If a person seeking to file an action provides written advance notice to the would-be defendant in the action that the person plans to file that action (referred to below as "advance notice" in this Chapter), the person providing the advance notice (referred to below as the "person providing advance notice" in this Chapter), within four months after providing that notice and before filing the action, may specify a reasonable time frame for response and direct a written inquiry to the person receiving the advance notice (referred to below as a "recipient of advance notice" in this Chapter), in order to elicit from that person a response in writing, or, at the option of the recipient of advance notice, in writing or by electronic or magnetic means (meaning one of the means that the Rules of the Supreme Court specifies of using an electronic data processing system or making use of telecommunications technology; the same applies below), with regard to information that will clearly be necessary for preparing allegations or proof if the action is filed; provided, however, that this does not apply if the inquiry falls under any of the following items:
訴えを提起しようとする者が訴えの被告となるべき者に対し訴えの提起を予告する通知（以下この章において「予告通知」という。）を書面でした場合には、その予告通知をした者（以下この章において「予告通知者」という。）は、その予告通知を受けた者（以下この章において「被予告通知者」という。）に対し、その予告通知をした日から四月以内に限り、訴えの提起前に、訴えを提起した場合の主張又は立証を準備するために必要であることが明らかな事項について、相当の期間を定めて、書面により、又は被予告通知者の選択により書面若しくは電磁的方法（電子情報処理組織を使用する方法その他の情報通信の技術を利用する方法であって最高裁判所規則で定めるものをいう。以下同じ。）のいずれかにより回答するよう、書面により照会をすることができる。ただし、その照会が次の各号のいずれかに該当するときは、この限りでない。
an inquiry that falls under any of the items of paragraph (1) of Article 163;
第百六十三条第一項各号のいずれかに該当する照会
an inquiry into the particulars of a confidential matter in the private life of the adverse party or a third party, any response to which would be likely to substantially interfere with the adverse party's or third party's public life;
相手方又は第三者の私生活についての秘密に関する事項についての照会であって、これに回答することにより、その相手方又は第三者が社会生活を営むのに支障を生ずるおそれがあるもの
an inquiry into the particulars of a trade secret of the adverse party or a third party.
相手方又は第三者の営業秘密に関する事項についての照会
The provisions of item (ii) of the preceding paragraph do not apply to an inquiry into the particulars of a confidential matter in the private life of a third party as prescribed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, and the provisions of item (ii) of that paragraph do not apply to an inquiry into the trade secret of a third party as prescribed in item (iii) of that paragraph, if the third party in question authorizes the adverse party to respond to the inquiry.
Written advance notice must detail the substance of the claim behind the action that the person intends to file and the essential points of the dispute.
予告通知の書面には、提起しようとする訴えに係る請求の要旨及び紛争の要点を記載しなければならない。
In lieu of the written advance notice under the provisions of paragraph (1), the person who provides advance notice may do so by electronic or magnetic means, with the consent of the recipient. In such a case, the person who provides the advance notice is deemed to have provided the written advance notice under the provisions of that paragraph.
In lieu of the written inquiry under the provisions of paragraph (1), the person providing advance notice may provide this by electronic or magnetic means, with the consent of the recipient.
A recipient of advance notice (other than one who has received an inquiry asking for a response in writing or by electronic or magnetic means pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1)) may provide a response by electronic or magnetic means in lieu of a written response under the provisions of that paragraph, with the consent of the person providing the advance notice. In such a case, the recipient of advance notice is deemed to have provided a written response under the provisions of that paragraph.
It is not permissible for an inquiry as referred to in paragraph (1) to be made based on an advance notice that duplicates any previous advance notice.