Chapter III Adverse Dispositions
第三章 不利益処分
Section 1 General Rules
第一節 通則
Article 12Disposition Standards
第十二条（処分の基準）
An administrative agency must endeavor to establish disposition standards, and, publicize the standards.
行政庁は、処分基準を定め、かつ、これを公にしておくよう努めなければならない。
In establishing disposition standards, an administrative agency must make them as concrete as possible in light of the nature of adverse dispositions.
Article 13Procedures When Intending to Render Adverse Dispositions
第十三条（不利益処分をしようとする場合の手続）
If an administrative agency intends to render adverse dispositions, as specified in this Chapter in accordance with the category referred to in the following items, the administrative agency must take procedures for hearing statement of opinions provided for in each of those items for the person who is to become the subject of the adverse disposition:
行政庁は、不利益処分をしようとする場合には、次の各号の区分に従い、この章の定めるところにより、当該不利益処分の名あて人となるべき者について、当該各号に定める意見陳述のための手続を執らなければならない。
when falling under any of the following cases:hearings
次のいずれかに該当するとき 聴聞
when intending to render an adverse disposition that revokes a permission or other approvals;
in addition to the case provided for in sub-item (a), when intending to render an adverse disposition that directly deprives the subject person's qualification or status;
イに規定するもののほか、名あて人の資格又は地位を直接にはく奪する不利益処分をしようとするとき。
in the cases the subject person is a corporation, when intending to render an adverse disposition ordering the dismissal of officers of that corporation, an adverse disposition ordering the dismissal of a person engaged in the operation of the subject person, or an adverse disposition ordering the expulsion of a person who is member of the subject person; or
名あて人が法人である場合におけるその役員の解任を命ずる不利益処分、名あて人の業務に従事する者の解任を命ずる不利益処分又は名あて人の会員である者の除名を命ずる不利益処分をしようとするとき。
other than the cases stated in sub-items (a) through (c), cases in which an administrative agency finds to be appropriate.
イからハまでに掲げる場合以外の場合であって行政庁が相当と認めるとき。
when the case does not fall under any of the cases stated in (a) through (d) of the preceding items:granting of the opportunity for explanation.
前号イからニまでのいずれにも該当しないとき 弁明の機会の付与
The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply to the cases that fall under any of the following items:
次の各号のいずれかに該当するときは、前項の規定は、適用しない。
when procedures for statement of opinions prescribed in the preceding paragraph may not be taken because it is necessary to urgently render an adverse disposition in the public interest;
when intending to render an adverse disposition that must be rendered if it is discovered that a person did not have the legally required qualification or has lost the legally required qualification, and for which the fact of the non-existence of the qualification or its loss has been directly proved by a written judgment or decision of the court, by a document of the appointer certifying that the person has obtained regular employment or other objective materials;
法令上必要とされる資格がなかったこと又は失われるに至ったことが判明した場合に必ずすることとされている不利益処分であって、その資格の不存在又は喪失の事実が裁判所の判決書又は決定書、一定の職に就いたことを証する当該任命権者の書類その他の客観的な資料により直接証明されたものをしようとするとき。
when the matters required to be complied with concerning the establishment, maintenance, or management of facilities or equipment, or the manufacturing, sale, or other handling of objects are clarified using technical standards in laws and regulations, and intending to render an adverse disposition ordering compliance with the standards, solely for the reason that the standards are not met, and for which the fact of insufficiency has been confirmed by measurement, experimentation, or other objective certification methods;
when intending to render an adverse disposition for fixing an amount of money required to be paid, ordering the payment of a fixed amount of money, revoking a decision of payment of money, or limiting payment of money; or,
納付すべき金銭の額を確定し、一定の額の金銭の納付を命じ、又は金銭の給付決定の取消しその他の金銭の給付を制限する不利益処分をしようとするとき。
when intending to make an adverse disposition that is specified by Cabinet Order as not being required to hear the opinion of persons who are to become subject to the adverse disposition, owing to the fact that the content of the obligations imposed by the disposition is extremely insignificant in light of the nature of the disposition.
Article 14Presentation of Grounds for Adverse Dispositions
第十四条（不利益処分の理由の提示）
In rendering an adverse disposition, an administrative agency must indicate the grounds for the adverse disposition to the person subject to the disposition at the same time; provided, however, that this does not apply when there is an urgent need for rendering the disposition without indicating the grounds.
In the case referred to in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, an administrative agency must indicate the grounds referred to in that paragraph within a reasonable period of time after the disposition has been rendered, excluding the cases in which the whereabouts of the subject person have become unknown and other cases in which there are circumstances that make it difficult to indicate the grounds after rendering the disposition.
When adverse dispositions are made in writing, the grounds referred to in the preceding two paragraphs must be indicated in writing.
Section 2 Hearings
第二節 聴聞
Article 15Manner of Notifying Hearings
第十五条（聴聞の通知の方式）
In conducting hearings, an administrative agency must provide a written notice of the following matters to the person who is to be subject to an adverse disposition, within a reasonable period of time before the date of the hearing:
行政庁は、聴聞を行うに当たっては、聴聞を行うべき期日までに相当な期間をおいて、不利益処分の名宛人となるべき者に対し、次に掲げる事項を書面により通知しなければならない。
the content of the anticipated adverse disposition and the specific provisions of laws and regulations that are to be the grounds for the anticipated adverse disposition;
the fact that is to be the cause of the adverse disposition;
不利益処分の原因となる事実
the date and place of the hearing; and
聴聞の期日及び場所
the name and location of the organization that has jurisdiction over the affairs relating to the hearing.
聴聞に関する事務を所掌する組織の名称及び所在地
The document referred to in the preceding paragraph must indicate the following matters:
前項の書面においては、次に掲げる事項を教示しなければならない。
that the subject person may appear and state their opinion on the date of the hearing and submit evidence documents or articles of evidence (referred to as "evidence documents or other evidence"), or may submit written statements and evidence documents or other evidence in lieu of appearing on the date of the hearing; and
聴聞の期日に出頭して意見を述べ、及び証拠書類又は証拠物（以下「証拠書類等」という。）を提出し、又は聴聞の期日への出頭に代えて陳述書及び証拠書類等を提出することができること。
that until the conclusion of the hearing, the subject person may request to inspect materials proving the fact that is to be the cause of the adverse disposition.
聴聞が終結する時までの間、当該不利益処分の原因となる事実を証する資料の閲覧を求めることができること。
If the whereabouts of the person to be the subject of an adverse disposition is unknown, an administrative agency may give the notice under the provisions of paragraph (1) by the method of public notice.
The notice given by the method of public notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to be issued by a notice of the fact that the document stating the name of the person that is to be the subject of the adverse disposition, the matters stated in paragraph (1), items (iii) and (iv), and the matters the administrative agency has entered in each item of that paragraph is to be delivered to that person at any time (referred to as "matters of public notice" below) is to be kept in a state in which the notice may be inspected by an unspecified and large number of persons through the method specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and posting a document stating the matters of public notice at the posting area of the office of the administrative agency, or by taking the measures of making the object on which the matters of public notice are displayed on a screen of a computer installed in the office available for inspection. In such a case, the notice is deemed to have reached that person when two weeks have passed since the day on which the measures were commenced.
前項の公示の方法による通知は、不利益処分の名宛人となるべき者の氏名、第一項第三号及び第四号に掲げる事項並びに当該行政庁が同項各号に掲げる事項を記載した書面をいつでもその者に交付する旨（以下この項において「公示事項」という。）を総務省令で定める方法により不特定多数の者が閲覧することができる状態に置くとともに、公示事項が記載された書面を当該行政庁の事務所の掲示場に掲示し、又は公示事項を当該事務所に設置した電子計算機の映像面に表示したものの閲覧をすることができる状態に置く措置をとることによって行うものとする。この場合においては、当該措置を開始した日から二週間を経過したときに、当該通知がその者に到達したものとみなす。
第十六条（代理人）
The persons who have received the notice referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (including persons who are deemed to have received the notice pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (4) of that Article; referred to as "relevant person" below) may appoint agents.
An agent may individually perform any and all acts relating to hearings on behalf of the relevant person.
代理人は、各自、当事者のために、聴聞に関する一切の行為をすることができる。
The qualification of an agent must be certified in writing.
代理人の資格は、書面で証明しなければならない。
When an agent loses their qualification, the relevant person who appointed that agent must give written notice of that fact to the administrative agency.
代理人がその資格を失ったときは、当該代理人を選任した当事者は、書面でその旨を行政庁に届け出なければならない。
第十七条（参加人）
When a person who presides over a hearing pursuant to the provisions of Article 19 (referred to as "presiding official" below) finds it necessary, that person may request the person who is not the relevant person but is found to have an interest in the adverse disposition (referred to in paragraph (2), item (vi) of that Article as "related person") , in light of laws and regulations that are the basis for the adverse dispositions to intervene in the procedures for hearings or may permit the person to intervene in the procedures for hearings.
The persons who intervene in the procedures for hearings pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (referred to as "intervenor" below) may appoint an agent.
前項の規定により当該聴聞に関する手続に参加する者（以下「参加人」という。）は、代理人を選任することができる。
The provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the agent referred to in the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the term "relevant person" in paragraphs (2) and (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "intervenor".
Article 18Inspection of Documents
第十八条（文書等の閲覧）
Between the time when notice of a hearing is given and when the hearing is concluded, the relevant person and the intervenor whose interests will be harmed by the adverse disposition (referred to as "relevant person or intervenor" below in this Article and Article 24, paragraph (3)) may make a request to the administrative agency for inspection of the record indicating the results of investigation on the case and other materials which certify the facts that are to be the cause of the adverse disposition. In such a case, an administrative agency may not reject the requests for inspection unless there is a risk that the interests of third parties would be harmed or there are other legitimate grounds.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not preclude the relevant persons or intervenors from further making requests for the inspection of materials that has becomes necessary in accordance with the progress of proceedings on the date of the hearing.
An administrative agency may designate the date, time, and place for inspections referred to in the preceding two paragraphs.
行政庁は、前二項の閲覧について日時及び場所を指定することができる。
Article 19Presiding Officials of Hearings
第十九条（聴聞の主宰）
A hearing is presided over by an employee nominated by an administrative agency or other persons specified by Cabinet Order.
聴聞は、行政庁が指名する職員その他政令で定める者が主宰する。
A person who falls under any of the following items may not preside over a hearing:
次の各号のいずれかに該当する者は、聴聞を主宰することができない。
relevant persons or intervenors of the hearing;
spouses, relatives within the fourth degree of kinship, or other relatives living together with the person prescribed in the preceding item;
前号に規定する者の配偶者、四親等内の親族又は同居の親族
agents of the person prescribed in item (i) or the assistants prescribed in paragraph (3) of the following Article;
persons who were the persons prescribed in any of the preceding three items;
前三号に規定する者であった者
guardians, supervisors of guardians, curators, supervisors of curators, assistants, or supervisors of assistants of the persons prescribed in item (i); and,
第一号に規定する者の後見人、後見監督人、保佐人、保佐監督人、補助人又は補助監督人
related persons other than intervenors.
Article 20Method of Proceedings on Date of Hearings
第二十条（聴聞の期日における審理の方式）
At the beginning of the first date of the hearing, the presiding official must have an employee of an administrative agency explain the content of the anticipated adverse disposition, the provisions of laws and regulations which are the basis of the adverse disposition, and the facts that are to be the cause of the adverse disposition to the persons who appeared on the date of the hearing.
Relevant persons or intervenors may appear on the date of the hearing, and state their opinions and submit evidence documents or other evidence, and ask questions to the employees of the administrative agency with the approval of the presiding official.
In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, relevant persons or intervenors may appear together with assistants with the permission of the presiding official.
When the presiding official finds it necessary, they may ask questions to the relevant persons or intervenors, call upon the relevant persons or intervenors to state opinions or submit evidence documents or other evidence, or request employees of the administrative agency to provide explanations.
Even if some relevant persons or intervenors do not make an appearance, the presiding official may conduct the proceedings on the date of the hearing.
Expect when an administrative agency finds it appropriate to open the proceedings to the public, proceedings on the date of hearings will be closed to the public.
聴聞の期日における審理は、行政庁が公開することを相当と認めるときを除き、公開しない。
Article 21Submission of Written Statements
第二十一条（陳述書等の提出）
In lieu of appearing on the date of a hearing, relevant persons, or intervenors may submit written statements and evidence documents or other evidence to the presiding official on or before the date of the hearing.
The presiding official may present the written statements and evidence documents or other evidence referred to in the preceding paragraph to the person who has appeared on the date of the hearing, at their request.
Article 22Designation of Further Date
第二十二条（続行期日の指定）
If the presiding official finds it necessary to continue the hearing based on the results of the proceedings on the date of the hearing, they may set a new date for hearing.
主宰者は、聴聞の期日における審理の結果、なお聴聞を続行する必要があると認めるときは、さらに新たな期日を定めることができる。
In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, a written notice of the date and place of the next hearing must be given to relevant persons and intervenors, in advance; provided, however, that for the relevant persons and intervenors who have appeared on the date of hearing, it is sufficient to announce those matters on the date of the hearing.
The provisions of Article 15, paragraphs (3) and (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the method of giving notice when the whereabouts of relevant persons or intervenors are unknown, in the case referred to in the main clause of the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the term "person to be subject of the adverse disposition" in paragraphs (3) and (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with the "relevant persons or intervenors," and the term "when two weeks have passed since the day on which the measures were commenced" in paragraph (4) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "when two weeks have passed since the day on which the measures were commenced (for the notices counting from the second notice to be given to the same relevant person or intervenor, on the day following the day of commencement of the measures)".
Article 23Conclusion of Hearings in Cases of Nonappearance of Relevant Persons
第二十三条（当事者の不出頭等の場合における聴聞の終結）
If some or all of the relevant persons fail to appear on the date of a hearing without legitimate grounds, and, they do not submit written statements or evidence documents or other evidence prescribed in Article 21, paragraph (1), or if some or all of the intervenors fail to appear on the date of a hearing, the presiding official may conclude the hearing without granting those persons another opportunity to state their opinions and submit evidence documents or other evidence.
In addition to the case prescribed in the preceding paragraph, if some or all of the relevant persons fail to appear on the date of a hearing and do not submit written statements or evidence documents or other evidence prescribed in Article 21, paragraph (1), and when those persons are not expected to appear on a date for the hearing for a considerable period of time, the presiding official may ask them to submit written statements and evidence documents or other evidence by setting a due date, and when the due date arrives, may conclude the hearing.
Article 24Hearing Records and Written Reports
第二十四条（聴聞調書及び報告書）
The presiding official must prepare a record of the proceedings of the hearing, and must clarify the outline of the statements by relevant persons and intervenors on the facts that are the cause of an adverse disposition in the record.
The record stated in the preceding paragraph must be prepared for each date of the hearing when proceedings are conducted on the date of the hearing, and if the proceedings are not conducted, promptly after the hearing is concluded.
前項の調書は、聴聞の期日における審理が行われた場合には各期日ごとに、当該審理が行われなかった場合には聴聞の終結後速やかに作成しなければならない。
After the hearing is concluded, the presiding official must promptly prepare a written report stating their opinion as to whether there are any grounds for the assertion of the relevant persons or other persons concerning the facts that are to be the cause of the adverse disposition, and submit the report to the administrative agency together with the record referred to in paragraph (1).
Relevant persons and intervenors may request inspection of the records referred to in paragraph (1) and the written report referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Article 25Reopening of Hearings
第二十五条（聴聞の再開）
When an administrative agency finds it necessary in view of the circumstances that have arisen after the conclusion of a hearing, it may order the presiding official to reopen the hearing by returning the written report submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article to the presiding official. The provisions of the main clause of Article 22, paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) of that Article apply mutatis mutandis to that case.
Article 26Decision to Render Adverse Dispositions Following Hearings
第二十六条（聴聞を経てされる不利益処分の決定）
When making a decision on rendering an adverse disposition, an administrative agency must make the decision after fully taking into account the content of the record referred to in Article 24, paragraph (1) and of the opinion of the presiding official stated in the written report referred to in paragraph (3) of that Article.
Article 27Limitation on Requests for Review
第二十七条（審査請求の制限）
A request for review may not be filed against dispositions based on the provisions of this Section or their inaction.
この節の規定に基づく処分又はその不作為については、審査請求をすることができない。
第二十八条（役員等の解任等を命ずる不利益処分をしようとする場合の聴聞等の特例）
In the hearing on an adverse disposition which falls under Article 13, paragraph (1), item (i) sub-item (c), if the notice referred to in Article 15, paragraph (1) has been given, for applying the provisions of this Section, the officers of the corporation that is the subject of the adverse disposition, the persons engaged in the operation of that subject, or the members of that subject (limited to the persons who are to be dismissed or expelled by the disposition) are deemed to be the persons who have received the notice referred to in that paragraph.
第十三条第一項第一号ハに該当する不利益処分に係る聴聞において第十五条第一項の通知があった場合におけるこの節の規定の適用については、名あて人である法人の役員、名あて人の業務に従事する者又は名あて人の会員である者（当該処分において解任し又は除名すべきこととされている者に限る。）は、同項の通知を受けた者とみなす。
If hearings related to the adverse disposition stated in the preceding paragraph that order the dismissal of officers of the corporation that is the subject to the adverse disposition or the persons engaged in the operation of that subject (referred to as "officers or other employees"), notwithstanding the provisions of Article 13, paragraph (1), an administrative agency is not required to conduct hearings for the officers or other employees related to the adverse disposition which are rendered pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations to dismiss the officers or other employees due to the fact that the subject does not obey the disposition.
Section 3 Granting of Opportunity for Explanation
第三節 弁明の機会の付与
Article 29Method of Granting Opportunity for Explanation
第二十九条（弁明の機会の付与の方式）
Except when an administrative agencies agency authorizes giving an explanation orally, explanation is to be made by submitting a document stating an explanation (referred to as "written explanation" below).
弁明は、行政庁が口頭ですることを認めたときを除き、弁明を記載した書面（以下「弁明書」という。）を提出してするものとする。
When giving an explanation, evidence documents or other evidence may be submitted.
弁明をするときは、証拠書類等を提出することができる。
Article 30Method of Notice for Granting Opportunity for Giving Explanations
第三十条（弁明の機会の付与の通知の方式）
An administrative agency must notify the person that are to be subject of an adverse disposition of the following matters after providing a reasonable period of time before the deadline of the submission of a written explanation (when granting an opportunity for giving an explanation orally, before the date and time of that explanation):
the content of the anticipated adverse disposition and the provisions of laws and regulations which are to be the grounds for the adverse disposition;
the facts that are to be the cause of the adverse disposition; and
不利益処分の原因となる事実
the place and deadline for submitting a written explanation (if granting the opportunity for giving an explanation orally, that fact and the time, date, and place of explanation).
弁明書の提出先及び提出期限（口頭による弁明の機会の付与を行う場合には、その旨並びに出頭すべき日時及び場所）
Article 31Application, Mutatis Mutandis of Procedures for Hearings
第三十一条（聴聞に関する手続の準用）
The provisions of Article 15, paragraphs (3) and (4), and Article 16 apply mutatis mutandis to the grant of opportunities for explanation. In such a case, the terms "paragraph (1)" in Article 15, paragraph (3), "paragraph (1), items (iii) and (iv)" in Article 15, paragraph (4), and "paragraph (1) of the preceding Article", and "the second sentence of paragraph (4) of that Article" in Article 16, paragraph (1) are deemed to be replaced with "Article 30", "Article 30, item (iii)", "Article 30", and "the second sentence of paragraph (4), Article 15 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 31", respectively.