Article 1In accordance with the basic principles of the Basic Act for Persons with Disabilities (Act No. 84 of 1970), and taking into consideration that all persons with disabilities are equal to persons without disabilities, are entitled to dignity as individuals enjoying fundamental human rights, and have the right to be guaranteed a life befitting that dignity, the purpose of this Act is to advance the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability and to contribute to the realization of a society of coexistence in which no people are set apart on the basis of disability and people mutually respect the personality and individuality of others, by providing for the basic matters relating to the advancement of the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability as well as measures for the elimination of discrimination by administrative organs, etc. and companies on the basis of disability.

Article 2In this Act, the terms stated in the following items have the meanings provided respectively in those items:

Article 3(1)In accordance with the purport of this Act, the national government and local public entities must formulate necessary measures to advance the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability and must implement them.

(2)The national government and local public entity must appropriately share roles and cooperate with each other in a coordinated manner so that the efficient and effective implementation of the necessary measures to advance the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability is promoted.

Article 4The people must endeavor to contribute to advancing the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability, considering that eliminating discrimination on the basis of disability is important in realizing the society prescribed in Article 1.

Article 5The administrative organs, etc. and companies must endeavor to improve the structures and equipment of the facilities they establish, and provide training for the relevant staff, and other necessary improvements of the environment in order to appropriately ensure necessary and reasonable accommodation to implement the elimination of social barriers.

Article 6(1)The government must provide for a basic policy on the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability (referred to as the "basic policy" below) in order to implement comprehensive and integrated measures for the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability.

(2)The basic policy is to provide for the following matters:

(3)The Prime Minister must formulate a draft of the basic policy and must seek a cabinet decision.

(4)In formulating a draft on the basic policy, the Prime Minister must take necessary measures in advance so that the opinions of persons with disabilities and other relevant persons are reflected in the policy, and must hear the opinion of the Commission on Policy for Persons with Disabilities.

(5)If the cabinet decision has been made under paragraph (3), the Prime Minister must make the basic policy public without delay.

(6)The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to any changes to the basic policy.

Article 7(1)When conducting its administrative affairs or other work, an administrative organ, etc. must not violate the rights or interests of persons with disabilities through unfair discriminatory treatment on the basis of disability compared to persons without disability.

(2)If a person with a disability expresses a clear intent that the person actually needs the social barriers to be eliminated, an administrative organ, etc., in conducting its administrative affairs or other work, must provide necessary and reasonable accommodation to implement the elimination of the social barriers so long as the burden associated with the relevant implementation is not excessive, in accordance with the sex, age, and state of the disability of the person so that the rights and interests of the person are not violated.

Article 8(1)When carrying out its business, a company must not violate the rights and interests of persons with disabilities through unfair discriminatory treatment on the basis of disability compared to persons without disability.

(2)If a person with a disability expresses a clear intent that the person actually needs social barriers to be eliminated, an , in conducting its business, must provide necessary and reasonable accommodation to implement the elimination of the social barriers so long as the burden associated with the relevant implementation is not excessive, in accordance with the sex, age, and state of the disability of the person so that the rights and interests of the person are not violated.

Article 9(1)In line with the basic policy, the head of national government administrative organs and incorporated administrative agencies, etc. are to provide necessary guidelines to enable employees of national government administrative organs and incorporated administrative agencies, etc. (referred to as "handling directions for government employees, etc." below in this Article, and Article 3 of the Supplementary Provisions) to appropriately handle the matters prescribed in Article 7.

(2)When the head of a national government administrative organ or an incorporated administrative agency, etc. is to provide handling directions for government employees, etc., it must take necessary measures in advance so that the opinions of persons with disabilities and other relevant persons are reflected in the guidelines.

(3)When the head of a national government administrative organ or an incorporated administrative agency, etc. has provided handling directions for government employees, etc., the head or the agency must make them public without delay.

(4)The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to any changes to handling directions for government employees, etc.

Article 10(1)In line with the basic policy, the organizations of local public entities and local incorporated administrative agencies are to endeavor to provide necessary guidelines (referred to as "handling directions for employees of organizations of local public entity, etc." below in this Article, and Article 4 of the Supplementary Provisions) to enable employees of organizations of local public entities and local incorporated administrative agencies to appropriately handle the matters prescribed in Article 7.

(2)When the organization of a local public entity or a local incorporated administrative agency is to provide handling directions for employees of local public entities, etc., it must endeavor to take necessary measures in advance so that the opinions of persons with disabilities and other relevant persons are reflected in the directions.

(3)When the organization of a local public entity or a local incorporated administrative agency has provided handling directions for employees of local public entities, etc., it must endeavor to make them public without delay.

(4)The national government must cooperate in preparing the handling directions for employees of local public entities, etc. to be prepared by the organization of a local public entity or a local incorporated administrative agency.

(5)The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to any changes to handling directions for employees of local public entities, etc.

Article 11(1)In line with the basic policy, the competent minister is to provide the necessary directions to enable companies to appropriately handle the matters prescribed in Article 8 (referred to as "handling guidelines" below).

(2)The provisions of Article 9, paragraphs (2) through (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the handling guidelines.

Article 12If the competent minister finds it particularly necessary for enforcing the provisions of Article 8, the minister may seek a report or provide advice, guidance, or recommendations to the relevant companies regarding the matters provided for in the handling guidelines.

Article 13The measures for eliminating discrimination on the basis of disability against employees by an administrative organ, etc. and companies in a position as an employer are governed by the provisions of the Act to Facilitate the Employment of Persons with Disabilities (Act No. 123 of 1960).

Article 14The national government and local public entities are to respond appropriately to consultations from persons with disabilities, their families, and other relevant persons regarding discrimination on the basis of disability, and are to take measures to develop and secure human resources and develop other necessary systems so that they are able to prevent or resolve disputes regarding discrimination on the basis of disability.

Article 15The national government and local public entities are to conduct necessary awareness-raising activities in order to broaden the interest and understanding of the public regarding the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability and, in particular, to resolve the various factors which prevent the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability.

Article 16(1)The national government is to collect, organize, and provide information relating to discrimination on the basis of disability and the efforts for the elimination of that discrimination both in Japan and abroad, in order to contribute to the efforts to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability.

(2)local public entity are to endeavor to collect, organize, and provide information relating to discrimination on the basis of disability and the efforts for the elimination of that discrimination in their local areas, in order to contribute to the efforts to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability.

Article 17(1)The organizations of the national government and local public entities engaged in conducting administrative affairs in the field of medical care, nursing care, education or other fields connected to the independence and social participation of persons with disabilities (referred to as "relevant organizations" below in this paragraph and paragraph (2) of the following Article) may form a regional support council for eliminating discrimination against persons with disabilities (referred to as a "regional support council" below) which is composed of the relevant organizations, in order to effectively and smoothly conduct measures for the elimination of discrimination on the basis of disability based on consultations on discrimination on the basis of disability conducted by the relevant organizations in the area of the local public entity as well as case examples relating to the consultations.

(2)The organizations of the national government and local public entities forming a regional support council pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may add the following persons as constituent members of the regional support council if they find it necessary:

Article 18(1)In order to achieve the objective of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a regional support council is to exchange necessary information and is to hold discussions on measures for eliminating discrimination on the basis of disability based on consultations from persons with disabilities and case examples relating to the consultations.

(2)The relevant organizations and constituent members referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article (referred to as "constituent organizations, etc." in the following paragraph) are to carry out measures for eliminating discrimination on the basis of disability based on the case examples relating to the consultations in consideration of the results of the discussions referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(3)If a regional support council finds it necessary for the exchange of information or discussions prescribed in paragraph (1) or if a regional support council receives a request from a constituent organization, etc. relating to the measures for eliminating discrimination on the basis of disability based on the consultation provided by the constituent organization, etc. or a case example relating to the consultation and the council finds it necessary, it may request other constituent organization, etc. for the provision of information relating to the person with disability who has sought consultation or the case example relating to discrimination, or for expressing an opinion or other necessary cooperation.

(4)The general affairs of a regional support council are to be handled by local public entities forming the regional support council.

(5)If a regional support council has been formed, local public entities must make a public announcement to that effect pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order.

Article 19Persons engaging in the administrative affairs of a regional support council, or persons who were engaged in the affairs of a regional support council must not disclose any confidential information they have come to know relating to the administrative affairs of the regional support council without legitimate grounds.

Article 20Beyond what is provided for in the preceding three Articles, a regional support council prescribes the necessary matters concerning its organization and operation of the regional support council.

Article 21The competent minister in this Act is the minister who has jurisdiction over the business of companies which are subject to the handling guidelines, or the National Public Safety Commission.

Article 22The administrative affairs under the authority of the competent minister prescribed in Article 12 may be conducted by the head of a local public entity or other executive agency pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

Article 23The matters under the authority of the competent minister pursuant to the provisions of this Act may be delegated to the employees under the authority of the competent minister pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.

Article 24Beyond what is provided for in this Act, Cabinet Order prescribes the necessary matters for the implementation of this Act.

Article 25A person who violates the provisions of Article 19 is subject to imprisonment of not more than one year or a fine of not more than 500,000 yen.

Article 26A person who fails to make a report under the provisions of Article 12 or who makes a false report is subject to a civil fine not exceeding 200,000 yen.