Every term this law . Its definitions bind only this law — each entry says where the definition applies and links to the sentence that settles it. 35 terms: 26 with the Ministry of Justice's English, 9 in our translation, marked as such.
A disposition (処分) of an administrative agency (行政庁), or any other act that is an exercise of public authority (公権力).
行政庁の処分その他公権力の行使に当たる行為
命令
In Article 3, paragraph (2), an order made under an Act (法律), including a public notice (告示) that sets the requirements of a disposition (処分).
The following, when set by the Cabinet (内閣) or an administrative organ (行政機関): orders made under an Act (法律) — including public notices (告示) that set the requirements of a disposition (処分) — and rules (規則) of the executive organs of local governments; review standards (審査基準); disposition standards (処分基準); and administrative guidance guidelines (行政指導指針).
内閣又は行政機関が定める次に掲げるもの
In Article 2 of the supplementary provisions (附則) of Act No. 73 of 2005, the administrative orders or other orders (命令等) defined in Article 2, item (viii) of this Act as amended by Act No. 73 of 2005.
Guidance, a recommendation, advice or any other act by which an administrative organ (行政機関), within the scope of its duties or the affairs under its charge, asks a specific person to do or not to do something in order to achieve an administrative aim, and which is not a disposition (処分).
行政機関がその任務又は所掌事務の範囲内において一定の行政目的を実現するため特定の者に一定の作為又は不作為を求める指導、勧告、助言その他の行為であって処分に該当しないもの
法令
Acts (法律), orders made under Acts (including public notices (告示)), ordinances of local governments (条例), and rules (規則) of the executive organs of local governments (including their regulations (規程)).
法律、法律に基づく命令（告示を含む。）、条例及び地方公共団体の執行機関の規則（規程を含む。以下「規則」という。）
不利益処分
A disposition (処分) by which an administrative agency (行政庁), on the basis of laws and regulations (法令), directly imposes a duty on a specific person it is addressed to or restricts that person's rights — except a physical act together with a disposition the law requires as a step to make clear the scope, timing or the like of such an act, a refusal of a permission or approval (許認可等) sought by an application (申請) or any other disposition made on an application and addressed to the applicant, a disposition that is to be made with the addressee's consent, and a disposition ending the effect of a permission or approval because a notification (届出) was made that the facts it rested on have ceased to exist.
行政庁が、法令に基づき、特定の者を名あて人として、直接に、これに義務を課し、又はその権利を制限する処分をいう。ただし、次のいずれかに該当するものを除く
A person who has received the notice of a hearing (聴聞) on a proposed adverse disposition (不利益処分) under Article 15, paragraph (1), including one treated as having received it when it was given by public notice under paragraph (4) of that Article.
A request, made on the basis of laws and regulations (法令), for a permission, approval, licence or other disposition (処分) of an administrative agency (行政庁) that gives the person asking some benefit, to which the agency is to respond by granting or refusing it.
法令に基づき、行政庁の許可、認可、免許その他の自己に対し何らかの利益を付与する処分（以下「許認可等」という。）を求める行為であって、当該行為に対して行政庁が諾否の応答をすべきこととされているもの
The person who presides over a hearing (聴聞) under Article 19: an official the administrative agency (行政庁) designates, or another person a Cabinet Order (政令) specifies.
参加人
A person who takes part in the procedure of a hearing (聴聞) because the presiding official (主宰者) asked or allowed them to under Article 17, paragraph (1): someone other than the relevant person (当事者) who is found, in light of the laws and regulations (法令) the adverse disposition (不利益処分) rests on, to have an interest in that disposition.
The body that sets an administrative order or other order (命令等) — or, where the order is set by a decision of the Cabinet (閣議の決定), each Minister who drafts it.
In Article 2 of the supplementary provisions (附則) of Act No. 73 of 2005, the body that sets administrative orders or other orders (命令等) as defined in Article 2, item (viii) of this Act as amended by Act No. 73 of 2005.
A permission, approval, licence or any other disposition (処分) of an administrative agency (行政庁) that gives the person seeking it some benefit.
The following bodies: bodies placed in the Cabinet (内閣) under an Act (法律) or placed under the Cabinet's jurisdiction, the Imperial Household Agency (宮内庁), the bodies provided for in Article 49, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office (Act No. 89 of 1999) and in Article 3, paragraph (2) of the National Government Organization Act (Act No. 120 of 1948), the Board of Audit (会計検査院), bodies placed within any of these, and officials of these bodies whom the law allows to exercise authority independently; and the organs of local governments (地方公共団体) other than their assemblies (議会).
次に掲げる機関
The procedure under Article 39, paragraph (1) by which the body setting an administrative order or other order (命令等) publishes the draft and related materials in advance, fixes where and within what period comments (including information) may be submitted, and invites comments from the general public.
An act of informing an administrative agency (行政庁) of certain matters, other than an application (申請), that laws and regulations (法令) directly require — including one that must be made for a legal effect the person wants to arise.
行政庁に対し一定の事項の通知をする行為（申請に該当するものを除く。）であって、法令により直接に当該通知が義務付けられているもの（自己の期待する一定の法律上の効果を発生させるためには当該通知をすべきこととされているものを含む。）
Documentary evidence or physical evidence (証拠書類又は証拠物).
審査基準
The standards needed to decide, as the relevant laws and regulations (法令) provide, whether to grant a permission or approval (許認可等) sought by an application (申請).
申請により求められた許認可等をするかどうかをその法令の定めに従って判断するために必要とされる基準
The comments on the draft of an administrative order or other order (命令等) submitted, under the public comment procedure (意見公募手続), to the body setting it within the period for submitting comments (意見提出期間).
The standards needed to decide, as the relevant laws and regulations (法令) provide, whether to make an adverse disposition (不利益処分) and what kind of adverse disposition to make.
不利益処分をするかどうか又はどのような不利益処分とするかについてその法令の定めに従って判断するために必要とされる基準
The period, fixed by the body setting an administrative order or other order (命令等) when it publishes the draft in advance, within which comments on the draft may be submitted.
The matters that are to be the common content of administrative guidance (行政指導) when it is to be given to several persons who meet certain conditions in order to achieve the same administrative aim.
同一の行政目的を実現するため一定の条件に該当する複数の者に対し行政指導をしようとするときにこれらの行政指導に共通してその内容となるべき事項
National public employees (国家公務員) as defined in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the National Public Service Act (Act No. 120 of 1947) and local public employees (地方公務員) as defined in Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Local Public Service Act (Act No. 261 of 1950).
国家公務員法（昭和二十二年法律第百二十号）第二条第一項に規定する国家公務員及び地方公務員法（昭和二十五年法律第二百六十一号）第三条第一項に規定する地方公務員
In Article 18 and Article 24, paragraph (3), the relevant person (当事者) together with any intervenor (参加人) whose interests would be harmed if the adverse disposition (不利益処分) were made.
The document in which the person an adverse disposition (不利益処分) is to be addressed to sets out their explanation (弁明); an explanation is given by submitting it unless the administrative agency (行政庁) allows it to be given orally.
A commission (委員会) provided for in Article 49, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office or in Article 3, paragraph (2) of the National Government Organization Act, or a body (機関) provided for in Article 37 or 54 of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office or in Article 8 of the National Government Organization Act.
透明性
In Article 1 and Article 46, the content and process of administrative decision-making being clear to the people (国民).
行政上の意思決定について、その内容及び過程が国民にとって明らかであること
In Article 19, paragraph (2), item (vi), a person other than the relevant person (当事者) who is found, in light of the laws and regulations (法令) the adverse disposition (不利益処分) rests on, to have an interest in that disposition.
This Act as amended by Act No. 73 of 2005.
In Article 15, paragraph (4), what a notice of a hearing (聴聞) given by public notice must make available: the name of the person the adverse disposition (不利益処分) is to be addressed to, the date and place of the hearing, the name and location of the office in charge of the hearing, and a statement that the administrative agency (行政庁) will hand that person, at any time, a document setting out everything the notice of the hearing must state.
In Article 28, paragraph (2), an officer (役員) of a corporation to which an adverse disposition (不利益処分) is addressed, or a person engaged in the business of the person it is addressed to.
In the supplementary provisions (附則) enacted with this Act, a notification (届出) or any other act a Cabinet Order (政令) specifies.
Short name for the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, etc. (Act No. 45 of 2026).