Section 1 Petition to Commence Bankruptcy Proceedings
第一節 破産手続開始の申立て
Article 15Cause for Commencement of Bankruptcy Proceedings
第十五条（破産手続開始の原因）
When a debtor is unable to pay debts, the court commences bankruptcy proceedings upon petition by an order pursuant to the provisions of Article 30, paragraph (1).
When a debtor has suspended payments, the debtor is presumed to be unable to pay debts.
債務者が支払を停止したときは、支払不能にあるものと推定する。
For the purpose of application of the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article when the debtor is a corporation, the term "unable to pay debts" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "unable to pay debts or insolvent (meaning the condition in which a debtor is unable to pay its debts in full with its property)".
The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply to any existing general partnership company or limited partnership company.
前項の規定は、存立中の合名会社及び合資会社には、適用しない。
If proceedings equivalent to bankruptcy proceedings are commenced against a debtor in a foreign state, the fact constituting the grounds for the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings is presumed to exist with regard to the debtor.
債務者についての外国で開始された手続で破産手続に相当するものがある場合には、当該債務者に破産手続開始の原因となる事実があるものと推定する。
Article 18Petition to Commence Bankruptcy Proceedings
第十八条（破産手続開始の申立て）
A creditor or debtor may file a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings.
債権者又は債務者は、破産手続開始の申立てをすることができる。
When filing a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings, a creditor must make a prima facie showing of the existence of the claim held by the creditor and the fact constituting the cause for the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings.
債権者が破産手続開始の申立てをするときは、その有する債権の存在及び破産手続開始の原因となる事実を疎明しなければならない。
Article 19Petition to Commence Bankruptcy Proceedings Against Corporations
第十九条（法人の破産手続開始の申立て）
A petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings for a corporation stated in the following items may be filed by the person that the relevant item prescribes:
次の各号に掲げる法人については、それぞれ当該各号に定める者は、破産手続開始の申立てをすることができる。
a general incorporated association or general incorporation foundation:director;
一般社団法人又は一般財団法人 理事
a stock company or mutual company (meaning a mutual company prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (5) of the Insurance Business Act (Act No. 105 of 1995; the same applies in Article 150, paragraph (6), item (iii))):a company director; and
株式会社又は相互会社（保険業法（平成七年法律第百五号）第二条第五項に規定する相互会社をいう。第百五十条第六項第三号において同じ。） 取締役
a general partnership company, limited partnership company, or limited liability company:a member that conducts business.
合名会社、合資会社又は合同会社 業務を執行する社員
A liquidator may also file a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings against a corporation stated in any of the items of the preceding paragraph.
前項各号に掲げる法人については、清算人も、破産手続開始の申立てをすることができる。
When filing a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs against a corporation stated in any of the items of paragraph (1), a prima facie showing of the fact constituting the cause for the commencement of bankruptcy proceedings must be made, except when the petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings is filed by all of its company directors, members conducting business, or liquidators.
The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs apply mutatis mutandis to a corporation other than those listed in the items of paragraph (1).
A petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings for a corporation may be filed up until the delivery or distribution of its residual assets is completed, even after its dissolution.
法人については、その解散後であっても、残余財産の引渡し又は分配が終了するまでの間は、破産手続開始の申立てをすることができる。
Article 20Method of Filing a Petition to Commence Bankruptcy Proceedings
第二十条（破産手続開始の申立ての方式）
A petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings must be filed by means of a document stating the particulars specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court.
破産手続開始の申立ては、最高裁判所規則で定める事項を記載した書面でしなければならない。
If a person other than a creditor files a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings, the person must submit to the court a list of creditors stating the particulars specified by the Rules of the Supreme Court; provided, however, that if it is impossible to submit a list of creditors at the same time as filing the petition, it is sufficient for the person to submit the list without delay after filing the petition.
債権者以外の者が破産手続開始の申立てをするときは、最高裁判所規則で定める事項を記載した債権者一覧表を裁判所に提出しなければならない。ただし、当該申立てと同時に債権者一覧表を提出することができないときは、当該申立ての後遅滞なくこれを提出すれば足りる。
Article 21Examination of Written Petition to Commence Bankruptcy Proceedings
第二十一条（破産手続開始の申立書の審査）
When a document under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (referred to below as a "written petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings") does not state the particulars prescribed in that paragraph, the court clerk must specify a reasonable period and make an action to order that the defect should be corrected within the specified period. The same applies if the fees for a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings required under the provisions of the Act on the Costs of Civil Procedure (Act No. 40 of 1971) are not paid.
The disposition stated in the preceding paragraph becomes effective when a notice is given in an appropriate manner.
前項の処分は、相当と認める方法で告知することによって、その効力を生ずる。
An objection may be made to the action stated in paragraph (1) within an in alterable period of one week from the day on which a notice is received.
第一項の処分に対しては、その告知を受けた日から一週間の不変期間内に、異議の申立てをすることができる。
The objection stated in the preceding paragraph has the effect of a stay of enforcement.
前項の異議の申立ては、執行停止の効力を有する。
If the objection under paragraph (3) is made, when the court finds in a written petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings any defect other than the defect for which it has ordered correction by the action stated in paragraph (1), the court must specify a reasonable period and order that the additional defect should be corrected within that period.
裁判所は、第三項の異議の申立てがあった場合において、破産手続開始の申立書に第一項の処分において補正を命じた不備以外の不備があると認めるときは、相当の期間を定め、その期間内に当該不備を補正すべきことを命じなければならない。
In the case referred to in paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph, if a petitioner for commencement of bankruptcy proceedings fails to correct the defect, the presiding judge must dismiss the written petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings by an order.
第一項又は前項の場合において、破産手続開始の申立人が不備を補正しないときは、裁判長は、命令で、破産手続開始の申立書を却下しなければならない。
An immediate appeal may be filed against the order stated in the preceding paragraph.
前項の命令に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
Article 22Prepayment of Expenses
第二十二条（費用の予納）
When filing a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings, the petitioner must prepay an amount designated by the court as expenses for bankruptcy proceedings.
破産手続開始の申立てをするときは、申立人は、破産手続の費用として裁判所の定める金額を予納しなければならない。
An immediate appeal may be filed against an order on prepayment of expenses.
費用の予納に関する決定に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
Article 23Provisional Payment of Expenses
第二十三条（費用の仮支弁）
The court may make a provisional payment of expenses for bankruptcy proceedings from the national treasury when the court finds it particularly necessary to do so for the protection of the interests of the petitioner and any interested person, while taking into consideration the petitioner's financial resources, the status of property that is to constitute the bankruptcy estate, and any other relevant circumstances. The same applies when the court issues an order commencing bankruptcy proceedings by its own authority.
The provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article do not apply if a provisional payment of expenses for bankruptcy proceedings is made from the national treasury pursuant to the provisions of the first sentence of the preceding paragraph.
Article 24Stay Orders for Other Proceedings
第二十四条（他の手続の中止命令等）
If a petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings is filed, the court may order a suspension of the following proceedings or dispositions until an order is made on the petition to commence bankruptcy proceedings upon the petition of an interested person or by its own authority when it finds it necessary to do so; provided, however, that this only applies, in the case of the proceedings stated in item (i) or the disposition stated in item (vi), if the stay order is not likely to cause unjust damage to the creditor that filed the petition for the proceedings or the person that made the disposition, and in the case of the proceedings for limitation of liability stated in item (v), if an order to commence proceedings for limitation of liability has not yet been made:
proceedings already initiated against the debtor's property for enforcement, provisional seizure, provisional disposition, or exercise of a general statutory lien or auction by reason of a right of retention (excluding a right of retention under the provisions of the Commercial Code (Act No. 48 of 1899) or the Companies Act) (referred to below as "enforcement, etc." in this Section), which is based on a claim that is supposed to be a bankruptcy claim or claim on the estate, if an order commencing bankruptcy proceedings is made against the debtor (referred to below as "bankruptcy claim, etc." in this paragraph and paragraph (8) of the following Article), or is intended to secure a bankruptcy claim, etc.;
proceedings already initiated against the debtor's property for the exercise of an enterprise mortgage, which is based on a bankruptcy claim, etc.;
債務者の財産に対して既にされている企業担保権の実行手続で、破産債権等に基づくもの
court proceedings of an action relating to the debtor's property;
債務者の財産関係の訴訟手続
proceedings for a case relating to the debtor's property that is pending before an administrative authority;
債務者の財産関係の事件で行政庁に係属しているものの手続
proceedings for limitation of liability of a debtor (meaning proceedings for limitation of liability under the provisions of Chapter III of the Act on Limitation of Ship owner Liability (Act No. 94 of 1975), Chapter V of the Act on Liability for Oil Pollution Damage (Act No. 95 of 1975), Article 31 and Article 32 of that Act applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 43, paragraph (5) of that Act, Chapter III of the Act on Limitation of Shipowner Liability (excluding Article 9, Article 10, Article 16, and Article 54) applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 43, paragraph (6) of the Act on Liability for Oil Pollution Damage or Article 31 and Article 32 of that Act applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 51, paragraph (5) of the Act on Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, and Chapter III of that Act (excluding Article 9, Article 10, Article 16, Section 4, and Article 54) applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 51, paragraph (6) of the Act on Liability for Oil Pollution Damage; the same applies in Article 263 and Article 264, paragraph (1)) for the debtor; and
債務者の責任制限手続（船舶の所有者等の責任の制限に関する法律（昭和五十年法律第九十四号）第三章又は船舶油濁等損害賠償保障法（昭和五十年法律第九十五号）第五章、同法第四十三条第五項において準用する同法第三十一条及び第三十二条並びに同法第四十三条第六項において準用する船舶の所有者等の責任の制限に関する法律第三章（第九条、第十条、第十六条及び第五十四条を除く。）若しくは船舶油濁等損害賠償保障法第五十一条第五項において準用する同法第三十一条及び第三十二条並びに同法第五十一条第六項において準用する船舶の所有者等の責任の制限に関する法律第三章（第九条、第十条、第十六条、第四節及び第五十四条を除く。）の規定による責任制限手続をいう。第二百六十三条及び第二百六十四条第一項において同じ。）
a disposal to be made by the same procedure as that for the collection of national tax delinquency (the disposal is referred to below as a "disposal of foreign tax delinquency"), based on a claim from a foreign tax subject to mutual assistance (meaning the foreign tax subject to mutual assistance prescribed in Article 11, paragraph (1) of the Act on Special Provisions of the Income Tax Act, the Corporation Tax Act and the Local Tax Act Attendant upon the Enforcement of Tax Treaties (Act No. 46 of 1969; referred to below as the "Act on Special Provisions for the Enforcement of Tax Treaties" in Article 103, paragraph (5) and Article 253, paragraph (4)); the same applies below), which has already been initiated against the debtor's property and which is based on the ground of a bankruptcy claim, etc.
債務者の財産に対して既にされている共助対象外国租税（租税条約等の実施に伴う所得税法、法人税法及び地方税法の特例等に関する法律（昭和四十四年法律第四十六号。第百三条第五項及び第二百五十三条第四項において「租税条約等実施特例法」という。）第十一条第一項に規定する共助対象外国租税をいう。以下同じ。）の請求権に基づき国税滞納処分の例によってする処分（以下「外国租税滞納処分」という。）で、破産債権等に基づくもの
The court may change or reverse a suspension order issued under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
裁判所は、前項の規定による中止の命令を変更し、又は取り消すことができる。
If an order for temporary administration prescribed in Article 91, paragraph (2) is issued, the court may order the rescission of the procedure for enforcement, etc. or disposal of foreign tax delinquency which has been suspended pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) when it finds it particularly necessary to do so for the administration and disposal of the debtor's property, upon a petition of a temporary administrator, while requiring security to be provided.
An immediate appeal may be filed against a suspension order issued under the provisions of paragraph (1), an order issued under the provisions of paragraph (2), and a reversal order issued under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
The immediate appeal stated in the preceding paragraph does not have the effect of a stay of enforcement.
前項の即時抗告は、執行停止の効力を有しない。
If a judicial decision prescribed in paragraph (4) and a judicial decision on the immediate appeal stated in that paragraph are made, the written judgments must be served upon the parties.