a person is to keep the prospecting schedule, survey map of the interior of a mining pit or mining registry in accordance with the preceding paragraph, the person must keep the prospecting schedule, survey map of the interior of a mining pit or mining registry referred to in the preceding paragraph in a manner that they can be displayed immediately, as necessary, on a computer or other device.

(3)If a person is to keep the prospecting schedule, survey map of the interior of a mining pit or mining registry in accordance with paragraph (1), the person must endeavor to maintain the standards specified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 30-3A person who intends to make a report under Article 70-2, paragraph (1) of the Act (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (2) of that Article) must submit a written periodical report using Form 22-1 specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry by the final day of May every year:

Article 31(1)A holder of mining rights may appoint a mining agent to whom the holder delegates procedures and other acts that the holder is to undertake under the Act and the provisions of orders based thereon for the implementation of mining, by clarifying the scope of the delegation.

(2)The appointment or change of a mining agent or the extinguishment of that mining agent's authority to represent does not become effective unless a holder of mining rights submits a written notification using Form 23, 24 or 25 to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 32(1)A holder of mining rights may integrate and prepare documents under Article 26-2 with regard to two or more mining rights.

(2)If a holder of mining rights conducts business integrally in two or more mining sites, the holder may integrate and prepare documents referred to in Article 27, Article 27-2, and Article 27-4 to the preceding Article, respectively.

Article 33The provisions of Article 27, Article 27-4, Articles 29 to 31, and paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to mining business by holders of mining lease rights.

Article 34A person who intends to enter land of other persons or fell obtrusive bamboo and trees under Article 101, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

Article 35(1)A person who intends to file an application for the use or condemnation of land of other persons under Article 106, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items, together with the certificate of registered information of the land, survey maps of related land, and work specifications, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)When filing an application referred to in the preceding paragraph, the person must submit the relevant number of copies of the written application and survey maps of related land in accordance with the number of prefectures and municipalities where the land to be used or condemned is located.

Article 35-2(1)Survey maps of related land referred to in the preceding Article are to be prepared as prescribed in the following items by using marks as used in a topographical map with a scale of 1:50,000 issued by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan or by using any other appropriate mark if there are none available in that topographical map:

(2)Drawings of the locations and details of facilities to be included in the work specifications referred to in the preceding Article are those of a scale between around 1:100 and 1:3,000.

Article 35-3The drawings that the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry is to send to the mayors of municipalities under Article 106, paragraph (6) of the Act are survey maps of related land referred to in Article 35.

Article 35-4A person who intends to file an application for the deferment of procedures for the use or condemnation under Article 106-2, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.In this case, the areas of the land for which the procedures for the use or condemnation are to be deferred are to be indicated with black diagonal lines on the survey maps of related land referred to in Article 35:

Article 36The provisions of the preceding four Articles apply mutatis mutandis to the right of use of water.

Article 37When a holder of mining rights or a holder of mining lease rights acquires the rights concerning land or the right of use of water in accordance with the Land Condemnation Act (Act No. 219 of 1951) which applies in accordance with Article 107, paragraph (1) of the Act (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 108 of the Act), or starts, ends or no longer continues the use of the land or water, the holder must file a notification to that effect, without delay, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 38(1)By the final day of February every year, the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry must determine the amount of money to be deposited under Article 117, paragraph (1) of the Act, and notify a holder of mining rights or a holder of mining lease rights who intends to mine coal or lignite of the amount and the name of the deposit office at which the relevant amount is to be deposited.

(2)By the final day of March every year, the holder of mining rights or the holder of mining lease rights who receives a notice referred to in the preceding paragraph must deposit the amount of money referred to in the preceding paragraph at the deposit office designated by the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 39(1)If mining rights or mining lease rights to mine coal or lignite extinguish, the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry must determine the amount of money to be deposited under Article 117, paragraph (1) of the Act, in accordance with the quantity of coal or lignite mined from January 1 of the year until the day of the extinguishment of the rights, and notify the holder of mining rights or the holder of mining lease rights of the amount of money and the name of the deposit office at which the relevant amount is to be deposited.

(2)The holder of mining rights or the holder of mining lease rights who receives a notice referred to in the preceding paragraph must deposit the amount of money referred to in the preceding paragraph at the deposit office designated by the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, within thirty days from the day on which the notice arrives.

Article 40The provisions of the preceding two Articles apply mutatis mutandis to deposit of collateral by a holder of mining rights or a holder of mining lease rights who intends to mine minerals other than coal and lignite under Article 117, paragraph (3) of the Act.In this case, the term "the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry" is deemed to be replaced with "the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry".

Article 40-2Deposit of compensation under Article 53-2, paragraph (5) of the Act is to be made through the procedures prescribed in the Deposit Regulation (Order of the Ministry of Justice No. 2 of 1959).

Article 41(1)In making a deposit as prescribed in Articles 38 and 39 (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 40), a holder of mining rights or a holder of mining lease rights who has justifiable grounds may deposit the amount of money to be deposited in four or less installments by obtaining approval of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

(2)A person who intends to obtain the approval referred to in the preceding paragraph must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry no later than 15 days prior to the deadline for the deposit:

Article 42A holder of mining rights or a holder of mining lease rights who deposits the amount of money under Article 117, paragraph (1) or (3) of the Act must submit the original of the certificate of deposit, without delay, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Article 43A person who intends to obtain approval for the recovery of the money or national government bonds (including those for which the ownership of the right is to be determined based on the statement or record in the book-entry account registry under the provisions of the Act on Book-Entry Transfer of Company Bonds, Shares, etc. (Act No. 75 of 2001) (hereinafter referred to as "book-entry transfer national government bonds" in this Article); hereinafter, the same applies in this Article and the following Article) that the person has deposited under Article 119 of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

Article 44A person who intends to recover the deposited money or national government bonds under Article 119 of the Act must follow the procedures of the Deposit Regulation and submit a document proving that the person has obtained the approval set forth in the preceding Article to the deposit office.

Article 44-2(1)The seismic survey method prescribed in Article 100-2, paragraph (1) of the Act means the method to artificially produce vibrations to generate seismic waves and detect the reflected waves thereof.

(2)The method specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 100-2, paragraph (1) of the Act is either of the following methods that uses certain areas continuously and is conducted within the exclusive economic zone under Article 1, paragraph (2) of the Act on the Exclusive Economic Zone and the Continental Shelf (Act No. 74 of 1996), a sea area relating to a continental shelf under Article 2 of that Act, or territorial waters or inland waters (excluding rivers and lakes) under Article 1, paragraph (1) of the Act on Territorial Waters and Contiguous Water Area (Act No. 30 of 1977):

Article 44-3(1)A person who intends to obtain permission for exploration under Article 100-2, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 35, together with three copies of a drawing indicating the areas for exploration using Form 36 that clearly describes the matters set forth in the following items, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)A document pledging that the applicant does not fall under any of Article 100-3, item (ii), (a) to (c) of the Act must be attached to the written application referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 44-4With regard to the method of exploration referred to in Article 100-2, paragraph (2), item (iii) of the Act, the matters set forth in the following items must be described:

Article 44-5Particulars specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 100-2, paragraph (2), item (v) of the Act are those set forth in the following items:

Article 44-6The certificate of permission referred to in Article 100-2, paragraph (3) of the Act is to be prepared using Form 37 and contain the matters set forth in the following items:

Article 44-7The reissuance and return of certificates of permission and other procedural particulars concerning certificates of permission specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 100-2, paragraph (5) of the Act are those set forth in the following items:

Article 44-8The standards specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 100-3, item (i) of the Act are those set forth in the following items:

Article 44-9(1)A person who intends to obtain permission for changes referred to in Article 100-4, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit the written application using Form 39 specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)If there are changes in the matters set forth in Article 100-2, paragraph (2), item (i) of the Act or Article 44-3, paragraph (1), drawings referred to in that paragraph after the changes must be attached to the written application referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(3)When a person intends to obtain permission for changes referred to in Article 100-4, paragraph (1) of the Act and the matters for which the person files the application fall under the matters to be stated in a certificate of permission, the person must submit the certificate of permission to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry upon filing the application and receive the issuance of the certificate of permission specifying the matters after the changes.

Article 44-10The minor changes specified by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in the proviso to Article 100-4, paragraph (1) of the Act are those set forth in the following items:

Article 44-11(1)A person who intends to file a notification referred to in Article 100-4, paragraph (3) of the Act must submit the written notification using Form 40 specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)If there are changes in the matters set forth in item (iii) of the preceding Article, drawings referred to in Article 44-3, paragraph (1) after the changes must be attached to the written notification referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(3)When a person intends to file a notification referred to in Article 100-4, paragraph (3) of the Act and the matters for which the person files the notification fall under the matters to be stated in a certificate of permission, the person must submit the certificate of permission to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry upon filing the notification and receive the issuance of the certificate of permission specifying the matters after the changes.

Article 44-12(1)A person who intends to obtain approval for the merger or split referred to in Article 100-8, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application for approval for merger using Form 41 or a written application for approval for split using Form 42, together with the documents set forth in the following items, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)A person who intends to obtain approval for the merger or split referred to in Article 100-8, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit the certificate of permission to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry upon filing the application and receive the issuance of the certificate of permission that specifying the matters after the changes.

Article 44-13(1)A person who intends to obtain approval for the inheritance referred to in Article 100-9, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application using Form 43, together with the documents set forth in the following items, to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)A person who intends to obtain approval for the inheritance referred to in Article 100-9, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit the certificate of permission to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry upon filing the application and receive the issuance of the certificate of permission specifying the matters after the changes.

Article 44-14The report prescribed in Article 100-11 of the Act must be made with the document using Form 44 specifying the matters set forth in the following items, together with an optical disk, magnetic tape or magnetic disk in which data (results of the investigations into the geological structure, etc. obtained through the exploration (including analysis results) and the record thereof) are recorded:

Article 45(1)A person who intends to file an application for a decision under Article 47, paragraph (1) of the Act or Article 66, paragraph (4) of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items, together with a drawing showing the relationship of ore deposits prepared, separating plane views and cross sectional views, and a written explanation thereof, as well as a document describing the developments of the consultations with the holders of mining rights and the mortgagees of the adjacent mining sites or with the holders of mining rights of the overlapping mining sites (if the person has been unable to have consultations, a written statement of the reasons therefor), to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)When filing an application referred to in the preceding paragraph, the person must submit the relevant number of copies of the written application in accordance with the number of the holders of mining rights and the mortgagees of the adjacent mining sites or the holders of mining rights of the overlapping mining sites.

Article 45-2(1)A person who intends to file an application for a decision under Article 64-2 of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items, together with a drawing clearly describing the relationship between the ore deposits and facilities or buildings prepared separating plane views and cross sectional views and a written explanation thereof, as well as a document describing the developments of the consultations (if the person has been unable to have consultations, a written statement of the reasons therefor), to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)When filing an application referred to in the preceding paragraph, the person must submit the relevant number of copies of the written application in accordance with the number of the managers of the relevant facilities or buildings plus one.

Article 46(1)A person who intends to file an application for a decision under Article 90 of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items, together with a drawing showing the relationship of ore deposits prepared, separating plane views and cross sectional views, and a written explanation thereof, as well as a drawing clearly describing the range of increases or decreases of the scale of the relevant digging areas, and a document describing the developments of the consultations with the holders of general digging rights of the adjacent mining sites (if the person has been unable to have consultations, a written statement of the reasons therefor), to the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)When filing an application referred to in the preceding paragraph, the person must submit the relevant number of copies of the written application in accordance with the number of the holders of general digging rights of the adjacent mining sites, and the mortgagees for the relevant general digging rights and the general digging rights for the adjacent mining sites or the holders of mining lease rights.

Article 47(1)A person who intends to file an application for mediation of settlement under Article 122 of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)When filing an application referred to in the preceding paragraph, the person must submit the relevant number of copies of the written application in accordance with the number of the parties concerned.

Article 48Deleted.

Article 49(1)Hearing of opinions under Article 34, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 47, paragraph (2) of the Act (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 66, paragraph (5) of the Act), Article 91, paragraph (1) of the Act, or Article 106, paragraph (2) of the Act (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 108 of the Act) must be carried out at a hearing session chaired by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or an official designated thereby or by the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry or an official designated thereby.

(2)Hearing of opinions under Article 126 of the Act must be carried out at a hearing session chaired by the review officer prescribed in Article 11, paragraph (2) of the Administrative Complaint Review Act (Act No. 68 of 2014).

(3)The provisions of Article 3 apply mutatis mutandis to the public notice concerning hearing of opinions referred to in the preceding two paragraphs.

Article 50The chairperson may request officials of the relevant administrative organs, persons with relevant knowledge or experience, and other witnesses to attend a hearing session when the chairperson finds it necessary.

Article 51A person who intends to attend a hearing session (excluding hearing sessions under Article 126 of the Act) as an interested person or an agent thereof must make a prima facie showing of the fact, in writing, that the person has an interest in that case.

Article 52(1)At a hearing session, in the case of an application for examination, the chairperson must have the applicant for examination or an agent thereof state the gist and reasons for the application, and in other cases, the chairperson must explain the gist and reasons of the disposition or the application.

(2)When an applicant for examination or an agent thereof does not attend a hearing session for an application for examination, reading out of the written application for examination may replace the statement by the applicant or an agent thereof.

Article 53When it is necessary for maintaining order in a hearing session, the chairperson may have a person who is disturbing order or is acting or behaving in a disturbing manner leave the session.

Article 54The chairperson may postpone or continue a hearing session when the chairperson finds it necessary. In this case, the chairperson must decide the date and venue of the next session, give notice of that date and venue to the parties concerned and interested persons, and also give public notice thereof.

Article 55(1)A written statement regarding a hearing session must be prepared and included in the case records.

(2)The written statement referred to in the preceding paragraph must contain the matters set forth in the following items and the chairperson must affix the chairperson's name and seal thereto:

Article 56The parties concerned or agents thereof may inspect the case records. The same applies to witnesses and other persons who have made a prima facie showing of the fact, in writing, that they have an interest in that case, and agents thereof.

Article 57(1)A person who intends to request an on-site investigation under Article 140, paragraph (1) of the Act must submit a written application specifying the matters set forth in the following items, together with a written statement of reasons to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry:

(2)When the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry has received an application referred to in the preceding paragraph and finds an on-site investigation necessary, the minister or the director must notify the applicant of the number of days, the number of laborers and types and the quantity of commodities required for the investigation.

Article 57-2The cases prescribed by the Order of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry referred to in Article 143, paragraph (4) of the Act are where a person is unable to pay the compensation by the payment deadline due to a disaster or other special circumstances.

Article 58By the final day of August every year, a holder of digging rights or a holder of mining lease rights must submit a copy of a survey map of the interior of a mining pit as of the final day of June every year to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, and if digging rights or mining lease rights have extinguished, a person who used to be a holder of digging rights or a holder of mining lease rights must submit a copy of a survey map of the interior of a mining pit as of the day of the extinguishment of the digging rights or mining lease rights to the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry or the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry by the final day of the month that contains the day on which two months have elapsed from the day of extinguishment.

Article 58-2(1)The documents set forth in the left-hand column of the following table may be submitted by using a flexible disk onto which the matters to be stated in the relevant documents are recorded respectively on the form set forth in the right-hand column of the same table, together with the flexible disk submission slip using Form 29.

(2)An applicant may submit the documents set forth in the following items by using a flexible disk onto which the matters to be stated in the relevant documents are recorded, together with the flexible disk submission slip using Form 29:

Article 58-3The flexible disk referred to in the preceding Article must fall under either of the following items:

Article 58-4(1)Recording onto a flexible disk under Article 58-2 must be carried out by the following methods:

(2)Recording onto a flexible disk under Article 58-2 must be carried out by using those graphic characters specified in Japanese Industrial Standards X0201 and X0208 and the "carriage return (CR)" and the "line feed (LF)" from among those control characters specified in Japanese Industrial Standards X0211.

Article 58-5A document specifying the matters set forth in the following items must be pasted onto the labeling area specified in Japanese Industrial Standards X6221 or X6223 on a flexible disk referred to in Article 58-2:

Article 58-6If a person set forth in the following items undertakes the procedures by using an electronic data processing system referred to in Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Use of Information and Communications Technology in Administrative Procedure (Act No. 151 of 2002) (meaning an electronic data processing system that connects computers used by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (including input-output devices; the same applies hereinafter) and a computer used by a person who undertakes the procedures prescribed in the relevant items via a telecommunications line), the person undertaking the procedures must enter the matters set forth in the following items from the computer used thereby (limited to a computer that conforms to the standards specified by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry in a public notice):

Article 58-7When a person pays fees by cash under the proviso to Article 3 of the Order on Fees Relating to the Mining Act (Cabinet Order No. 16 of 1951), the person must pay that fees based on the payment information acquired through filing the application, notification, or request.

Article 59The identification card certifying the status of an official who conducts an on-site inspection referred to in Article 144, paragraph (3) of the Act is to be in Form 28.

Article 60With regard to the application of the Regulation on Hearing Procedures of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Order of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry No. 62 of 1994) to the hearing referred to in Article 48, paragraph (4) of the Act, the term "14 days" in Article 5 of that Regulation and the term "7 days" in Article 9 of that Regulation are deemed to be replaced with "6 days".

Article 61(1)The authority of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prescribed in Article 19 of the Act, Article 38, paragraphs (1), (3) and (7) of the Act, Article 39, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 40 (excluding paragraphs (6) and (8)) of the Act, Article 41 (excluding paragraph (4)) of the Act, Article 43 (excluding paragraphs (4) and (5)) of the Act, Article 45, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 51-2 (excluding paragraph (4)) of the Act, Article 51-3 of the Act, Article 52 of the Act, Article 53 of the Act, Article 53-2, paragraph (3) of the Act, Article 54 of the Act, Article 55 of the Act, Article 56, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 57, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 58 of the Act, Article 61 of the Act, Article 62 (excluding paragraph (1)) of the Act, Article 63-2, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 64-2, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the Act, Article 66, paragraph (4) of the Act, Article 67 of the Act, Article 68 of the Act, Article 70-2, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 88 of the Act, Article 100 (excluding paragraph (5)) of the Act, Article 100-2 (excluding paragraphs (4) and (5)) of the Act, Article 100-3 of the Act, Article 100-4, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the Act, Article 100-5 of the Act, Article 100-6 of the Act, Article 100-8, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 100-9, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 100-10 of the Act, Article 100-11 of the Act, Article 101, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 106 (excluding paragraph (4)) of the Act, Article 106-2, paragraph (3) of the Act, Article 107, paragraph (3) of the Act, Article 117, paragraph (3) of the Act, Article 119 of the Act, Article 120 of the Act, Article 122 of the Act, Article 123, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 124, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 137 of the Act, Article 138 of the Act, Article 139 of the Act, Article 140, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 141 of the Act, Article 142 of the Act, Article 143 (excluding paragraphs (5) and (6)) of the Act, and Article 144, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act is to be exercised by the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry who has jurisdiction over the location of the relevant mining site or area for exploration (excluding the mining sites, etc. or areas for exploration established under Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 40, paragraph (3) or (7) of the Act, or Article 41, paragraph (1) of the Act, the whole or part of which is established within either of the areas set forth in the following items); provided, however, that the relevant delegation does not preclude the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from exercising its own authority:

(2)The authority of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry prescribed in Article 21, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 23 (excluding paragraphs (4) and (5)) of the Act, Article 24 of the Act, Article 25 of the Act, Article 26 of the Act, Article 27, paragraph (3) of the Act, Article 29 of the Act, Article 31, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the Act, Article 32 of the Act, Article 33 of the Act, Article 34, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 36, paragraph (3) of the Act, Article 47 (excluding paragraphs (4) and (6)) of the Act, Article 48, paragraphs (1), (3) and (4) of the Act, Article 49, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 63 of the Act, Article 76, paragraph (4) of the Act, Article 77, paragraphs (1) and (3) of the Act, Article 83, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 89, paragraph (1) of the Act, Article 90 of the Act, Article 91, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Act, Article 93 of the Act, Article 94, paragraph (2) of the Act, Article 96, paragraph (2) of the Act, and Article 117, paragraph (2) of the Act is to be exercised by the Director of a Regional Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry who has jurisdiction over the areas of the relevant mining site, etc.; provided, however, that the relevant delegation does not preclude the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry from exercising its own authority.