Section 1 Shareholders Meeting and General Meetings of Class Shareholders (Articles 295 to 304)
The law as Act on the Arrangement of Related Acts upon the Enforcement of the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, etc. (Act No. 46 of 2026) leaves it, with the words it changes marked.
The main text is read a page at a time: a chapter to a page, and a long chapter in runs of articles. The whole main text, and the supplementary provisions and appended tables this amendment changes. Those it leaves untouched are on the page for the text in force.
Chapter IV Organs第四章 機関
Section 1 Shareholders Meeting and General Meetings of Class Shareholders第一節 株主総会及び種類株主総会等
Subsection 1 Shareholders Meeting第一款 株主総会
Article 295第二百九十五条
Authority of Shareholders Meetings(株主総会の権限)
Article 295, paragraph (1)
At shareholders meetings, the matters provided for in this Act and any and all other matters regarding a stock company, such as the organization, operations and administration of a stock company, may be resolved.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for a company with board of directors, only the matters provided for in this Act and the matters provided for in the articles of incorporation may be resolved at a shareholders meeting.
Provisions of the articles of incorporation which provide to the effect that any organization other than the shareholders meeting, such as a board of directors, board of executive officers and board of directors, may determine any matter which, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, requires the resolution at the shareholders meeting are not effective.
Annual shareholders meetings must be called within a defined period of time after the end of each business year.
定時株主総会は、毎事業年度の終了後一定の時期に招集しなければならない。
Article 296, paragraph (2)
A shareholders meeting may be called whenever necessary.
株主総会は、必要がある場合には、いつでも、招集することができる。
Article 296, paragraph (3)
A shareholders meeting is called by directors, except if it is called pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the following Article.
株主総会は、次条第四項の規定により招集する場合を除き、取締役が招集する。
Article 297第二百九十七条
Demand for Calling of Meetings by Shareholders(株主による招集の請求)
Article 297, paragraph (1)
Shareholders having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, if shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the period or more) not less than three hundredths (or, if lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the proportion) of the votes of all shareholders may demand the directors, by showing the matters which are the purpose of the shareholders meeting (limited to the matters on which relevant shareholders may vote) and the reason of the calling, that they call the shareholders meeting.
For the purpose of the application of the preceding paragraph to a stock company which is not a public company, the phrase "having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, if shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the period or more)" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "having".
The number of the votes of the shareholders who may not vote on the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting referred to in paragraph (1) is not included in the number of the votes of all shareholders under that paragraph.
In the following cases, the shareholders who made the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) may call the shareholders meeting with the permission of the court:
if the calling procedure is not effected without delay after the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1); or
第一項の規定による請求の後遅滞なく招集の手続が行われない場合
Article 297, paragraph (4), item (ii)
if a notice for the calling of the shareholders meeting which designates, as the day of the shareholders meeting, a day falling within the period of eight weeks (or, if any period less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, the period) from the day of the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is not dispatched.
Determination of Calling a Shareholders Meeting(株主総会の招集の決定)
Article 298, paragraph (1)
Directors (in cases where shareholders call a shareholders meeting pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, relevant shareholders; the same applies in the main clause of the following paragraph and the following Article to Article 302) must decide the following matters if they call a shareholders meeting:
the date, time and place of the shareholders meeting;
株主総会の日時及び場所
Article 298, paragraph (1), item (ii)
if there is any matter which is the purpose of the shareholders meeting, relevant matter;
株主総会の目的である事項があるときは、当該事項
Article 298, paragraph (1), item (iii)
that shareholders who do not attend the shareholders meeting may vote in writing, if so arranged;
株主総会に出席しない株主が書面によって議決権を行使することができることとするときは、その旨
Article 298, paragraph (1), item (iv)
that shareholders may vote by electronic or magnetic means, if so arranged;
株主総会に出席しない株主が電磁的方法によって議決権を行使することができることとするときは、その旨
Article 298, paragraph (1), item (v)
beyond what is set forth in the preceding items, any matters prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order.
前各号に掲げるもののほか、法務省令で定める事項
Article 298, paragraph (2)
If the number of the shareholders (excluding shareholders who may not vote on all matters which may be resolved at a shareholders meetings; the same applies in the following Article to Article 302) is one thousand or more, the directors must decide the matters set forth in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply to the cases where relevant stock company is a stock company which issues the shares set forth on the financial instruments exchange provided for in Article 2, paragraph (16) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is an entity prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order.
For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a company with board of directors, the phrase "matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meetings" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "matters set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph".
At a company with board of directors, the decision of the matters set forth in each item of paragraph (1) must be made by the resolution of the board of directors meeting, except for the cases where the shareholders call the company pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article.
Notice of Calling of Shareholders Meetings(株主総会の招集の通知)
Article 299, paragraph (1)
In order to call the shareholders meeting, the directors must dispatch the notice thereof to the shareholders no later than two weeks (or one week if the stock company is not a public company, except if the matters set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii) or (iv) of the preceding Article are decided, (or if a shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation if the stock company is a stock company other than the company with board of directors, the shorter period of time)) prior to the day of the shareholders meeting.
The notice referred to in the preceding paragraph must be in writing in the following cases:
次に掲げる場合には、前項の通知は、書面でしなければならない。
Article 299, paragraph (2), item (i)
where the matters set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii) or (iv) of the preceding Article are decided; or
前条第一項第三号又は第四号に掲げる事項を定めた場合
Article 299, paragraph (2), item (ii)
where the stock company is a company with board of directors.
株式会社が取締役会設置会社である場合
Article 299, paragraph (3)
In lieu of issuing a written notice as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the directors may issue notice by electronic or magnetic means, with the consent of the shareholders and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In these cases, the directors are deemed to have issued the written notice referred to in that paragraph.
The notice under the preceding two paragraphs must specify or record the matters set forth in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
前二項の通知には、前条第一項各号に掲げる事項を記載し、又は記録しなければならない。
Article 300第三百条
Omission of Calling Procedures(招集手続の省略)
Article 300, paragraph (1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, the shareholders meeting may be held without the procedures of calling if the consent of all shareholders is obtained; provided, however, that this does not apply if the matters set forth in Article 298, paragraph (1), item (iii) or item (iv) are decided.
Giving of Reference Documents for Shareholders Meetings and Voting Forms(株主総会参考書類及び議決権行使書面の交付等)
Article 301, paragraph (1)
If the matters set forth in Article 298, paragraph (1), item (iii) are decided, the directors must, when dispatching a notice under Article 299, paragraph (1), give the shareholder the document stating matters of reference for voting (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "reference documents for shareholders meetings") and the document to be used by the shareholder to vote (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "voting form") pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
If the directors issue notices by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 299, paragraph (3) to the shareholders who have given consent under the same paragraph, in lieu of delivering the reference documents for shareholders meetings and voting forms pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the directors may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in those documents; provided, however, that if requested by any shareholder, they must deliver these documents to the shareholder.
If the matters set forth in Article 298, paragraph (1), item (iv) are decided, the directors must, when dispatching a notice under Article 299, paragraph (1), give the shareholders the reference documents for shareholders meetings pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
If the directors issue notice by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 299, paragraph (3) to the shareholders who have given consent as referred to in that paragraph, in lieu of delivering the reference documents for shareholders meetings pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the directors may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in those documents; provided, however, that, if requested by any shareholder, the directors must give the reference documents for shareholders meetings to the shareholder.
In the case provided for in paragraph (1), when using electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 299, paragraph (3) to notify the shareholders that have given the consent referred to in that paragraph, the directors must use that electronic or magnetic means to provide the shareholders with the information that is required to be detailed in the voting form, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
In the case provided for in paragraph (1), if any shareholder who has not given consent under Article 299, paragraph (3) requests, no later than one week prior to the day of the shareholders meeting, to be provided with the information that is required to be detailed in the voting form by electronic or magnetic means, the directors must use electronic or magnetic means to immediately provide the shareholder with that information, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
Shareholders may demand that the directors include certain matters (limited to the matters on which relevant shareholders may vote; the same applies in the following paragraph) in the purpose of the shareholders meeting.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, at a company with board of directors, only shareholders having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, if shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the period or more) not less than one hundredth (or, if lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the proportion) of the votes of all shareholders or not less than three hundred (or, if lesser number is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the number of) votes of all shareholders may demand the directors that the directors include certain matters in the purpose of the shareholders meeting. In these cases, that demand must be submitted no later than eight weeks (or, if shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the period or more) prior to the day of the shareholders meeting.
For the purpose of the application of the preceding paragraph to a company with board of directors which is not a public company, the phrase "having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, if shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the period or more)" in that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "having".
The number of the votes to which the shareholders who may not vote on the certain matters referred to in paragraph (2) are entitled is not included in the number of the votes of all shareholders under that paragraph.
Shareholders may submit proposals at the shareholders meeting with respect to the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting (limited to the matters on which relevant shareholders may vote; the same applies in paragraph (1) of the following Article); provided, however, that this does not apply if relevant proposals are in violation of the laws or the articles of incorporation, or if three years have not elapsed from the day on which, with respect to the proposal which is essentially identical to relevant proposal, affirmative votes not less than one tenths (or, if any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, the proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding the shareholders who may not exercise their voting rights on the proposal) were not obtained.
The day a law or an amendment starts to apply. It is often months or years after promulgation, so that people have time to prepare. The Ministry of Justice's English usually says a law "comes into force" or "comes into effect", and sometimes calls the day its "enforcement date". Its "enforcement" more often means the word's other sense, carrying a law out, as in an Order for Enforcement (施行令), the Cabinet Order (政令) that sets out the details for carrying out an Act.
The Ministry of Justice's English of this passage has a slip, so the English shown is this site's correction of it. The Ministry printed:
For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a company with board of directors, the phrase "matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meetings" in that that paragraph is deemed to be replaced with "matters set forth in paragraph (2) of the preceding paragraph".
Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice
Translates the law as amended by Act No. 63 of 2015 (平成二十七年法律第六十三号)