Article 1Considering the serious issues faced by individuals suffering mental or physical harm due to experiencing loneliness in their daily lives or lives in society or isolation from society in a situation exacerbated by societal changes that have weakened interpersonal and societal connections (referred to below as "loneliness and isolation"), in order to prevent loneliness and isolation, provide swift and appropriate support to persons experiencing loneliness and isolation, and otherwise facilitate their efforts to escape such a state (referred to below as "measures to address loneliness and isolation"), this Act aims to promote comprehensive policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation in conjunction with policies introduced under other related laws, by establishing fundamental principles, outlining the responsibilities of the national government, defining the core components of the policies, establishing the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation, and taking other actions.

Article 2Measures to address loneliness and isolation must be implemented by treating the matters listed below as fundamental principles:

Article 3The national government is responsible for establishing and implementing policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation, pursuant to the fundamental principles specified in the preceding Article (referred to as "fundamental principles" in the following Article and Article 6).

Article 4Each local government is responsible for establishing and implementing policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation which reflect the circumstances of the concerned parties, within their jurisdiction in coordination with the national government and other local governments, pursuant to the fundamental principles.

Article 5The people are to strive to deepen their understanding and concerns towards persons experiencing loneliness and isolation, and to cooperate with the policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation which the national government and the local governments implement.

Article 6The national government, the local governments, persons who provide support to the concerned parties, local residents, and other relevant persons are to strive to coordinate and cooperate with one another, in pursuit of realizing the fundamental principles.

Article 7The government must undertake necessary legislative, fiscal and other measures to implement its policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation.

Article 8(1)The Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation must create a priority plan to facilitate the promotion of the policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation (referred to as a "priority plan on measures to address loneliness and isolation" in this Article, and in Article 21, paragraph (1), item (i)).

(2)The priority plan on measures to address loneliness and isolation must provide for the following matters:

(3)As a general rule, the policies provided for in the priority plan on measures to address loneliness and isolation must be accompanied by specific objectives to be attained by those policies and the time frame for their attainment.

(4)Upon creating the priority plan on measures to address loneliness and isolation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1), the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation must make it public without delay. The same applies when amendments are made to the aforementioned plan.

(5)The Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation must investigate the status of the attainment of the objectives specified in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (3) at suitable junctures, and make the outcome of that investigation public without delay.

Article 9The national government and the local governments are to strive to actively carry out necessary awareness-raising activities concerning measures to address loneliness and isolation, in order to increase the general interests of the people, gain their understanding and cooperation, and contribute to the autonomous activities in which the diverse members of society participate.

Article 10The national government and the local governments are to strive to implement necessary policies to encourage local governments, persons who provide support to the concerned parties, local residents, and other relevant persons to provide the necessary information, advice, and other forms of assistance in response to consultations from the concerned parties.

Article 11The national government and the local governments are to strive to implement necessary policies to foster dialogue and promote coordination and collaboration among themselves, persons who provide support to the concerned parties, local residents, and other relevant persons, recognizing that the coordination and collaboration among them can effectively advance measures to address loneliness and isolation.

Article 12The national government and the local governments are to strive to implement policies necessary for the recruitment, training, and enhancement of personnel who provide support to the concerned parties.

Article 13The national government is to strive to provide information and undertake necessary measures to assist with the policies implemented by the local governments concerning measures to address loneliness and isolation, as well as activities carried out by persons who provide support to the concerned parties in relation to measures to address loneliness and isolation.

Article 14The national government is to strive to advance research and studies into the actual circumstances of persons experiencing loneliness and isolation, as well as other necessary research and studies for establishing the policies regarding measures to address loneliness and isolation.

Article 15(1)Either independently or with other local governments, a local government is to strive to establish a local council for loneliness and isolation measures (referred to below as a "local council") composed of organizations and bodies related to support to concerned parties (referred to as "support" in this paragraph, the following Article, and Article 17, paragraph (2)), persons engaged in support-related professions, and other related persons (referred to as "relevant organizations and other such persons" in paragraph (2) of the following Article, and Article 21, paragraph (2)), in order to ensure coordination and cooperation necessary for advancing measures to address loneliness and isolation.

(2)Once a local council has been established, the head of the local government must issue public notice to that effect in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Office Order.

Article 16(1)A local council is to exchange the necessary information and hold discussions regarding the particulars of support, in order to attain the objectives referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(2)The relevant organizations and other such persons that make up the local council (referred to as "constituent organizations and other such persons" in the following paragraph and the following Article) are to provide support in accordance with the outcome of the discussion referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(3)A local council may request that the constituent organizations and other such persons provide information or express their opinions on the concerned parties who are subject to support, or otherwise provide the necessary cooperation, if the local council considers this to be necessary to exchange information or hold discussions as prescribed in paragraph (1) or if the local council considers this to be necessary when requested by any of the constituent organizations and other such persons in relation to the provision of support by other constituent organizations and other such persons.

Article 17(1)The head of the local government that has established a local council may designate a single organization or body from among its constituent organizations and other such persons to act as the organization which coordinates measures to address loneliness and isolation (referred to as a "coordinating organization" in the following paragraph and following Article).

(2)A coordinating organization is to oversee the functions of the local council, and facilitate the liaison and coordination among the constituent organizations and other such persons, for example by tracking the status of support provided by a constituent organization or other such person, and, if necessary, combining it with the support provided by different constituent organizations and other such persons, as prescribed by the local council so that necessary support is appropriately provided.

Article 18A person who is or was engaged in the functions of a local council (including the functions as a coordinating organization; the same applies in this Article) must not disclose any confidential information obtained in relation to the functions of the local council, without a justifiable reason.

Article 19Beyond what is provided for in Article 15 through the preceding Article, matters necessary for the organization and operation of a local council are determined by the local council itself.

Article 20The Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation (referred to below as "headquarters") is to be established within the Cabinet Office as a special organization.

Article 21(1)The headquarters is responsible the following functions:

(2)The headquarters is to hear the opinions of local governments, local councils, or relevant organizations and other such persons as necessary, in order to carry out the functions referred to in item (i) of the preceding paragraph.

Article 22The headquarters is comprised of the chairperson of the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation, the deputy chairpersons of the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation, and members of the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation.

Article 23(1)The chairperson of the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation (referred to below as the "chairperson") acts as the head of the headquarters, and the Prime Minister acts as the chairperson.

(2)The chairperson takes overall control of the functions of the headquarters, and directs and supervises the staff of the headquarters.

Article 24(1)The Headquarters establishes the position of the deputy chairperson of the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation (referred to as the "deputy chairperson" in the following paragraph and paragraph (2) of the following Article), and this position is filled by the Chief Cabinet Secretary and a minister of state for a special mandate as prescribed under Article 9, paragraph (1) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office (Act No. 89 of 1999) who receives an order pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph and oversees the functions related to the matters stated in Article 4, paragraph (1), item (xxxiv) of that Act and the relevant functions prescribed under paragraph (3) of that Article.

(2)The deputy chairpersons assist in the duties of the chairperson.

Article 25(1)The headquarters is staffed by members of the Headquarters for Advancement of Measures to Address Loneliness and Isolation (referred to as "members of the headquarters" in the following paragraph).

(2)The following persons are appointed as members of the headquarters:

Article 26(1)The headquarters may request that the heads of the relevant administrative organizations submit documents, express opinions, provide explanations, or otherwise provide necessary cooperation, if it considers this to be necessary to carry out its functions.

(2)The headquarters may request necessary cooperation from persons other than those specified in the preceding paragraph, if it considers this to be particularly necessary to carry out its functions.

Article 27Beyond what is provided for in Article 20 through the preceding Article, matters necessary for the organization and operation of the headquarters are specified by Cabinet Order.

Article 28Any person who violates the provisions of Article 18 is subject to punishment by imprisonment for one year or less, or a fine of 500,000 yen or less.