If there are sufficient grounds to suspect misconduct or material facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation in connection with the execution of the operations of a stock company, the following shareholders may file a petition for the appointment of an inspector with the court in order to have the inspector investigate the status of the operations and the financial status of relevant stock company:
株式会社の業務の執行に関し、不正の行為又は法令若しくは定款に違反する重大な事実があることを疑うに足りる事由があるときは、次に掲げる株主は、当該株式会社の業務及び財産の状況を調査させるため、裁判所に対し、検査役の選任の申立てをすることができる。
shareholders who hold not less than three hundredths of the votes (or, if a lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the proportion) of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who may not vote on all matters which may be resolved at shareholders meetings); or
総株主（株主総会において決議をすることができる事項の全部につき議決権を行使することができない株主を除く。）の議決権の百分の三（これを下回る割合を定款で定めた場合にあっては、その割合）以上の議決権を有する株主
shareholders who hold not less than three hundredths (or, if a lesser proportion prescribed in the articles of incorporation, the proportion) of the issued shares (excluding treasury shares).
If the petition under the preceding paragraph has been filed, the court must appoint the inspector except in case it dismisses the petition as non-conforming.
前項の申立てがあった場合には、裁判所は、これを不適法として却下する場合を除き、検査役を選任しなければならない。
If the court has appointed the inspector under the preceding paragraph, it may fix the amount of the remuneration that the stock company pays to relevant inspector.
裁判所は、前項の検査役を選任した場合には、株式会社が当該検査役に対して支払う報酬の額を定めることができる。
The inspector referred to in paragraph (2) may investigate the status of the operations and the financial status of subsidiary companies of the stock company if it is necessary in order to perform the inspector's duties.
The inspector referred to in paragraph (2) must conduct the necessary investigation and submit a report to the court by providing it with a document detailing the results of the investigation or with an electronic or magnetic record (limited to one prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order) in which these have been recorded.
If the court finds it necessary for the purpose of clarification of the contents of the report under the preceding paragraph or of confirmation of the grounds supporting that report, it may request the inspector under paragraph (2) a further report under the preceding paragraph.
When the inspector under paragraph (2) reports pursuant to paragraph (5), the inspector must deliver a copy of the document referred to in that paragraph to the stock company and the shareholders who filed the petition for the appointment of an inspector or use a means prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order to provide them with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in that paragraph.