①Oral arguments must be prepared in writing.

②A brief details the following particulars:

③During oral arguments for which the adverse party is not present in court, no facts other than those stated in a brief which falls under any of the following items may be alleged:

①The presiding judge may specify a time frame for submitting a written answer or a brief detailing an allegation with regard to a specific matter or for offering evidence of a specific matter.

②A party that submits a brief or offers evidence after a time frame specified pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph has passed must explain to the court the reasons that the party was unable to perform the act within that time frame.

①While litigation is pending, a party may specify a reasonable time frame for response and direct a written inquiry to the adverse party, so as to elicit from that party a response in writing, or at the option of the adverse party, either in writing or by electronic or magnetic means, with regard to particulars that are necessary for preparing allegations or proof; provided, however, that this does not apply if the inquiry falls under any of the following items:

②A party may make an inquiry by electronic or magnetic means in lieu of an inquiry in writing under the preceding paragraph, with consent from the adverse party.

③An adverse party (excluding a party that received an inquiry requiring a response either 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 consent from the party.

If the court finds it necessary in order to arrange issues and evidence, the court may hold preliminary oral arguments as provided for in this Subsection.

①In closing preliminary oral arguments, the court is to confirm with the parties the facts that will be proven through the subsequent examination of evidence.

②If the presiding judge finds it to be appropriate, in closing preliminary oral arguments, the judge may have a party submit a paper document summarizing the issues and evidence as arranged through the preliminary oral arguments.

If a party does not appear for a court date or does not submit a brief or offer evidence within the time frame specified pursuant to the provisions of Article 162, paragraph (1), the court may close preliminary oral arguments.

At the request of the adverse party, a party that has presented allegations or evidence after the close of preliminary oral arguments must explain to the adverse party the reasons that the party was unable to present the allegations or evidence prior to the close of preliminary oral arguments.

If the court finds it to be necessary in order to arrange issues and evidence, the court may refer a case to preparatory proceedings, after hearing the opinions of the parties.

①Preparatory proceedings are conducted on a date that both parties are able to attend.

②The court may permit the attendance of a person it considers appropriate; provided, however, that the court must permit the attendance of any person a party requests, unless that person's attendance would likely hinder the court from conducting the proceedings.

①The court may have a party submit a brief.

②On a date for preparatory proceedings, the court may reach a judicial decision regarding the offering of evidence or any other judicial decision that may be reached on a date other than a date for oral arguments, examine written evidence (including objects prescribed in Article 231), conduct an examination of evidence involving the content of information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as prescribed in Article 231-2, paragraph (1), and present information as under Article 186, paragraph (2), Article 205, paragraph (3) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 278, paragraph (2)), Article 215, paragraph (4) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 278, paragraph (2)) and Article 218, paragraph (3).

③If the court finds it to be appropriate, after hearing the opinions of the parties, the court may conduct the proceedings on a date for preparatory proceedings in a way that enables the court and both parties to communicate with one another at the same time, through audio transmissions, as provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court.

④The party who has participated in proceedings as referred to in the preceding paragraph without appearing on a date as referred to in that paragraph is deemed to have appeared on that date.

⑤The provisions of Articles 148 through 151; Article 152, paragraph (1); Articles 153 to 159; Article 162; Article 165; and Article 166 apply mutatis mutandis to preparatory proceedings.

①The court may have an authorized judge conduct preparatory proceedings.

②When an authorized judge conducts preparatory proceedings, the court's and the presiding judge's duties under the provisions of the preceding two Articles (excluding the reaching of a judicial decision prescribed in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article) are performed by the authorized judge; provided, however, that a judicial decision on an objection under the provisions of Article 150 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (5) of that Article and a judicial decision on denial under the provisions of Article 157-2 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to that paragraph are reached by the court in charge of the case.

③An authorized judge who conducts preparatory proceedings may reach a judicial decision to commission an investigation under the provisions of Article 186, paragraph (1) or to request expert testimony, a judicial decision regarding the offering of documentary evidence following the submission of documents (including the objects prescribed in Article 231) or the offering for examination of evidence following the submission of electronic or magnetic records, or a judicial decision to request the sending of documents (including the objects prescribed in Article 229, paragraph (2) and Article 231) and electronic or magnetic records.

If the court finds it to be appropriate, it may set aside a judicial decision to refer a case to preparatory proceedings, upon petition or sua sponte; provided, however, that the court must set aside that judicial decision if both parties so petition.

The parties, in oral arguments, must state the outcome of preparatory proceedings.

The provisions of Article 167 apply mutatis mutandis to a party that has presented allegations or evidence after the close of preparatory proceedings.

If the court finds it to be appropriate, the court may refer a case to Written Preparatory Proceedings (meaning proceedings for arranging issues and evidence in ways such as through the submission of briefs, without the appearance of the parties; the same applies below).

①The presiding judge must set a time frame as provided in Article 162, paragraph (1) when conducting written preparatory proceedings.

②If the court finds it to be necessary when conducting Written Preparatory Proceedings, the court may consult both parties with regard to things involved in the arrangement of issues and evidence or anything else concerning which they need to be consulted to prepare for oral arguments, as provided for by the Rules of the Supreme Court, in a way that enables the court and both parties to communicate with one another at the same time, through audio transmissions. Having done so, the court may have the court clerk record the outcome of the consultation.

③The provisions of Article 149, Article 150, and Article 165, paragraph (2) apply mutatis mutandis to Written Preparatory Proceedings.

①The court may have an authorized judge conduct written preparatory proceedings.

②When an authorized judge conducts written preparatory proceedings, that judge is the one to perform the court's and the presiding judge's duties under the provisions of the preceding Article; provided, however, that the court in charge of the case is the one to reach a judicial decision on an objection under the provisions of Article 150 as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the provisions of Article 176, paragraph (3).

On a date for oral arguments held after the close of written preparatory proceedings, the court is to confirm with the parties the facts to be proven through the subsequent examination of evidence.

In a case for which written preparatory proceedings have been closed, at the request of the adverse party, a party that presents allegations or evidence on a date for oral arguments after statements have been entered on the particulars detailed in a paper document as referred to in Article 165, paragraph (2) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 176, paragraph (3) or after a confirmation has been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, must explain to the adverse party the reason that the party was unable to present the allegations or evidence prior to the statements or confirmation being entered.