Article 1The purpose of this Act is to establish a system for responding to armed attack situations, etc. (meaning armed attack situations and anticipated armed attack situations; the same applies below) and survival-threatening situations, by providing for the basic principles, responsibilities of the national government, local governments, etc., cooperation of the people and other basic matters, thereby contributing to the peace and independence of Japan and the maintenance of the security of the nation and the people.

Article 2In this Act (excluding item (iv) and item (viii), (c), 1. with regard to the terms listed in item (i)), the terms listed in the following items have the meanings provided respectively in those items:

Article 3(1)When responding to armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations, the national government, local governments, and designated public institutions must coordinate and cooperate with each other and take all possible measures, while obtaining the cooperation of the people.

(2)In an anticipated armed attack situation, the occurrence of an armed attack must be avoided.

(3)In an armed attack situation, preparations must be made for the occurrence of an armed attack, and if an armed attack occurs, efforts must be made to promptly terminate it while repelling it; provided, however, that in repelling an armed attack that has occurred, the use of force must be limited to the extent considered reasonably necessary in accordance with the situation.

(4)In a survival-threatening situation, efforts must be made to promptly terminate the situation while repelling a survival-threatening armed attack; provided, however, that in a repelling survival-threatening armed attack, the use of force must be limited to the extent considered reasonably necessary in accordance with the situation.

(5)In responding to armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations, the freedom and rights of the people guaranteed by the Constitution of Japan must be respected, and even if restrictions are imposed on these rights, the restrictions must be limited to the minimum necessary for responding to armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations, and must be implemented under fair and proper procedures. In this case, the provisions of Article 14, Article 18, Article 19, Article 21 and other provisions concerning fundamental human rights of the Constitution of Japan must be respected to the maximum extent.

(6)In armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations, information regarding the status of these situations and the responses to them must be disclosed to the public in a timely and appropriate manner.

(7)In responding to armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations, in addition to cooperating closely with the United States of America under the Japan-U. S. Security Treaty, the State must work to gain the understanding and cooperative action of the international community, including the United Nations, while cooperating closely with relevant foreign countries.

Article 4(1)In order to protect the peace and independence of Japan and maintain the security of the nation and its people, the national government has the mission to defend Japan and protect the national land as well as the lives, bodies and properties of the people in armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations. Therefore, in accordance with the basic principles stated in the preceding Article, the national government has the responsibility to respond to armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations with all of its organizations and functions, and ensure that all possible measures are taken by the whole nation.

(2)In order to fulfill the responsibilities in the preceding paragraph, the national government is to implement measures that contribute to ensuring close coordination and cooperation among relevant organizations, such as drills conducted by relevant organizations to deal with armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations, in order to enable smooth and effective responses to these situations.

Article 5Local governments have the responsibility for implementing necessary measures concerning responses to armed attack situations, etc. in mutual cooperation with the national government, other local governments, and other organizations, in view of their mission to protect the lives, bodies, and properties of their areas and the local residents.

Article 6Designated public institutions have the responsibility to implement necessary measures for their operations concerning responses to armed attack situations, etc. in mutual cooperation with the national government, local governments, and other organizations.

Article 7In light of the nature of responses to armed attack situations, etc., it is fundamental for the national government to play a major role in responding to Armed Attack Situations, etc., and for local governments to play an appropriate role in protecting the lives, bodies, and properties of local residents in armed attack situations, etc., including the implementation of measures based on national policy.

Article 8In light of the importance of ensuring the security of the nation and the people, the people are to endeavor to provide necessary cooperation when a designated administrative organ, local government, or designated public institution implements the response measures in armed attack situations, etc.

Article 9(1)When the government confirms an armed attack situation, etc. or a survival-threatening situation, the government is to establish a basic policy concerning responses to the armed attack situation, etc. or the survival-threatening situation (referred to below as the "basic response plan").

(2)The matters to be specified in the basic response plan are as follows.

(3)In armed attack situations or a survival-threatening situations, as the matters specified in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph, if the Prime Minister's approval in the following items is to be given, such fact must be stated in the basic response plan:

(4)In armed attack situations or survival-threatening situations, beyond what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the basic response plan must contain the matters provided for item (iii) of paragraph (2), a statement to that effect if a request for the approval of the National Diet by the Prime Minister as stated in item (i) (when the House of Representatives has been dissolved, the approval of House of Councilors by an emergency meeting as provided for in Article 54 of the Constitution of Japan; the same applies below in this Article) will be made, and a statement to that effect if the Prime Minister orders defense operations as stated in item (ii); provided, however, that a statement to the effect that defense operations will be ordered as stated in item (ii) may not be conducted unless there is a particularly urgent necessity and there is no time to obtain the approval of the National Diet in advance:

(5)In an anticipated armed attack situation, if the Prime Minister's approval stated in the following items will be given as the matters specified in paragraph (2), item (iii), that fact must be stated in the basic response plan.

(6)The Prime Minister must prepare a draft of the basic response plan and seek a cabinet decision.

(7)When the cabinet decision stated in the preceding paragraph has been made, the Prime Minister must immediately seek the approval of the National Diet with regard to the basic response plan (excluding the part concerning the request for the approval of the National Diet prescribed in paragraph (4), item (i)).

(8)When a cabinet decision as referred to in paragraph (6) has been made, the Prime Minister must immediately issue a public notice of the basic response plan and announce it.

(9)When the basic response plan has been approved based on the provisions of paragraph (7), the Prime Minister must immediately make a public notice to that effect.

(10)When the National Diet's approval has been obtained for a request for approval of a defense operation order as prescribed in paragraph (4), item (i), the basic response plan is to be amended to state that a defense operations order related to the approval will be issued.

(11)When a resolution of disapproval has been made with respect to the request for approval of the basic response plan based on the provisions of paragraph (7), response measures written in the basic response plan must be promptly terminated. In this case, the Prime Minister must immediately order the withdrawal of the Self-Defense Forces that have been ordered to engage in defense operations prescribed in paragraph (4), item (ii).

(12)In implementing the response measures, the Prime Minister represents the Cabinet in exercising control and supervision over administrative branches based on the basic response plan.

(13)The provisions of paragraphs (6) through (9) and paragraph (11) apply mutatis mutandis to an amendment to the basic response plan; provided, however, that the provisions of paragraphs (7), (9), and (11) do not apply to a change based on the provisions of paragraph (10) and a change for the termination of measures constituting the response measures.

(14)When the Prime Minister finds that it is no longer necessary to implement the response measures or when the National Diet has decided that the response measures should be terminated, the Prime Minister must seek a cabinet decision on the repeal of the basic response plan.

(15)When the cabinet decision stated in the preceding paragraph has been made, the Prime Minister must promptly report to the National Diet the fact that the basic response plan has been repealed and the results of the response measures provided for in the basic response plan and must issue a public notice of the results.

Article 10(1)When the basic response plan has been established, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 12 paragraph (4) of the Cabinet Act (Act No. 5 of 1947), the Prime Minister is to temporarily establish the crisis management headquarters (referred to below as the "the crisis management headquarters") within the Cabinet after deliberation in a cabinet meeting, in order to promote the implementation of the response measures related to the basic response plan.

(2)When the Prime Minister establishes the crisis management headquarters, the Prime Minister must report the name, location, and period of establishment ofthe crisis management headquarters to the National Diet and issue a public notice of these matters.

Article 11(1)The crisis management headquarters is headed by a chairperson(referred to below as "the chairperson of the Headquarters"), and the Prime Minister (or in the case the Prime Minister is incapacitated, a Minister of State designated by the Minister in advance) serves as chairperson.

(2)The chairperson of the headquarters is to take overall control of the affairs of the headquarters and direct and supervise the relevant officials.

(3)The vice-chairperson of the crisis management headquarters (referred to below as "the vice-chairperson of the Headquarters"), the members of the crisis management headquarters (referred to below as "members of the headquarters"), and other officials are assigned to the crisis management headquarters.

(4)The Minister of State serves as the vice-chairperson of the headquarters.

(5)The vice-chairperson assists the chairperson of the headquarters and performs duties on behalf of the chairperson in the event that the chairperson is incapacitated. In the event that there are two or more vice-chairpersons, they act on behalf of the chairperson of the headquarters in the order determined by the chairperson in advance.

(6)All of the Ministers of State other than the chairperson and the vice-chairperson of the headquarters serve as the members of the headquarters. In this case, when the Minister of State is absent, a Senior Vice-Minister (including the Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary) who has been designated in advance by the Minister of State may perform the duties on behalf of the Minister of State.

(7)The personnel of the headquarters other than the vice-chairperson and members of the Headquarters are appointed by the Prime Minister from among the officials of the Cabinet Secretariat, the heads (excluding the Ministers of State) and other officials of designated administrative organs, or the heads and other officials of the relevant designated local administrative organs.

Article 12The headquarters takes charge of the following affairs:

Article 13(1)When the Crisis Management Headquarters has been established, the chief of a designated administrative organ (when the relevant designated administrative organ is a commission prescribed in Article 49, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office or Article 3, paragraph (2) of the National Government Organization Act, an organ stated in item (v), sub-item (b), or an organ stated in sub-item (d) of the same item that is based on a council system, the designated administrative organ; the same applies in the following paragraph) may delegate all or part of the authority necessary to implement response measures to the officials of the designated administrative organ who are officials of the Headquarters, or to the chief or officials of the designated local administrative organ.

(2)When the chief of a designated administrative organ has delegated authority under the preceding paragraph, the chief must immediately make a public notice to that effect.

Article 14(1)When the chairperson of the Headquarters finds it necessary for the accurate and prompt implementation of response measures, the chairperson of the Headquarters may conduct overall coordination regarding the response measures implemented by the designated administrative organs, relevant local governments, and relevant designated public institutions, based on the basic response plan, for the chief of the designated administrative organ, the chief of the relevant designated local administrative organ, officials of the relevant designated administrative organ and officials of the relevant designated local administrative organ to whom the authority has been delegated pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, the chief of the relevant local government or any other executive agency, and the relevant designated public institution.

(2)In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, the chief of the local government, other executive agency, and the designated public institution (referred to as the "chief of a local government, etc." in the following Article and Article 16) may offer their opinions to the chairperson of the Headquarters with regard to the overall coordination conducted by the chairperson of the Headquarters regarding the response measures taken by the local government or the designated public institution.

Article 15(1)In cases where the Prime Minister finds it particularly necessary because of an obstacle to the protection of the lives, bodies, or property of the people or to repelling an armed attack, and where the required response measures based on the comprehensive coordination stated in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are not implemented, the Prime Minister may instruct the chief of the relevant local government, etc. to implement the relevant response measures at the request of the chairperson of the Headquarters as provided for separately by law.

(2)In the following cases, the Prime Minister may, at the request of the chairperson of the Headquarters and as provided for separately by law, after giving notice to the chief of the relevant local government, etc., direct themselves or the ministers who have jurisdiction over the affairs concerning the response measures to implement or direct the implementation of the response measures to be implemented by the local governments or the designated public institutions:

Article 16If, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 14 or paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, overall coordination has been implemented for the chief of the relevant local government, etc. or instructions have been given to them with regard to the implementation of the response measures, and a local government or designated public institution has incurred any loss as a result of the implementation of the measures based on the overall coordination or instructions, the government is to take necessary financial measures for the loss.

Article 17The government must make considerations for ensuring safety with regard to the response measures taken by a local government and designated public institution, in accordance with the content of the measures.

Article 18The government must immediately report to the United Nations Security Council on the measures taken by Japan to repel an armed attack or a survival-threatening armed attack, in accordance with the provisions of Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations (or the provisions of that Article and Article 5, paragraph (2) of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty for the measures taken by Japan to repel an armed attack).

Article 19(1)The Crisis Management Headquarters is to be closed when the basic response plan is repealed.

(2)If the Crisis Management Headquarters is closed, the Prime Minister must immediately make a public announcement to that effect.

Article 20With regard to matters related to the Crisis Management Headquarters, the Prime Minister is to be the competent minister as prescribed in the Cabinet Act.

Article 21(1)In order to ensure the peace and independence of Japan and the security of the nation and the people, beyond what is provided for in the following Article through Article 24, the government is to respond accurately and promptly to emergencies other than armed attack situations, etc. and survival-threatening situations that seriously affect the security of Japan and the people.

(2)In order to achieve the purpose stated in the preceding paragraph, the government is to promptly take the following measures and other necessary measures in light of the changes in circumstances surrounding Japan, such as the appearance of armed unidentified vessels and the occurrence of large-scale terrorist incident.

Article 22(1)In the event of an emergency response situation (meaning a situation that requires the national government to take urgent measures for incidents in which many people are killed or injured by means similar to an armed attack or situations in which people face a clear danger of such a situation occurring (including a situation that will be confirmed as an armed attack situation under the basic response plan at a later date); the same applies below), the government is to formulate a response plan concerning the emergency response situation (referred to below as the "response plan for emergency response situation").

(2)The matters to be specified in a response plan for emergency response situation are as follows:

(3)Emergency response measures as referred to in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph means the following measures implemented by a designated administrative organ, local government, or designated public institution based on the provisions of an Act during the period from the formulation until the repeal of the response plan for emergency response situation.

(4)The Prime Minister must prepare a draft of the response plan for emergency response situation and seek a cabinet decision.

(5)When the cabinet decision stated in the preceding paragraph has been made, the Prime Minister must submit the matter to the National Diet within twenty days from the day on which the decision was made, and request its approval for the response plan for emergency response situation; provided, however, that if the National Diet is not in session or the House of Representatives is dissolved, the Prime Minister must promptly request its approval at the first session of the National Diet convened afterwards.

(6)When a cabinet decision under paragraph (4) has been made, the Prime Minister must immediately issue a public notice on the response plan for emergency response situation and announce it.

(7)When the response plan for emergency response situation has been approved pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5), the Prime Minister must immediately make a public notice to that effect.

(8)When a resolution of disapproval is made with respect to the request for approval of the response plan for emergency response situation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5), the emergency response measures related to the resolution must be promptly terminated.

(9)In implementing the emergency response measures, the Prime Minister represents the Cabinet in exercising control and supervision over the administrative branches, based on the response plan for emergency response situation.

(10)The provisions of paragraphs (4) through (8) apply mutatis mutandis to an amendment to the response plan for emergency response situation; provided, however, that the provisions of paragraphs (5), (7), and (8) do not apply to a change for the termination of measures constituting emergency response measures.

(11)When the Prime Minister finds that it is no longer necessary to implement the emergency response measures or when the National Diet has decided that the emergency response measures should be terminated, the Prime Minister must seek a cabinet decision on the repeal of the response plan for emergency response situation.

(12)When the cabinet decision stated in the preceding paragraph has been made, the Prime Minister must promptly report to the National Diet the fact that the response plan for emergency response situation has been repealed and the results of the emergency response measures provided for in the response plan for emergency response situation and must issue a public notice of the results.

Article 23(1)When the response plan for emergency response situation has been established, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 12 paragraph (4) of the Cabinet Act, the Prime Minister is to temporarily establish an emergency response headquarters within the Cabinet after deliberation in a cabinet meeting, in order to promote the implementation of the emergency response measures related to the response plan for emergency response situation.

(2)When the Prime Minister establishes an emergency response headquarters, the Prime Minister must report the name, location, and period of establishment of the emergency response headquarters to the National Diet and issue a public notice of these matters.

Article 24The provisions of Article 3 (excluding paragraph (2), the proviso to paragraph (3), paragraphs (4) and (7)), Articles 4 through 8, Articles 11 through 13, Article 17, Article 19, and Article 20 apply mutatis mutandis to emergency response situation and the emergency response headquarters. In this case, the term "an armed attack" in Article 3, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "an attack in an emergency response situation," the term "to defend Japan" in Article 4, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "to maintain public safety and order," the term "response measures" in Article 8, Article 13, paragraph (1), and Article 17 is deemed to be replaced with " emergency response measures," the term "the basic response plan on the response measures" in Article 12, item (i) is deemed to be replaced with "response plan for emergency response situation on emergency response measures," and the term "the basic response plan" in Article 19, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with " response plan for emergency response situation".