Article 1(1)The purpose of this Act is to improve fairness and transparency (meaning clarity in the public understanding of the content and decision-making processes involved in administrative processes; the same applies in Article 46) of administrative operations, by specifying common matters concerning procedures for dispositions, administrative guidance and notifications, and procedures for establishing administrative orders or other orders, and thereby promote the protection of the rights and interests of the public.

(2)When special provisions exist in other laws on the matters governed by this Act concerning procedures for dispositions, administrative guidance and notifications, and procedures for establishing administrative orders or other orders, those procedures are governed by the special provisions.

Article 2In this Act, the meanings of the terms stated in the following items are as prescribed in each of those items:

Article 3(1)The provisions of Chapter II through Chapter IV-2 do not apply to dispositions and administrative guidance stated in the following items:

(2)The provisions of Chapter VI do not apply to acts to establish the administrative orders or other orders stated in the following items:

(3)Beyond what is stated in the items of paragraph (1) and the preceding paragraph, the provisions of Chapter II through Chapter VI do not apply to dispositions rendered (limited to dispositions for which the provisions that are the basis of the dispositions are in Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance, or in rules) and administrative guidance issued by the organs of local governments, notifications (limited to those for which the provisions that are the basis of the notice referred to in item (vii) of the preceding Article are in Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance, or in rules) given to the organs of local governments, and the acts by the organs of local governments of establishing administrative orders or other orders.

Article 4(1)The provisions of this Act do not apply to a disposition rendered (limited to disposition for which those organs or entities are the party subjects to the disposition in their distinct status as government entities) and administrative guidance issued to national government organs, local governments or their organs, and notification given by the organs or associations (limited to the notification that organs or entities should give in their distinct status as government entities).

(2)The provisions of Chapter II and Chapter III do not apply to dispositions rendered to the corporations that fall under any of the following items, and which are rendered based on special provisions of laws relating to the supervision of those corporations (excluding dispositions ordering the dissolution of those corporations or revoking the approval for their establishment or the dismissal of the officers of the corporations or the persons engaged in the business of the corporations):

(3)When an administrative agency designates a person to perform all or a part of the work for examinations, inspections, certified examinations, registrations based on the provisions of a law, or other administrative affairs, and the designated person (if the person is a corporation, its officer), or an employee or other persons are deemed to be employees engaged in public services in engaging in the work, the provisions of Chapter II and Chapter III do not apply to dispositions rendered to the designated person based on the law concerning the work for the purpose of supervision (excluding a disposition to revoke the designation, a disposition ordering the dismissal of an officer when the designated person is a corporation, or a disposition ordering the dismissal of the person engaged in the work for the designated person).

(4)The provisions of Chapter VI do not apply to the acts to establish the administrative orders or other orders stated in the following items:

Article 5(1)Administrative agencies are to establish review standards.

(2)In establishing review standards, administrative agencies must make them as concrete as possible in light of the nature of the permission or other approvals.

(3)Except when there are special administrative obstacles, an administrative agency must publicize the review standards by keeping them at the office that is the place for submitting applications pursuant to laws and regulations, or by other appropriate methods.

Article 6An administrative agency must endeavor to establish a standard period normally required between when an application arrives at its office and when disposition for that application is rendered (if an organ different from the administrative agency is the place for submitting the application pursuant to laws and regulations, including a standard period normally required between the time when the application arrives at the office of the organ that has been designated as the place to submit the application and when it arrives at the office of that administrative agency), and upon establishing the standard period, must publicize it by keeping it at the office of the organ that is designated as the place to submit the application or by other appropriate methods.

Article 7Upon the arrival of an application at the office of an administrative agency, the agency must commence a review of the application without delay, and, for an application that does not conform to requirements of there being no deficiency in the entries of the written application, the necessary documents being attached to the application, the application being filed within a specified period, or other pro forma requirements specified by laws and regulations, the agency must promptly request a person who has filed the application (referred to as "applicant" below) to amend the application by specifying a reasonable period , or refuse the permission or other approvals sought through the application.

Article 8(1)If an administrative agency renders a disposition to refuse the permission or other approvals sought through the application, the agency must indicate the grounds for the disposition at the same time to an applicant; provided, however, that if the requirements for the permission or other approvals specified by laws and regulations or the review standards publicized have been clearly provided for by quantitative indexes or other objective indexes, and the fact that the application does not conform to those requirements are obvious from the entries in the written application or the attached documents, it is sufficient to indicate the grounds for the refusal when requested by the applicant.

(2)When the disposition prescribed in the main clause of the preceding paragraph are to be rendered in writing, the grounds referred to in the preceding paragraph must be indicated in writing.

Article 9(1)In response to requests by an applicant, an administrative agency must endeavor to indicate the progress of the review of an application and the projected time for rendering a disposition on that application.

(2)In response to the request by a person planning to file applications or an applicant, an administrative agency must endeavor to provide information on the entries in written applications, documents attached to them, and other information necessary for filing applications.

Article 10When rendering dispositions on an application for which the applicable laws and regulations provide that the requirement for granting permission or other approvals is that the interests of persons other than the applicant should be considered, an administrative agency must endeavor to provide an opportunity to hear the opinions of the persons other than the applicant, by holding public hearings or by other appropriate methods, as necessary.

Article 11(1)When processing an application, an administrative agency must not deliberately delay the review or judgment on whether that administrative agency is to grant permission or other approvals that should be made by the administrative agency, due to the fact that a related application filed by the same applicant is under review at another administrative agency .

(2)When multiple administrative agencies are involved in a disposition on a single application or several related applications from the same applicant, those multiple administrative agencies are to endeavor to accelerate their review by contacting each other as necessary, and jointly conduct hearing or other acts of explanations from the applicant.

Article 32(1)In providing administrative guidance, a person engaged in administrative guidance must pay attention not to exceed the scope of the duties or affairs under the jurisdiction of the administrative organ by no means and pay attention to the fact that the content of the administrative guidance is to be realized solely due to the voluntary cooperation of the subject person.

(2)A person engaged in administrative guidance must not disadvantageously treat the person subject to administrative guidance on the grounds that they did not obey the administrative guidance.

Article 33In providing administrative guidance that demand withdrawal of an application or modification of the content of an application, a person engaged in administrative guidance must not take an action that obstructs the applicant's exercise of rights by continuing with the administrative guidance or other acts although the applicant expressed that they have no intention of complying with the administrative guidance.

Article 34When an administrative organ that has authority to grant permission or other approvals or to render dispositions based on permission or other approvals is unable to exercise the authority, or has no intention of exercising the authority, a person engaged in administrative guidance must not take an action that forces a subject person to comply with the administrative guidance by deliberately indicating the fact that they are capable of exercising the authority.

Article 35(1)A person engaged in administrative guidance must clearly indicate the purpose, content, and the responsible persons for the administrative guidance to the subject person.

(2)In providing the administrative guidance, if a person engaged in administrative guidance indicates that the administrative organ is capable of exercising the authority to grant permission or other approvals or rendering dispositions based on permission or other approvals, the person must indicate the following matters to the subject person:

(3)When administrative guidance has been provided orally, if the subject person requests delivery of the document stating the matters prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs, a person engaged in the administrative guidance must deliver the document, as long as there is no special hindrance to administrative affairs.

(4)The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply to administrative guidance stated in the following items:

Article 36When intending to provide administrative guidance to multiple persons who meet certain conditions in order to achieve a common administrative objective, an administrative organ must establish administrative guidance guidelines, and publicize the guidelines, in advance and on a case-by-case basis, as long as there is no special hindrance to administrative affairs.

Article 36-2(1)If a person subject to an administrative guidance that seeks correction of an act that violates laws and regulations (limited to administrative guidance for which the provisions that serve as basis are in laws) considers that the administrative guidance does not conform to the requirements prescribed in the relevant laws, the subject person may notify the administrative organ that has provided the administrative guidance of that fact and seek the administrative organ to suspend the administrative guidance or take other necessary measures; provided, however, that this does not apply if the administrative guidance has been provided after conducting the procedures for granting the subject with the opportunity to give explanations or otherwise state their opinions.

(2)The request referred to in the preceding paragraph must be made by submitting a written notification stating the following matters:

(3)If the proposal under the provisions of paragraph (1) has been made, the administrative organ must conduct the necessary investigation, and if it finds that that the administrative guidance does not conform to the requirements prescribed in the relevant laws, it must suspend the administrative guidance or take other necessary measures.

Article 36-3(1)If there is a fact that violates laws and regulations, any person who considers that a disposition or an administrative guidance necessary for the correction of the violation (limited to a disposition or an administrative guidance for which the provisions that serve as basis are in laws) has not been conducted may notify the administrative agency that has the authority to render the disposition, or the administrative organ that has the authority to provide the administrative guidance of that fact and request the administrative organ to render the disposition or provide the administrative guidance.

(2)The proposal referred to in the preceding paragraph must be made by submitting a written notification stating the following matters:

(3)If the proposal under the provisions of paragraph (1) has been made, the administrative agency or administrative organ must conduct the necessary investigations and render the disposition or provide the administrative guidance if it finds this to be necessary based on the results of the investigation.

Article 37If a notification conforms to requirements that there are no deficiencies in the matters entered in the written notification and that necessary documents are attached to the written notification, and to other pro forma requirements provided by laws and regulations, the procedural obligations concerning the filing of the notification are considered to have been performed when the notification arrives at the office of the organ designated as the place to submit the notification by laws and regulations.

Article 38(1)The organ that establishes administrative orders or other orders (if administrative orders or other orders are established by Cabinet Decision, the minister in charge of drafting the administrative orders or other orders; referred to as "organs establishing administrative orders or other orders" below) must establish the administrative orders or other orders so that that they will comply with the purpose of the laws and regulations which are to be the basis for the administrative orders or other orders.

(2)After establishing administrative orders or other orders, organs establishing administrative orders or other orders must endeavor to maintain the appropriateness of the orders by taking into account of their implementation status and social and economic trends, and review the content of the administrative orders or other orders as necessary.

Article 39(1)When an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders intends to establish administrative orders or other orders, it must publicize a draft of the orders (meaning a draft indicating the content to be estblished; the same applies below) and the materials relating to the administrative orders or other orders in advance and establish the place the comments (including information; the same applies below) are to be submitted, and the period for submitting comments (referred to as "period for submitting comments" below) and widely request comments from the general public.

(2)The draft of the administrative orders or other orders to be publicized pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must have a concrete and clear content, and, must clearly indicate the title of the orders and the provisions of the laws and regulations which are to be the basis for them.

(3)The period for submitting comments specified pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) must be 30 days or more commencing from the date of public notice referred to in that paragraph.

(4)The provisions of paragraph (1) do not apply in cases that fall under any of the following items:

Article 40(1)When intending to establish administrative orders or other orders, if there are compelling reasons for not being able to specify a minimum 30-day period for submitting comments, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, organs establishing administrative orders or other orders may specify a period for submitting comments that is less than 30 days. In such a case, the organs establishing administrative orders or other orders must clarify the reasons at the time of giving the public notice of the proposed administrative orders or other orders.

(2)If organs establishing administrative orders intend to establish administrative orders or other orders through deliberation by the committees or other councils (except for cases that fall under paragraph (4), item (iv) of the preceding Article) and the committees or other councils has conducted a procedure equivalent to the public comment procedures, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of that Article, they are not required to conduct the public comment procedures themselves.

Article 41In conducting public comment procedures and establishing administrative orders or other orders, organs establishing administrative orders or other orders are to endeavor to publicize the implementation of the public comment procedures, and provide information on the implementation of the public comment procedures to the public, as necessary.

Article 42In the case of conducting public comment procedures and establishing administrative orders or other orders, organs establishing administrative orders or other orders must sufficiently consider the comments submitted to them (referred to as "submitted comments" below) within the period for submitting comments.

Article 43(1)When an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders has conducted the public comment procedures and has established administrative orders or other orders, it must make the following matters public at the same time as the promulgation of the administrative orders or other orders (for those not to be promulgated, an act of making the administrative orders or other orders public; the same applies in paragraph (5));

(2)Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders may issue a public notice of the submitted comments that have been organized or summarized in lieu of the submitted comments referred to in item (iii) of that paragraph, as necessary. In such a case, the organ establishing administrative orders or other orders must publicize the submitted comments by keeping the administrative orders or other orders at the office of the organ establishing administrative orders or other orders, or by other appropriate means, without delay after the issuance of the public notice.

(3)When there is a risk that the interests of a third party would be harmed by giving public notification of or making public the submitted comments pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, or when there are other legitimate grounds, an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders may exclude all or part of the submitted comments.

(4)When an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders decides not to establish orders despite conducting the public comment procedures, the organ establishing administrative orders or other orders must promptly publicize that fact (if public comment procedures are to be conducted anew for other proposed administrative orders or other orders, including that fact) and the matters stated in items (i) and (ii) of paragraph (1).

(5)When an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders has established administrative orders or other orders without conducting the public comment procedures due to falling under any of the items of Article 39, paragraph (4), it must make the following matters public at the same time as the promulgation of the administrative orders or other orders; provided, however, that the organs have publish the purpose of the administrative orders or other orders specified in item (i), only when the organs has not implemented the public comment procedures comment due to falling under any of the provisions of Article 39, paragraph (4), items (i) through (iv), and the purpose of the administrative orders or other orders is not obvious by the administrative orders or other orders.

Article 44The provisions of Article 42 apply mutatis mutandis to cases in which an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders establishes the administrative orders or other orders without conducting the public comment procedures due to the case falling under Article 40, paragraph (2); the provisions of paragraphs (1) through (3) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the case in which an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders has established the administrative orders or other orders without conducting the public comment procedures due to the case falling under Article 40, paragraph (2); and the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the case in which an organ establishing administrative orders or other orders has decided not to establish the administrative orders or other orders without conducting the public comment procedures due to the case falling under Article 40, paragraph (2). In these cases, the term "organs establishing administrative orders or other order" in Article 42 is deemed to be replaced by "committees or other councils", the term "the date of the public notice of the proposed administrative orders or other orders" in paragraph (1), item (ii) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced by "the date on which the committees or other councils have conducted a procedure equivalent to the public comment procedures concerning the proposed administrative orders or other orders", and the phrase "the public comment procedures have been conducted" in item (iv) of that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "the procedure equivalent to the public comment procedures have been conducted by the committees or other councils ".

Article 45(1)The public notice under the provisions of Article 39, paragraph (1), and Article 43, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding Article following the deemed replacement of terms), paragraph (4) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding Article), and paragraph (5) is to be provided by the means of using an electronic data processing system or other means using information and communications technology.

(2)The Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications specifies the necessary matters concerning the public notice referred to in the preceding paragraph.

Article 46Concerning procedures for dispositions, administrative guidance, and notifications, and the procedures for establishing administrative orders or other orders, to which the provisions of Chapter II through the preceding Chapter are not to apply pursuant to Article 3, paragraph (3), local governments are to endeavor to take necessary measures in order to secure fairness and improve transparency of administrative operations, in accordance with the purport of the provisions of this Act.