Article 1(1)When appointing two or more review officers pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Complaint Review Act (hereinafter referred to as the "Act"), the reviewing agency should appoint one of them as a person who supervises the processes performed by the relevant two or more review officers.

(2)When any review officer has come to fall under any of the persons set forth in the items of Article 9, paragraph (2) of the Act, the reviewing agency must cancel the relevant review officer's appointment under paragraph (1) of the relevant Article.

Article 2In the case prescribed in Article 9, paragraph (3) of the Act, with regard to the application of the provisions set forth in the left-hand column of Appended Table 1, the terms in these provisions as set forth in the middle column of the relevant Table should be replaced with the terms set forth respectively in the right-hand column of the relevant Table, and the provisions of the preceding Article, Article 15 and Article 16 do not apply.

Article 3(1)The qualification as the representative or administrator, the representative members, or the agent of requestor for review must be certified in writing except in a case where the provisions of paragraph (2) of the following Article apply. The same applies with regard to the special entrustment prescribed in the proviso to Article 12, paragraph (2) of the Act.

(2)When the representative or administrator, the representative members, or the agent has lost their qualification, the requestor for review must notify the reviewing agency (when a review officer has been appointed, notify the review officer by the time of the conclusion of the procedures for proceedings) of the relevant fact in writing.

(3)The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to the qualification as the representative or administrator, or the agent of an intervenor. In this case, in paragraph (1), the term "in writing except for the case where the provisions of paragraph (2) of the following Article apply" is deemed to be replaced with "in writing", and the term "the proviso to Article 12, paragraph (2)" is deemed to be replaced with "the proviso to Article 13, paragraph (4)", and in the preceding paragraph, the term " requestor for review" is deemed to be replaced with "intervenor" and the term "the representative members, or" is deemed to be replaced with "or".

Article 4(1)When the administrative agency with which a request for review is to be filed, does not fall under the administrative agency, etc. reaching the disposition, the original and a duplicate of the written request for review must be submitted.

(2)The original of the written request for review must be attached with a document certifying the qualification as the representative or administrator when the requestor for review is a corporation, or other association or foundation, a document certifying the qualification as the representative members when the requestors for review have selected representative members from among themselves, or a document certifying the qualification as the agent when the requestor for review files the request for review via its agent.

Article 5The sending of a written request for review pursuant to the provisions of the main clause of Article 29, paragraph (1) of the Act is to be made with a duplicate thereof (when the provisions of Article 22, paragraph (3) or (4), or Article 83, paragraph (3) of the Act apply, with a copy of the written request for review).

Article 6(1)The original and duplicates of the written explanation corresponding to the number of requestors for review and intervenors to which the statement should be sent, must be submitted.

(2)The sending of a written explanation pursuant to the provisions of Article 29, paragraph (5) of the Act is to be made with a duplicate thereof.

Article 7(1)With regard to a written counterargument, the original and duplicates thereof in the number equivalent to the number of the intervenors and the administrative agency reaching the disposition, etc. to which the written counterargument should be sent, must be submitted, and with regard to a written opinion prescribed in Article 30, paragraph (2) of the Act (referred to as a "written opinion" in the following paragraph and Article 15), the original and duplicates thereof in the number equivalent to the number of the requestors for review and the administrative agency, etc. reaching the disposition to which the written opinion should be sent must be submitted.

(2)The sending of a written counterargument or a written opinion pursuant to the provisions of Article 30, paragraph (3) of the Act is to be made with a duplicate thereof.

Article 8When undertaking proceedings on the date of stating an opinion orally, if any person concerned with proceedings resides in a remote area or when otherwise considered appropriate, a review officer may undertake proceedings by a method that enables the review officer and the person concerned with proceedings to communicate with each other while mutually recognizing the status of the other party by audio and visual transmission.

Article 9When hearing opinions pursuant to the provisions of Article 37, paragraph (2) of the Act, a review officer must confirm the identity of the called party and the location thereof.

Article 10A request for delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Act must be filed by submitting a document containing the following matters:

Article 11The delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Act is to be made by any of the methods set forth in the following items:

Article 12(1)The amount of fees that must be paid pursuant to the provisions of Article 38, paragraph (4) of the Act (except for the case where the provisions of the relevant paragraph are applied by replacing the terms pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6) of the relevant Article) (hereinafter referred to as the "fees" in this Article and the following Article) is to be as specified in the following items in accordance with the categories of the delivery method set forth respectively therein:

(2)The fees must be paid by attaching a revenue stamp to the document specified by the reviewing agency; provided, however, that this does not apply in the following cases:

Article 13(1)When a review officer finds that a requestor for review or intervenor who is going to receive the delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Act (hereinafter referred to as a " requestor, etc. for review" in this Article and the following Article) is unable to pay the fees due to financial difficulties, the review officer may reduce the fees by up to 2,000 yen for each case of the delivery under the relevant paragraph, or exempt the payment of the fees.

(2)A requestor, etc. for review who intends to have the amount of the fees reduced or be exempted from the payment of the fees must submit a document stating to that effect and the ground therefor to the review officer when requesting the delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Act.

(3)When the ground for seeking the reduction of the amount or the exemption from the payment of the fees is the fact that the requestor, etc. for review is receiving any of the assistance set forth in the items of Article 11, paragraph (1) of the Public Assistance Act (Act No. 144 of 1950), a document proving the fact of receiving the relevant assistance, and when any other fact is the ground therefor, a document proving the relevant fact must be attached to the document set forth in the preceding paragraph.

Article 14(1)A requestor, etc. for review who receives the delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 38, paragraph (1) of the Act may request the sending of a copy of the subject documents, etc. or a document containing the matters recorded in the subject electronic or magnetic record by paying the expenses required for the sending, beyond the fees payable under paragraph (4) of the relevant Article. In this case, the expenses required for sending the documents must be paid by a method specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

(2)With regard to the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, when an administrative agency not affiliated to the national government falls under the reviewing agency, the term "Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications" in the relevant paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "the reviewing agency."

Article 15(1)Documents and articles specified by Cabinet Order set forth in Article 41, paragraph (3) of the Act are as follows:

(2)The specified opinion hearing set forth in item (v) of the preceding paragraph refers to an opinion hearing held by a review officer during the procedures for proceedings pursuant to the provisions set forth as follows:

(3)The submission of the case record (limited to a written request for review, written explanation, written counterargument, and written opinion) pursuant to the provisions of Article 42, paragraph (2) of the Act is to be made with the original of the written request for review, written explanation, written counterargument, or written opinion.

Article 16When submitting a review officer's written opinion pursuant to the provisions of Article 42, paragraph (2) of the Act, the review officer must submit a document concerning the permission set forth in Article 13, paragraph (1) of the Act and other documents specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, beyond the case record, to the reviewing agency.

Article 17(1)Authorities specified by Cabinet Order set forth in Article 43, paragraph (1), item (i) of the Act are as follows:

(2)The authority specified by Cabinet Order set forth in Article 43, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Act is the certification examiner prescribed in Article 10 of the Act on Promotion of Use of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Article 18The provisions of Article 3, Article 4, paragraph (2), and Article 8 apply mutatis mutandis to a request for re-investigation. In this case, in the provisions set forth in the left-hand column of Appended Table 2, the terms set forth in the middle column of the relevant table are deemed to be replaced with the terms set forth respectively in the right-hand column of the relevant table.

Article 19(1)The provisions of Chapter I (excluding Article 2, Article 6, Article 15, paragraph (1), items (ii) and (iii), and paragraph (2), and Article 17) apply mutatis mutandis to a request for re-examination. In this case, in the provisions set forth in the left-hand column of Appended Table 3, the terms set forth in the middle column of the relevant table are deemed to be replaced with the terms set forth respectively in the right-hand column of the relevant table.

(2)When the re-examining agency falls under any of the agencies set forth in the items of Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Act as applied mutatis mutandis in Article 66, paragraph (1) of the Act, the provisions of Article 1, Article 15 (excluding paragraph (1), items (ii) and (iii), and paragraph (2)), and Article 16 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph following the deemed replacement of terms do not apply.

Article 20(1)The panel set forth in Article 72, paragraph (1) of the Act and the panel set forth in paragraph (2) of the relevant Article may neither hold a meeting nor make a resolution unless all members comprising the former and the majority of the members comprising the latter attend the meeting, respectively.

(2)The decision of the panel set forth in Article 72, paragraph (1) of the Act is to be made by the majority of the members comprising the panel.

(3)The decision of the panel set forth in Article 72, paragraph (2) of the Act is to be made by the majority of the members attending the meeting, and in the case of a tie vote, the decision is to be made by the chairperson.

(4)Members or expert board members may not participate in a meeting on matters in which they have any interest.

Article 21(1)When finding it necessary, the Administrative Complaint Review Board (hereinafter referred to as the "board") may consolidate study and deliberation procedures for multiple cases or separate study and deliberation procedures for consolidated multiple cases.

(2)When the board has consolidated or separated study and deliberation procedures for a case pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the board must give a notice to that effect to the persons concerned with the review.

Article 22The provisions of Article 8 apply mutatis mutandis to statement of opinions under Article 75, paragraph (1) of the Act. In this case, in Article 8, the term "a review officer" is deemed to be replaced with "a board," the term "undertake proceedings" or "undertaking proceedings" is deemed to be replaced with "undertake study and deliberation procedures," or "undertaking study and deliberation procedures," the term "person concerned with proceedings" is deemed to be replaced with "person concerned with the review." and the term ",the review officer" is deemed to be replaced with " , the member".

Article 23The provisions of Articles 10 through 14 (excluding Article 12, paragraph (2), item (i), and Article 14, paragraph (2)) apply mutatis mutandis to the delivery under Article 78, paragraph (1) of the Act. In this case, in Article 10, item (i), the term "Article 38, paragraph (1)" is deemed to be replaced with "Article 78, paragraph (1)," the term "documents" is deemed to be replaced with "written allegation or materials," and the term "subject documents, etc." is deemed to be replaced with "subject written allegation, etc."; in items (ii) and (iii) of the relevant Article and Article 11, item (i), the term "subject documents, etc." is deemed to be replaced with "subject written allegation, etc."; in Article 12, paragraph (1), the term "Article 38, paragraph (4) of the Act (except for the case where the provisions of the relevant paragraph are applied by replacing the terms pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6) of the relevant Article)" is deemed to be replaced with "Article 78, paragraph (4)," and the term "in this Article and the following Article" is deemed to be deleted; the term "the reviewing agency" in paragraph (2) of the relevant Article and the term "a/the review officer" in Article 13, paragraphs (1) and (2) are deemed to be replaced with "the board"; and in Article 14, paragraph (1), the term "the fees payable under paragraph (4) of the relevant Article" is deemed to be replaced with "the fees," and the term "subject documents, etc." is deemed to be replaced with "subject written allegation, etc."

Article 24(1)The secretary general of the board is to be appointed from among persons who hold another related office.

(2)The secretariat of the board is to have divisions.

(3)Beyond what is prescribed in the preceding paragraph, details of the internal organization of the secretariat of the board are prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

Article 25Beyond what is provided for in this Cabinet Order, matters necessary for study and deliberation procedures of the board are decided by the chairperson in consultation with the board.

Article 26(1)When applying the provisions of Article 19 of the Act (excluding paragraph (5), items (i) and (ii)) mutatis mutandis in Article 83, paragraph (2) of the Act, in Article 19, paragraph (1) the term "A request for review, unless any other Act (or Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance in the case of a Disposition under Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance) provides that a request may be filed orally" is deemed to be replaced with "a complaint (meaning the complaint prescribed in Article 82, paragraph (1); the same applies hereinafter)"; the term " requestor for review" in paragraph (2), item (i) of relevant Article is deemed to be replaced with "complainant"; the term "request for review" in item (ii) of the relevant paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "complaint"; the term the disposition, for which the request for review is filed, was reached (when a decision was made for a request for re-investigation with regard to the relevant disposition, came to know that the relevant decision was made)" in item (iii) of the relevant paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "the disposition, for which the complaint is filed, was reached"; the term "request for review" in items (iv) and (vi) of the relevant paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "complaint"; in paragraph (4) of the relevant Article, the term "requestor for review" is deemed to be replaced with "complainant" the term "request for review" is deemed to be replaced with "complaint," and the term "the items of paragraph (2) or the items of the preceding paragraph" is deemed to be replaced with "the items of paragraph (2)"; and in paragraph (5), item (iii) of the relevant Article, the term "period for filing request for review" is deemed to be replaced with "period during which a complaint may be filed," the term "request for review" is deemed to be replaced with "complaint" and the term "prescribed in the proviso to paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of the preceding Article" is deemed to be replaced with "for not having filed a complaint within the period."

(2)The provisions of Article 4, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to the written complaint set forth in Article 83, paragraph (1) of the Act. In this case, the terms "requestor for review" and "request for review" in Article 4, paragraph (2) are deemed to be replaced with "complainant" and "complaint" respectively.

Article 27Beyond what is provided for in this Cabinet Order, procedures and other matters necessary for the enforcement of the Act and this Cabinet Order are prescribed by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.