Stock companies must keep the things set forth in the each of the following items (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "financial statements, etc.") at its head office for the period provided for in each relevant item:
株式会社は、次の各号に掲げるもの（以下この条において「計算書類等」という。）を、当該各号に定める期間、その本店に備え置かなければならない。
financial statements and business reports for each business year and annexed detailed statements thereof (if the provisions of Article 436, paragraph (1) or (2) apply, including audit reports or financial audit reports):five years from the day one week (or, for companies with board of directors, two weeks) prior to the day of the annual shareholders meeting (or, in cases provided for in Article 319, paragraph (1), from the day when the proposal under that paragraph is made); and
provisional financial statements (if the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply, including audit reports and financial audit reports):five years from the day when the provisional financial statements are prepared.
A stock company must keep copies of the financial statements, etc. set forth in the following items at its branch offices for the period provided for in each relevant item;provided, however, that this does not apply to the cases where the financial statements, etc. have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record and the stock company adopts the measures prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order as measures enabling its branch offices to respond to the request set forth in item (iii) and item (iv) of the following paragraph:
financial statements, etc. set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph:three years from the day one week (or, for a company with board of directors, two weeks) prior to the day of the annual shareholders meeting (or, in cases provided for in Article 319, paragraph (1), from the day when the proposal under that paragraph is made); and
financial statements, etc. set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph:three years from the day when the provisional financial statements under that item are prepared.
if the financial statements, etc. are prepared in writing, requests for inspection of relevant documents or copies of relevant documents;
計算書類等が書面をもって作成されているときは、当該書面又は当該書面の写しの閲覧の請求
requests for a transcript or extract of the document referred to in the preceding item;
前号の書面の謄本又は抄本の交付の請求
if the financial statements, etc. have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect anything that is used in the manner prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; or
a request to be provided with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding item by an electronic or magnetic means that the stock company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a member of the parent company of a stock company, the relevant member of the parent company may, with the permission of the court, make the requests set forth in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the financial statements, etc. of relevant stock company;provided, however, that, in order to make the requests set forth in item (ii) or (iv) of that paragraph, the fees designated by relevant stock company are required to be paid.