Act on the Use of Numbers to Identify a Specific Individual in Administrative Procedures

The purpose of this Act is to provide special provisions for the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (Act No. 57 of 2003) so that Individual Numbers and other Specific Personal Information is handled safely and appropriately; to provide for matters necessary to enable administrative organs, local governments and other persons handling administrative processes to manage and use this information efficiently and to promptly send and receive information to and from other persons handling administrative processes, through the operation of the information system that has been developed with the capacity to verify and compare if a set of information coming from different fields belongs to the same person and the good use of this capacity to identify individuals and corporations, or other groups, in possession of an Individual Number or corporate number; also, thereby, to optimize administrative operations and to secure more fair benefits and burdens in the administrative field, and to make improvements in the convenience of citizens filing an application, a notification, or other processes, towards said persons or citizens enjoying the convenience of services provided by said persons, such as the reduction of the burden of procedures, the simplification of procedures for identity verification, and other improvements.

The term "administrative organ" as used in this Act means an administrative organ as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (8) of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (hereinafter referred to as the "Personal Information Protection Act").

The term "incorporated administrative agency, etc." as used in this Act means an incorporated administrative agency, etc. as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (9) of the Personal Information Protection Act.

The term "Personal Information" as used in this Act means Personal Information as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Personal Information Protection Act.

The term "Personal Information File" as used in this Act means a Personal Information File as set forth in Article 60, paragraph (2) of the Personal Information Protection Act that is held by an Administrative Organ, etc. (meaning an Administrative Organ, etc. as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (11) of the Personal Information Protection Act; the same applies in this paragraph and in Chapter V, Section 2), or a Personal Information database, etc. as set forth in Article 16, paragraph (1) of the Personal Information Protection Act that is held by persons other than Administrative Organs, etc.

The term "Individual Number" as used in this Act means the number that, pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of this Act, was obtained by converting the residence certificate code (meaning the residence certificate code as set forth in Article 7, item (xiii) of the Residential Basic Book Act (Act No. 81 of 1967); the same applies hereinafter), and is designated in order to identify the person pertaining to the residence certificate on which said residence certificate code is recorded.

The term "the person themselves" as used in this Act means the specific individual that is identified by the Individual Number.

The term "Individual Number Card" as used in this Act means the cards on which the information listed below (for a foreign resident (meaning a foreign resident as set forth in Article 30-45 of the Residential Basic Book Act; the same applies in the following paragraph), excluding the information listed in item (ii)) is contained, the photograph of the person themselves is included except if the age of the person themselves on the date of the application under Article 16-2, paragraph (1) is under the age specified by order of the competent ministry, and in which these information and other information specified by order of the competent ministry (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Card Information") are recorded by electronic or magnetic means (meaning electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by human senses; the same applies in Article 18 and Article 18-5, paragraph (2) of this Act), and on which, pursuant to this Act or Orders issued thereunder, measures provided for by order of the competent ministry as necessary for preventing viewing or alteration by persons other than those authorized to view or alter Card Information, have been applied.

Name

kana characters indicating the name (meaning the kana characters indicating the name as set forth in Article 13, paragraph (1), item (ii) of the Family Register Act (Act No. 224 of 1947));

address (for a person who has moved out of Japan (meaning a person who has moved out of Japan as set forth in Article 17, item (iii) of the Residential Basic Book Act; the same applies hereinafter), the fact that the person is a person who has moved out of Japan, and the scheduled date of moving out stated in their notification of moving out of Japan (meaning a notification of moving out of Japan as set forth in that item; the same applies in Article 17, paragraph (6)));

their date of birth;

Sex

Individual Number; and

other information specified by Cabinet Order.

The term "Card Substitute Electronic Record" as used in this Act means an electronic or magnetic record integrally composed of an electronic or magnetic record pertaining to the information listed in items (i) through (vi) of the preceding paragraph (for a foreign resident, excluding the information listed in item (ii) of that paragraph) and the photograph of the person themselves (or, for one pertaining to a person who has been issued an Individual Number Card on which the photograph of the person themselves is not included, that information; referred to as "Card Substitute Information" in Article 18-2, paragraph (2)) (an electronic or magnetic record meaning a record created in electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by human senses, which is used in information processing by computers; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph and in paragraphs (1) and (2) of that Article) and an electronic or magnetic record pertaining to the information specified by order of the competent ministry as necessary for a person who has received the transmission of the electronic or magnetic record to confirm that the electronic or magnetic record is that of the person who transmitted it, to which the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (hereinafter referred to as "the Agency") has applied an electronic signature (meaning an electronic signature as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business (Act No. 102 of 2000) that conforms to the standards specified by order of the competent ministry; the same applies in Article 18-2, paragraphs (2) and (3)).

The term "Specific Personal Information" as used in this Act means Personal Information that has the Individual Number (including numbers, marks and information codes other than the residence certificate code, that correspond to the Individual Number, and are used as a substitute for said Individual Number. The same applies hereinafter, excluding Article 7, paragraphs (1) and (2); Article 8; Article 18-5, paragraph (2); and Article 48 of this Act; and Article 3, paragraphs (1) through (3) and paragraph (5) of the Supplementary Provisions) included in its content.

The term "Specific Personal Information File" as used in this Act means the Personal Information File that has the Individual Number included in its content.

The term "Process Using an Individual Number" as used in this Act means a process that administrative organs, local governments, incorporated administrative agencies, etc., and other persons handling administrative processes handle by using Individual Numbers to the extent necessary to search and manage efficiently the Personal Information in the Specific Personal Information File that is being held pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraphs (1) through (3) of this Act.

The term "Process Related to an Individual Number" as used in this Act means a process that is implemented using another person's Individual Number, to the extent necessary, in Processes Using an Individual Number that are performed pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (4) of this Act.

The term "Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number" as used in this Act means a person who handles Processes Using Individual Numbers and a person who is entrusted with all or part of Processes Using Individual Numbers.

The term "Person in Charge of a Process Related to an Individual Number" as used in this Act means a person who handles Processes Related to Individual Numbers and a person who is entrusted with all or part of Processes Related to Individual Numbers.

The term "Information Providing Network System" as used in this Act means an electronic data processing system that connects computers used by the head of an administrative organ, etc. (meaning the heads of administrative organs, local government agencies, incorporated administrative agencies, etc., local incorporated administrative agencies (meaning local incorporated administrative agencies as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Local Independent Administrative Agency Act (Act No. 118 of 2003); the same applies hereinafter), the Agency, and Persons Referring Information and Persons Providing Information as set forth in Article 19, item (viii) of this Act and Persons Referring Information for Processes Under Ordinances and Persons Providing Information for Processes Under Ordinances as set forth in item (ix) of that Article; the same applies hereinafter, except in Chapter VII) to one another by telecommunications line, and that are installed and managed by the Prime Minister pursuant to the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (1) of this Act in order to manage the provision of Specific Personal Information for Use under Article 19, item (viii) or item (ix) of this Act by using cryptography or other communication methods through which the content of the information cannot easily be restored.

The term "corporate number" as used in this Act means the number that, pursuant to the provisions of Article 39, paragraph (1) or (2) of this Act, was designated as the number to identify corporations and other groups.

The Individual Number and Corporation Number, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, must be used in accordance with the following principles:

with regard to handling administrative processes, it optimizes the management of information pertaining to individuals or corporations, or other groups, and contributes to the improvement the convenience of citizens and the optimization of administrative operations by establishing simpler procedures that specify the person subject of said processes;

it uses the Information Providing Network System and other information systems equivalent thereto to send and receive information promptly and safely and to share information, thereby it contributes to the maintenance of appropriate relationships between benefits and burdens in the social security system, taxation, and other administrative fields;

with regard to information submitted by an individual or a corporation and other groups, it avoids requesting the submission of information with the same content and reduces the burden to citizens; and

in order to prevent Personal Information collected or organized using an Individual Number from being used in a way that exceeds the scope provided for by laws and regulations or from being leaked, it ensures a proper management of said information.

Measures concerning the use of Individual Numbers and corporate numbers, must contribute to the improvement of the convenience of citizens through the optimization of administrative operations while giving sufficient consideration to the protection of Personal Information, must promote its use in the social security system, taxation, disaster control measures and other administrative fields, and must be implemented taking into consideration the possibility of using it in fields other than administrative fields that contribute to the improvement of the convenience of citizens.

Measures concerning the use of Individual Numbers must be taken in light of the fact that an Individual Number Card (including a Card Substitute Electronic Record; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph) is necessary to achieve the principles listed in paragraph (1), item (i), in order to promote the use of Individual Number Cards as a simple means of identity verification for handling administrative processes and in order to promote the use of Individual Number Cards for handling processes other than administrative processes while ensuring that Card Information will not be collected by wrongful means.

Measures concerning the use of Individual Numbers must be taken in light of the fact that the Information Providing Network System is necessary for achieving the principles listed in paragraph (1), items (ii) and (iii) while giving sufficient consideration to the protection of Personal Information in order to promote the use of the Information Providing Network System as a means for Administrative Organs or local governments and other persons handling administrative processes to send and receive Specific Personal Information promptly in the social security system, taxation, disaster control measures and other administrative fields, and must be promoted in consideration of the possibility of expanding the use of the Information Providing Network System to information other than Specific Personal Information that said persons send and receive.

The national government, pursuant to the basic principles specified in the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as "Basic Principles"), is to take the necessary measures to ensure the proper handling of Specific Personal Information, such as Individual Numbers, and implement measures to promote the use of Individual Numbers and Corporation Numbers.

The national government is to endeavor to deepen citizens' understanding of the use of Individual Numbers and Corporation Numbers through educational activities, publicity activities and other activities.

Local governments are to, pursuant to the Basic Principles, take measures necessary to ensure the proper handling of Specific Personal Information, such as Individual Numbers, and to autonomously and proactively implement measures related to the use of Individual Numbers and Corporation Numbers according to the characteristics of each region and cooperating with the national government.

Businesses who use Individual Numbers and Corporation Numbers are to, pursuant to the Basic Principles, endeavor to cooperate with measures concerning the use of Individual Numbers and Corporation Numbers that are implemented by the national and local governments.

The Prime Minister is to extend to Persons in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number the provision of information, advice and other support necessary to keep Specific Personal Information accurate and up to date.

When mayors of municipalities (including mayors of special wards; the same applies hereinafter) record the residence certificate code on the residence certificate pursuant to the provisions of Article 30-3, paragraph (2) of the Residential Basic Book Act, the respective mayor is to, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the following Article, promptly designate the number that was notified by the Agency as the number to become the Individual Number of the person and must notify the person of said Individual Number pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Orders.

If the mayor of a municipality finds that the Individual Number of a person that is recorded on the basic resident register held by said municipality (including special wards; hereinafter the same applies) is likely to be leaked and used without authorization, the mayor must, pursuant to Cabinet Orders, on the request of the person or ex officio, designate the number, that was notified by the Agency pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the following Article as being to become as an Individual Number, as the Individual Number of the person in lieu of the prior Individual Number of the person and promptly notify the person of said Individual Number.

When the mayor of a municipality makes notification pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, in order enable the person who received said notification to have the Individual Number issued without problems, the mayor is to provide information concerning said issuing procedures and take other necessary measures.

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding three paragraphs, necessary matters pertaining to the notification under paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) are provided for by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

When the mayor of a municipality, pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, designates an Individual Number, the mayor is to, in advance, notify the agency of the residence certificate code recorded in the residence certificate pertaining to the person to whom said designation is intended to be made and request that the Agency generate the number to become the Individual Number.

When the Agency is requested by the mayor of a municipality to generate a number to become the Individual Number pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, pursuant to Cabinet Orders, the Agency is to use an electronic data processing system that is established pursuant to the provisions of the following paragraph, generate a number that falls under the requirements below, and promptly notify said mayor of the municipality thereof:

it is different from any other Individual Numbers (including prior Individual Numbers as set forth in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article);

it is obtained by converting the residence certificate code of the preceding paragraph; and

it does not follow a pattern by means of which the residence certificate code of the preceding item can be restored.

The Agency is to generate numbers to be treated as Individual Numbers pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph and establish an electronic data processing system in order to manage the generation of said numbers and the notifications to be made to the mayors of the municipalities.

Administrative organs, local governments, incorporated administrative agencies, etc. and other persons handling administrative processes as listed in the left-hand column of each row of the Appended Table (if, pursuant to laws and regulations, there is a person who implements all or part of the processes listed in the right-hand column of the relevant row of said table, or a person specified by order of the competent ministry as a person handling processes specified by order of the competent ministry as processes equivalent to said processes (excluding processes based on the provisions of an individual Act, and limited to processes that conform to the standards specified by Cabinet Order, including that their nature is the same as that of the processes listed in the right-hand column of the relevant row of said table) (referred to as "quasi-statutory work" in this paragraph) (such a person being referred to as a "handler of quasi-statutory work" in Article 19, item (viii)), it includes this person; the same applies in paragraph (4)) may use Individual Numbers to the extent necessary to search and manage Personal Information efficiently in the Specific Personal Information File held by the person with regard to the handling of processes listed in the right-hand column of the relevant row of said table (including quasi-statutory work; the same applies in that item). The same applies to a person to whom all or part of said processes is entrusted.

The chief of a local governments and other executive agencies may use Individual Numbers to the extent necessary to search and manage Personal Information efficiently in the Specific Personal Information File held by them with regard to the handling of processes related welfare, health or medical care and other social security matters; local taxes (meaning the local taxes set forth in Article 1, paragraph (1), item (iv) of the Local Tax Act (Act No. 226 of 1950); the same applies hereinafter); or disaster prevention and other processes that are provided for by Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance. The same applies to a person to whom all or part of said processes is entrusted.

The Minister of Justice may use information provision personal identification codes to the extent necessary to search and manage Personal Information efficiently in the Specific Personal Information File held by the Minister with regard to the handling of processes concerning the provision under Article 19, item (viii) or item (ix) of Family Register Related Information (meaning, out of the information concerning the existence or non-existence of a parent-child relationship or any other status relationship between a person recorded in the duplicate of a family register or of a removed family register (limited to one prepared on magnetic disk (including an object that can reliably record certain matters by a method equivalent thereto) pursuant to the provisions of Article 119 of the Family Register Act; the same applies hereinafter in this paragraph and in Article 45-2, paragraph (1)) (hereinafter referred to as a "person recorded in a family register, etc." in this paragraph) and another person recorded in a family register, etc., information concerning the formation of marriage or any other status relationship, and other information concerning a person recorded in a family register, etc. that can be created by performing computer processing, etc. (meaning computer processing (meaning the input, accumulation, editing, processing, correction, updating, search, erasure or output of information performed by using a computer, or any other processing similar thereto) and other measures accompanying it that are specified by Cabinet Order; the same applies hereinafter) of the information recorded in that duplicate, the information specified by Ministry of Justice Order as information to be provided under Article 19, item (viii) or item (ix), which contains in its content an information provision personal identification code (meaning a code identifying a specific individual that, to the extent necessary to manage the provision of Specific Personal Information for Use under item (viii) or item (ix) of that Article and to search for that Specific Personal Information for Use, is used in place of an Individual Number as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (5), and that is an Individual Number as set forth in paragraph (9) of that Article; the same applies hereinafter); the same applies hereinafter). The same applies to a person to whom all or part of said processes is entrusted.

Pursuant to Article 48 or Article 197, paragraph (1) of the Health Insurance Act (Act No. 70 of 1922); Article 59, paragraph (1), (3) or (4) of the Inheritance Tax Act (Act No. 73 of 1950); Article 27, Article 29, paragraph (3), or Article 98, paragraph (1) of the Employees' Pension Insurance Act (Act No. 115 of 1954); Article 9-4-2, paragraph (2), Article 29-2, paragraph (6) or (7), Article 37-11-3, paragraph (7), Article 37-14, paragraph (41), Article 70-2-2, paragraph (19), or Article 70-2-3, paragraph (16) of the Act on Special Measures Concerning Taxation (Act No. 26 of 1957); Article 74-13-2 or Article 74-13-3 of the Act on General Rules for National Taxes (Act No. 66 of 1962); Articles 225 through 228-3-2 of the Income Tax Act (Act No. 33 of 1965); Article 7 of the Employment Insurance Act (Act No. 116 of 1974); or Article 4, paragraph (1) or Article 4-3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Submission of Statement of Overseas Wire Transfers for Purpose of Securing Proper Domestic Taxation (Act No. 110 of 1997); Article 6, paragraph (1) of the Act on the Management, etc. of Deposit and Savings Accounts through the Use of Individual Numbers Based on the Intent of Depositors and Savers (Act No. 39 of 2021); and other provisions of laws and regulations or Prefectural or Municipal Ordinances, a person who was put in charge of handling processes that require the use of another person's Individual Number, such as the submission of documents containing another person's Individual Number, and that are necessary for handling the processes set forth in paragraph (1) or (2), handled by administrative organs, local governments, incorporated administrative agencies, etc. and other persons implementing administrative processes listed in the left-hand column of each row of the Appended Table or by the chiefs of local governments and other executive agencies, may use Individual Numbers to the extent necessary to implement said processes. The same applies to a person to whom all or part of said processes is entrusted.

If a disaster of extreme severity specified under Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Act on Special Financial Support to Deal with the Designated Disaster of Extreme Severity (Act No. 150 of 1962) occurs and in other cases specified by Cabinet Order equivalent thereto, among the persons who are allowed to use Individual Numbers pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the persons who are specified in Article 225, paragraph (1), items (i), (ii), and items (iv) through (vi) of the Income Tax Act may, pursuant to Digital Agency Order, use Individual Numbers to the extent necessary for making the payment of money based on a contract that has been concluded in advance.

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, a person who falls under any of the items from item (xiii) to (xvii) of Article 19 of this Act and is provided with Specific Personal Information may use Individual Numbers to the extent necessary to accomplish the purpose of said provision.

A person who is entrusted with all or part of Processes Using Individual Numbers or Processes Related to Individual Numbers (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Process Using an Individual Number, etc.") may re-entrust all or part thereof, only if the person obtains the permission of the person who made the original entrustment of said Processes Using Individual Numbers, etc.

A person to whom all or part of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. is re-entrusted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is deemed to be a person who is entrusted with all or part of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc., and the provisions of Article 2, paragraphs (13) and (14), paragraphs (1) through (4) of the preceding Article, and provisions of the preceding paragraph apply.

A person who entrusts all or part of Processes Using Individual Numbers, etc., in order to ensure the secure management of Specific Personal Information handled in the Processes Using Individual Numbers, etc. pertaining to said entrustment, must exercise the necessary and appropriate supervision over a person who receives said entrustment.

A Person in Charge of Processes Using Individual Numbers and a Person in Charge of Processes Related to Individual Numbers (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc.") must take necessary measures to ensure the appropriate management of Individual Numbers, such as prevent the leakage, loss, or damage of Individual Numbers.

A Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number (excluding a person who uses an information provision personal identification code pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (3); the same applies in paragraph (2) of the following Article and Article 19, item (i)), in order to reduce the burden on the person themselves or their agent and on a Person in Charge of a Process Related to an Individual Number, optimize administrative operations, and also to avoid requesting repeatedly the submission of documents containing the same information for multiple Processes Related to an Individual Number, must endeavor to promote information sharing and to secure an appropriate use thereof in cooperation with others.

If it is necessary for handling a Process Using an Individual Number, etc., a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. (excluding a person who uses an information provision personal identification code pursuant to the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (3); hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and in Article 16) may request the person themselves or another Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. to provide the Individual Number.

If it is necessary for handling a Process Using an Individual Number, a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number (limited to persons specified by Cabinet Order; the same applies in Article 19, item (v) of this Act) may, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 30-9 through 30-12, Article 30-15-2, paragraph (1), Articles 30-44 through 30-44-5, or Article 30-44-7, paragraph (1) of the Residential Basic Book Act, request the Agency to provide the identity confirmation information retained by the Agency set forth in Article 30-7, paragraph (4) of that Act or the family register supplement identity confirmation information retained by the Agency set forth in Article 30-42, paragraph (4) of that Act (referred to as "Identity Confirmation Information Retained by the Agency, etc." in Article 19, item (v) and Article 48).

No person, except if the person falls under any of the items of Article 19 of this Act and can be provided with Specific Personal Information, must request other persons (meaning persons other than those belonging to the same household as the person; the same applies in Article 20 of this Act) to provide Individual Numbers.

When receiving the provision of an Individual Number from the person themselves pursuant to the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (1), a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. must take one of the measures set forth in the following items:

receiving the presentation of an Individual Number Card from the person who provides the Individual Number;

receiving the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record under Article 18-2, paragraph (6) from the person who provides the Individual Number, and conducting the verification under paragraph (7) of that Article regarding said Card Substitute Electronic Record; or

beyond what is set forth in the preceding two items, measures specified by Cabinet Order as measures for confirming that the person who provides the Individual Number is the person themselves.

The Agency is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, prepare an Individual Number Card for a person recorded in the basic resident register or a person recorded in a family register supplement (limited to a person who has moved out of Japan; the same applies in paragraph (4)), based on the application of that person.

The application referred to in the preceding paragraph is to be filed with the Agency either directly or via the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register (for a person who has moved out of Japan, the family register supplement; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and paragraph (5)) in which the person seeking to receive the Individual Number Card is recorded (or, if there are circumstances specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in which filing the application via the mayor of a municipality other than that municipality contributes to the convenience of the person seeking to receive the Individual Number Card and to the prompt delivery of the Individual Number Card, via the mayor of that other municipality or of the municipality that maintains said basic resident register).

A person recorded in the basic resident register who files the application referred to in paragraph (1) via the mayor of a municipality pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (limited to a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii) of the following Article has been taken by the mayor of that municipality) and who falls under the persons specified by Cabinet Order as persons who need to receive an Individual Number Card promptly may, together with that application, make a request to the effect that the person wishes to have the Individual Number Card sent to them by the Agency.

A person recorded in a family register supplement may, together with the application referred to in paragraph (1), make a request to the effect that the person wishes to receive the handover of the Individual Number Card from a consular officer (including the head of an embassy or legation performing the duties of a consular officer and other persons specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications and Order of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or a person acting on their behalf in those duties; the same applies hereinafter) or from the mayor of a municipality other than the municipality that maintains said family register supplement.

If the Agency has prepared an Individual Number Card (excluding one pertaining to a person who has made a request referred to in the preceding two paragraphs; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) based on the application referred to in paragraph (1), the Agency is to send said Individual Number Card to the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which the person who filed that application is recorded.

If the Agency has prepared, based on the application referred to in paragraph (1), an Individual Number Card pertaining to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (3) (limited to cases in which the mayor of the municipality referred to in that paragraph has notified the Agency that the measure provided for in that paragraph has been taken for that person), the Agency is to notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which that person is recorded that it has prepared said Individual Number Card.

If the Agency has prepared, based on the application referred to in paragraph (1), an Individual Number Card pertaining to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (4), the Agency is to notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the family register supplement in which that person is recorded that it has prepared said Individual Number Card, and is to send said Individual Number Card, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, to the consular officer or the mayor of the municipality to which that request pertains.

The Agency is to conduct, with regard to Individual Number Cards, the management of the status of the preparation and sending of Individual Number Cards (referred to as "issuance of Individual Number Cards" in Article 18-6, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3), item (i)) and of the status of the operation of Individual Number Cards, and other processes specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The mayor of the municipality is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, deliver to a person recorded in the basic resident register maintained by that municipality or a person recorded in a family register supplement maintained by that municipality (limited to a person who has moved out of Japan) the Individual Number Card pertaining to that person that the mayor has been sent, or of whose preparation the mayor has been notified, under the provisions of paragraphs (5) through (7) of the preceding Article, either directly or via the Agency or the consular officer or mayor of the municipality to which the request referred to in paragraph (4) of that Article pertains. In this case, the mayor of the municipality who makes that delivery (referred to as the "issuing mayor of the municipality" in the following paragraph through paragraph (5) and in Article 18-6, paragraph (3), item (i)) must take the following measures to confirm that the person is the person themselves:

confirming the name, date of birth and other matters for identifying an individual that are entered in the residence certificate or family register supplement pertaining to that person and are specified by Cabinet Order, and the Individual Number entered in said residence certificate (if the residence certificate pertaining to that person has been deleted, the Individual Number that was entered in said residence certificate); and

at the time of the application referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or of the handover of the Individual Number Card pertaining to that application, receiving from that person the presentation of a document specified by Cabinet Order that contains the person's name, date of birth and other matters for identifying an individual, and confirming that the person is the person to whom that document pertains (including measures specified by order of the competent ministry as equivalent thereto).

If the application referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (excluding an application pertaining to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (4) of that Article) was filed via the mayor of a municipality other than the issuing mayor of the municipality, said mayor of the municipality may, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, take the measure set forth in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph in place of the issuing mayor of the municipality.

The delivery of an Individual Number Card under the provisions of paragraph (1) to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article (limited to a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) has been taken by the issuing mayor of the municipality and of whom the issuing mayor of the municipality has notified the Agency to that effect) is effected, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, by the Agency sending said Individual Number Card to that person.

The delivery of an Individual Number Card under the provisions of paragraph (1) to a person who has made the request referred to in paragraph (4) of the preceding Article (limited to a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) has been taken by the issuing mayor of the municipality and of whom the issuing mayor of the municipality has notified the consular officer or mayor of the municipality to which that request pertains to that effect) is effected by the consular officer or mayor of the municipality who has been sent the Individual Number Card pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (7) of that Article handing over said Individual Number Card to that person. In this case, if that person is a person other than a person for whom the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii) has been taken by the issuing mayor of the municipality and of whom the issuing mayor of the municipality has notified said consular officer or mayor of the municipality to that effect, said consular officer or mayor of the municipality is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, take the measure set forth in that item in place of the issuing mayor of the municipality.

The mayor of a municipality or consular officer who has taken the measure set forth in paragraph (1), item (ii) in place of the issuing mayor of the municipality pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) or the preceding paragraph is to notify said issuing mayor of the municipality to that effect.

If a person who has received an Individual Number Card submits the notification under Article 22, paragraph (1) of the Residential Basic Book Act or a notification of moving out of Japan, the person must submit said Individual Number Card to the mayor of the municipality at the same time as submitting those notifications.

The mayor of the municipality who receives an Individual Number Card pursuant to the preceding paragraph must change Card Information, take the necessary measures to ensure the appropriate use of said Individual Number Card, and return it.

If a person who has received an Individual Number Card makes a change to Card Information, the person must notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which the person is recorded (referred to as the "mayor of the municipality of domicile" in the following paragraph and paragraph (11)) thereof and submit said Individual Number Card within fourteen days from the day of the change, except in the cases prescribed in paragraph (6). In this case, the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis.

If a person who has received an Individual Number Card loses said Individual Number Card, the person must notify the Mayor of the Municipality of the Place of Domicile thereof immediately.

When an Individual Number Card expires or in other cases provided for by Cabinet Order, it ceases to be effective.

When an Individual Number Card expires or in other cases provided for by Cabinet Order, the person who had said Individual Number Card issued must return said Individual Number Card to the Mayor of the Municipality of the Place of Domicile pursuant to Cabinet Orders.

With regard to the application of the provisions of paragraph (8), paragraph (9) and the preceding paragraph to a person who has moved out of Japan, the phrase "within fourteen days from the day of the change" in paragraph (8) is deemed to be replaced with "promptly, either directly or via a consular officer"; the phrase "basic resident register" with "family register supplement"; the phrase "mayor of the municipality of domicile" with "mayor of the municipality administering the family register supplement"; and the phrase "mayor of the municipality of domicile" in paragraph (9) and the preceding paragraph with ", either directly or via a consular officer, the mayor of the municipality administering the family register supplement".

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the necessary matters concerning the procedures for the reissuance of an Individual Number Card and other procedures that the mayor of the municipality and a person who has received an Individual Number Card carry out with regard to Individual Number Cards (referred to as "matters concerning reissuance, etc." in this paragraph) are specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the form of Individual Number Cards, the period until an Individual Number Card expires and other necessary matters concerning Individual Number Cards (excluding matters concerning reissuance, etc.) are specified by order of the competent ministry.

An Individual Number Card may be used in measures of identity verification under the provisions of Article 16 of this Act and any person listed in the following items may use an Individual Number Card by recording information necessary for handling the processes specified in said items in part of Individual Number Card that is segmented from the part where Card Information is recorded by electronic or magnetic means pursuant to the provisions of Municipal Ordinance (in the cases set forth in item (ii), Cabinet Order). In this case, these persons must handle the Individual Number Card in accordance with the standards specified by the Prime Minister and the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications (referred to as the "competent ministers" in Articles 38-8 through 38-11 and Article 38-13) as necessary for the safe management of Card Information, such as preventing leakage, loss, or damage of Card Information:

municipality agencies:processes specified by Municipal Ordinance as contributing to improving the convenience of local residents; and

Administrative Organs, local governments, private businesses and other persons that implement processes by identifying specific individuals, and are specified by Cabinet Order:said processes.

A person who has received an Individual Number Card (limited to a person who has been issued an Individual Number Card signature certificate (meaning an Individual Number Card signature certificate as set forth in Article 3, paragraph (1) of the Act on Certification Business of the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems in Relation to Electronic Signatures, etc. (Act No. 153 of 2002; referred to as the "Public Personal Authentication Act" in this Article and Article 38-8, paragraph (1)); hereinafter the same applies in this Article) that has not become invalid, and excluding a person who has already been issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to themselves pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) or (11) that has not become invalid) may, upon that person's application, be issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to themselves in order to record it on, and use it from, an electronic or magnetic recording medium (meaning a recording medium for electronic or magnetic records; hereinafter the same applies in this Article) specified by order of the competent ministry that is built into mobile terminal equipment (meaning mobile terminal equipment as set forth in Article 12-2, paragraph (4), item (iii), (b) of the Telecommunications Business Act (Act No. 86 of 1984); hereinafter the same applies in this Article and paragraph (1) of the following Article) used by that person.

The application referred to in the preceding paragraph is to be made by the person making that application (referred to as the "applicant" in this paragraph through paragraph (4)) transmitting to the Agency, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry and using the mobile terminal equipment referred to in the preceding paragraph, the electronic or magnetic record pertaining to the Card Substitute Information recorded on the applicant's Individual Number Card. In this case, the applicant must perform an electronic signature using the signature user code (meaning a signature user code as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Public Personal Authentication Act; the same applies in the following paragraph) pertaining to the applicant's Individual Number Card signature certificate.

When the Agency, having received the transmission under the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, has confirmed that the Individual Number Card signature certificate pertaining to the electronic signature referred to in the second sentence of that paragraph made by the applicant has not become invalid pursuant to the provisions of Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Public Personal Authentication Act, and that the electronic signature was performed using the signature user code corresponding to the signature user verification code (meaning a signature user verification code as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Public Personal Authentication Act) recorded in said Individual Number Card signature certificate, the Agency is to, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, issue the Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to that application and transmit it to the mobile terminal equipment referred to in paragraph (1) pertaining to the applicant.

An applicant who has received the transmission under the preceding paragraph is to, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, record the Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to that transmission on the electronic or magnetic recording medium referred to in paragraph (1).

A Card Substitute Electronic Record expires at the end of a period, not exceeding three months, specified by order of the competent ministry (for one pertaining to a person whose Individual Number Card expires within that period, the period until the day on which it expires).

When a Card Substitute Electronic Record User (meaning a person who has been issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record; hereinafter the same applies in this Article through Article 18-4) provides the Card Substitute Electronic Record pertaining to themselves as one capable of being verified under the provisions of the following paragraph, the Card Substitute Electronic Record User must transmit said Card Substitute Electronic Record using a program (meaning a program as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (2) of the Act on Facilitation of Information Processing (Act No. 90 of 1970); hereinafter the same applies in this Article through Article 18-4) that has received the certification referred to in paragraph (1) of the following Article.

A person who has received the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record under the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to verify that said Card Substitute Electronic Record belongs to the person who made that transmission by using the program that the Prime Minister provides pursuant to the provisions of Article 18-4, paragraph (1) or a program that has received the certification referred to in paragraph (2) of that Article.

If the electronic or magnetic recording medium referred to in paragraph (1) on which the Card Substitute Electronic Record is recorded can no longer be used, or in other cases specified by order of the competent ministry as cases in which the Card Substitute Electronic Record should be made invalid, the Card Substitute Electronic Record User must, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, promptly notify the Agency to that effect.

A Card Substitute Electronic Record is to become invalid when any of the grounds set forth in the following items applies:

when the Individual Number Card of the Card Substitute Electronic Record User becomes invalid pursuant to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (10) or Article 18-5, paragraph (8) or (10), or the Individual Number Card signature certificate of the Card Substitute Electronic Record User becomes invalid pursuant to the provisions of Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Public Personal Authentication Act;

when the Card Substitute Electronic Record expires;

when the Agency receives the notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph from the Card Substitute Electronic Record User;

when it is found that there is an error or omission in the information recorded in the Card Substitute Electronic Record; or

beyond what is provided for in the preceding items, in cases specified by order of the competent ministry.

When a Card Substitute Electronic Record has become invalid pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Agency must, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, immediately take measures to transmit a notice to that effect through a telecommunications line to the mobile terminal equipment into which the electronic or magnetic recording medium on which said Card Substitute Electronic Record is recorded is built. In this case, the Agency must continue those measures until it confirms that said mobile terminal equipment has received that notice.

If a Card Substitute Electronic Record has become invalid on the ground set forth in item (ii) of paragraph (9) or other grounds specified by order of the competent ministry, except where the ground set forth in item (i) of that paragraph applies, the Agency is to promptly issue a new Card Substitute Electronic Record to the person to whom said Card Substitute Electronic Record had been issued, and transmit it to that person's mobile terminal equipment referred to in paragraph (1).

If the Agency has issued a Card Substitute Electronic Record pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) or the preceding paragraph, or if a Card Substitute Electronic Record has become invalid pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (9), the Agency is to, pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry, notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register (for a person who has moved out of Japan, the family register supplement) in which the Card Substitute Electronic Record User pertaining to said Card Substitute Electronic Record is recorded of the matters specified by order of the competent ministry.

The Agency is to conduct, with regard to Card Substitute Electronic Records, the management of the status of the issuance and operation of Card Substitute Electronic Records and other processes specified by order of the competent ministry.

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the procedures for the issuance and transmission of Card Substitute Electronic Records under the provisions of paragraph (11) and other necessary matters concerning Card Substitute Electronic Records are specified by order of the competent ministry.

The Prime Minister may, upon the application of a person who provides a program for transmitting Card Substitute Electronic Records from mobile terminal equipment, certify that the program meets the following standards:

when a Card Substitute Electronic Record is about to be transmitted, it has the function of automatically connecting to a telecommunications line and confirming that the notice under the first sentence of paragraph (10) of the preceding Article (referred to as a "notice of invalidation" in this item and the following item) has not been transmitted to said mobile terminal equipment, and, if there is a notice of invalidation that said mobile terminal equipment should receive, receiving that notice of invalidation;

if said mobile terminal equipment has received a notice of invalidation, it has the function of transmitting a notice to that effect to the Agency and of making it impossible to transmit the Card Substitute Electronic Record to which that notice of invalidation pertains;

in transmitting a Card Substitute Electronic Record, it has the function of performing the measures specified by order of the competent ministry as measures for confirming that it is the Card Substitute Electronic Record User pertaining to said Card Substitute Electronic Record who makes that transmission; and

it conforms to other standards specified by order of the competent ministry.

When the Prime Minister has granted the certification referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister is to give public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry.

The Prime Minister is to take the necessary measures so that a Card Substitute Electronic Record User who intends to transmit a Card Substitute Electronic Record under the provisions of paragraph (6) of the preceding Article can readily use a program that has received the certification referred to in paragraph (1).

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding three paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the certification referred to in paragraph (1) are specified by order of the competent ministry.

The Prime Minister is to provide to the public, by a means using the internet, a program that has the following functions, for use in the verification under the provisions of Article 18-2, paragraph (7) that a person who has received the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record carries out:

the function of performing the measures specified by order of the competent ministry as measures for confirming that the transmission was made by the Card Substitute Electronic Record User pertaining to the Card Substitute Electronic Record;

the function of performing the measures specified by order of the competent ministry as measures for confirming that the Card Substitute Electronic Record received by that transmission has not been altered; and

other functions specified by order of the competent ministry.

The Prime Minister may, upon the application of a person who provides a program for a person who has received the transmission of a Card Substitute Electronic Record to carry out the verification under the provisions of Article 18-2, paragraph (7) (excluding the program provided pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph), certify that the program has the functions set forth in the items of the preceding paragraph.

When the Prime Minister has granted the certification referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Prime Minister is to give public notice to that effect pursuant to the provisions of order of the competent ministry.

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, necessary matters concerning the certification referred to in paragraph (2) are specified by order of the competent ministry.

If an application for the issuance of a specified residence card as set forth in Article 19-15-2, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951; referred to as the "Immigration Control Act" in this Article) or a specified special permanent resident certificate as set forth in Article 16-2, paragraph (1) of the Special Act on the Immigration Control of, inter alia, those who have lost Japanese Nationality pursuant to the Treaty of Peace with Japan (Act No. 71 of 1991; referred to as the "Immigration Control Special Act" in this Article) (referred to as a "specified residence card, etc." in this Article) has been filed pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (1) through (3) of the Immigration Control Special Act (referred to as an "application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc." in this Article), the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency is to notify the Agency that the application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. has been filed.

When the notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has been given, the Agency is to take the measures specified by order of the competent ministry as measures for adding the functions of an Individual Number Card, such as the entry of the Individual Number and its recording by electronic or magnetic means, to the specified residence card, etc. that the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency prepares pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (4) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (5) of the Immigration Control Special Act.

If the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency has prepared a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (4) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (5) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the Commissioner is to notify the mayor of the municipality that maintains the basic resident register in which the person seeking to receive that specified residence card, etc. is recorded (referred to as the "mayor of the municipality of domicile" in this Article and paragraph (3), item (ii) of the following Article) that the Commissioner has prepared that specified residence card, etc.

When the notification under the provisions of the preceding paragraph has been given, the mayor of the municipality of domicile must take measures to confirm the name, date of birth and other matters for identifying an individual that are entered in the residence certificate pertaining to the person seeking to receive that specified residence card, etc. and are specified by Cabinet Order, and the Individual Number entered in said residence certificate. In this case, the mayor of the municipality of domicile is to notify the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency that the mayor has taken those measures.

When issuing a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (6) through (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency must, at the time of the application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. or of the handover of the specified residence card, etc. pertaining to that application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc., take measures to receive from the person seeking to receive that specified residence card, etc. the presentation of a document specified by Cabinet Order that contains the person's name, date of birth and other matters for identifying an individual, and to confirm that the person is the person to whom that document pertains (including measures specified by order of the competent ministry as equivalent thereto).

If an application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. has been filed via the mayor of the municipality of domicile (if the application referred to in Article 16-2, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Special Act has been filed via the mayor of a municipality other than the mayor of the municipality of domicile pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (11) of that Article, that mayor of the municipality; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and paragraph (3), item (ii) of the following Article) pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (1) or (2) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the mayor of the municipality of domicile is to take the measures provided for in the preceding paragraph in place of the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency. In this case, the mayor of the municipality of domicile is to notify the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency that the mayor has taken those measures.

If the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency has issued a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (5) or (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraph (8) or (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act; if a person who has lost possession of a specified residence card, etc. has applied, pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-12, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Act, for the reissuance of the residence card set forth in Article 19-3 of the Immigration Control Act, or has applied, pursuant to the provisions of Article 13, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Special Act, for the reissuance of the special permanent resident certificate set forth in Article 7, paragraph (1) of the Immigration Control Special Act (excluding cases in which that application for reissuance has been filed via the mayor of the municipality of domicile); or if a specified residence card, etc. has been returned pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15 or Article 19-15-4, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16 or Article 16-3, paragraph (2) of the Immigration Control Special Act (excluding cases in which it has been returned via the mayor of the municipality of domicile pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of Article 19-15-2, paragraph (9) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16, paragraph (3) of the Immigration Control Special Act), the Commissioner is to notify the mayor of the municipality of domicile to that effect.

If a person who has received an Individual Number Card is to receive a specified residence card, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (6) through (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act, the person must, at the time of the application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc. or of the handover of the specified residence card, etc. pertaining to that application for issuance of a specified residence card, etc., return said Individual Number Card, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, to the mayor of the municipality of domicile either directly or via the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency. In this case, said Individual Number Card ceases to be effective.

A specified residence card, etc. issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-15-2, paragraphs (5) through (7) of the Immigration Control Act or Article 16-2, paragraphs (6) through (9) of the Immigration Control Special Act is deemed to be an Individual Number Card issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) with regard to the application of the provisions of this Act (excluding Article 17, paragraphs (6) through (9) and paragraph (13) and the preceding paragraph), the provisions of orders based on those provisions, and the provisions of other laws and regulations concerning the use of Individual Number Cards (including Municipal Ordinances based on the provisions of Article 18).

If a specified residence card, etc. ceases to be effective pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-14 of the Immigration Control Act or Article 15 of the Immigration Control Special Act, the Individual Number Card that the specified residence card, etc. is deemed, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, to be as an Individual Number Card issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 17, paragraph (1) also ceases to be effective.

The Agency may collect fees in the amount that the Agency specifies with regard to the processes pertaining to the issuance of Individual Number Cards under the provisions of Article 16-2, paragraphs (1), (5) and (7) and Article 17, paragraph (3), the processes pertaining to the issuance of Card Substitute Electronic Records under the provisions of Article 18-2, paragraphs (3) and (11) (referred to as the "Card Substitute Electronic Record Issuance Process" in paragraph (3)), and the processes pertaining to the measures provided for in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.

When the Agency intends to specify or change the amount of the fee provided for in the preceding paragraph, it must obtain the authorization of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications.

The Agency may entrust the processes of collecting the fees referred to in paragraph (1) (excluding those concerning the Card Substitute Electronic Record Issuance Process) to the persons specified in the following items according to the categories of fees set forth in those items:

fees concerning the processes pertaining to the issuance of Individual Number Cards under the provisions of Article 16-2, paragraphs (1), (5) and (7) and Article 17, paragraph (3): the issuing mayor of the municipality (if the mayor of a municipality other than the issuing mayor of the municipality takes the measure set forth in Article 17, paragraph (1), item (ii) pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) or (4) of that Article, that mayor of the municipality); and

fees concerning the processes pertaining to the measures provided for in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article: the Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency (if the mayor of the municipality of domicile takes the measures provided for in paragraph (5) of that Article pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6) of that Article, that mayor of the municipality of domicile).

It is prohibited for any person to provide Specific Personal Information except in cases that fall under any of the following items:

when a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number provides Specific Personal Information to the person themselves or their agent or to a Person in Charge of a Process Related to an Individual Number to the extent necessary to handle a Process Using an Individual Number (if a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number provides that person's Individual Number in order to request a report on the status of the assets or income of the person themselves pursuant to the provisions of Article 29, paragraph (1) of the Public Assistance Act (Act No. 144 of 1950), Article 100-2, paragraph (5) of the Employees' Pension Insurance Act or other Acts specified by Cabinet Order, limited to when providing it to a bank or another person specified by Cabinet Order);

when a Person in Charge of a Process Related to an Individual Number provides Specific Personal Information to the extent necessary to handle a Process Related to an Individual Number (excluding cases set forth in item (xii));

when the Person or the agent of the person provides Specific Personal Information, including the Individual Number of said Person, to a Person in Charge of Processes Using Individual Numbers, etc.;

when, in the case where a person who was an employee, etc. (meaning an employee, an officer who executes the business of a corporation, or a public employee of the national government or a local government; hereinafter the same applies in this item) of one employer, etc. (meaning an employer, a corporation, or the national government or a local government; hereinafter the same applies in this item) has become an employee, etc. of another employer, etc., the former employer, etc. provides, with the consent of that employee, etc., Specific Personal Information including the Individual Number of that employee, etc. to the other employer, etc. to the extent necessary for the latter to handle its Process Related to an Individual Number;

when the Agency provides Identity Confirmation Information Retained by the Agency, etc. to a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number pursuant to the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (2) of this Act;

when providing Special Personal Information along with business succession due to entrustment of all or part of the handling of Specific Personal Information, mergers and other circumstances;

when providing Specific Personal Information pursuant to the provisions of Article 30-6, paragraph (1) of the Residential Basic Book Act and other provisions of said Act provided for by Cabinet Order;

when a person specified by order of the competent ministry as a person who handles a Specified Process Using an Individual Number (meaning, among the processes listed in the right-hand column of the relevant row of said table, those specified by order of the competent ministry as processes whose optimization should be achieved by promptly receiving the provision of Specific Personal Information; hereinafter the same applies in this item and the following item) from among the administrative organs, local governments, incorporated administrative agencies, etc. and other persons handling administrative processes listed in the left-hand column of each row of the Appended Table (including handlers of quasi-statutory work; referred to as "Appended Table Administrative Organs, etc." in this item) (if there is a person who is specified to implement all or part of a Specified Process Using an Individual Number pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations, including that person; hereinafter referred to as the "Person Referring Information"), in order to handle a Specified Process Using an Individual Number, requests, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, an Appended Table Administrative Organ, etc. specified by order of the competent ministry as a person holding a Specific Personal Information File in which the Specific Personal Information specified by order of the competent ministry as that necessary for handling said Specified Process Using an Individual Number (hereinafter referred to as "Specific Personal Information for Use") is recorded, or the Minister of Justice (if there is a person who is specified to implement all or part of the processes pertaining to the use or provision of said Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of laws and regulations, including that person; hereinafter referred to as the "Person Providing Information"), to provide said Specific Personal Information for Use (limited to that recorded in the Specific Personal Information File held by the Person Providing Information), and said Person Providing Information provides said Specific Personal Information for Use using the Information Providing Network System;

when a Person Referring Information for Processes under Ordinances (meaning the chief of a local government or other executive agency specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission that handles, from among the processes specified by Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance based on the provisions of Article 9, paragraph (2), processes specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission as processes whose optimization should be achieved by promptly receiving the provision of Specific Personal Information in a manner equivalent to a Specified Process Using an Individual Number; the same applies in Article 26) requests, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, a Person Providing Information for Processes under Ordinances (meaning a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission as a person holding a Specific Personal Information File in which the Specific Personal Information for Use necessary for handling those processes is recorded; hereinafter the same applies in this item and in that Article) to provide Specific Personal Information for Use that is necessary for handling those processes and is specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission according to the content of those processes (limited to that recorded in the Specific Personal Information File held by the Person Providing Information for Processes under Ordinances), and said Person Providing Information for Processes under Ordinances provides said Specific Personal Information for Use using the Information Providing Network System;

when the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency provides to the prefectural governor or mayor of the municipality, or where the prefectural governor or mayor of the municipality provides to the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency or another prefectural governor or mayor of the municipality Specific Personal Information pertaining to National Tax, local tax or the forest environment tax pursuant to the provisions of Article 46, paragraph (4) or (5); Article 72-58; Article 317; Article 325; or Article 739-5, paragraph (7) of the Local Tax Act and provisions of said Act or of the Act on the Forest Environment Tax and the Forest Environment Transfer Tax (Act No. 3 of 2019) specified by Cabinet Order, or provisions of Acts on National Tax (meaning national taxes as set forth in Article 2, item (i) of the Act on General Rules for National Taxes; the same applies hereinafter), and when taking measures provided for by Cabinet Order as measures necessary for ensuring the safety of said Specific Personal Information;

when a local government agency provides to another agency of said local government Specific Personal Information to the extent necessary for handling the processes pursuant to the provisions of Prefectural or Municipal Ordinances;

when a Book-entry Transfer Institution, etc. as set forth in Article 2, paragraph (5) of the Act on Book-Entry Transfer of Corporate Bonds and Shares (Act No. 75 of 2001) (hereinafter referred to simply as a "Book-entry Transfer Institution, etc." in this item) provides to an issuer (including persons provided for by Cabinet Order as persons equivalent thereto) of bonds, etc. as set forth in paragraph (1) of said Article (hereinafter referred to simply as "bonds, etc." in this item) or to another Book-entry Transfer Institution, etc., using an electronic data processing system that connects computers used by said persons to one another via telecommunications lines and in which accounts for book-entry transfer of bonds, etc. are recorded, pursuant to the provisions of said Act or orders based on said Act, Specific Personal Information including the Individual Number that the person who opens an account for book-entry transfer of bonds, etc. has notified to the Book-entry Transfer Institution, etc. opening said account as the Individual Number to be stated in the documents set forth in Article 9, paragraph (4) of this Act (limited to documents submitted to the district director pursuant to the provisions of Article 225, paragraph (1) of the Income Tax Act (limited to the part pertaining to items (i), (ii), (viii) or items (x) through (xii))), and when taking measures provided for by Cabinet Order as measures necessary for ensuring the safety of said Specific Personal Information;

when providing Specific Personal Information requested pursuant to the provisions of Article 35, paragraph (1) of this Act to the Personal Information Protection Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "Commission");

when providing Specific Personal Information requested pursuant to the provisions of Article 38-7, paragraph (1) of this Act to the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications;

when implementing an examination or investigation by either House, a Committee of either House or a Research Commission of the House of Councillors pursuant to the provisions of Article 104, paragraph (1) of the Diet Act (Act No. 79 of 1947) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 54-4, paragraph (1) of said Act) or Article 1 of the Act on Witnesses' Oath, Testimony, etc. Before Both Houses of the Diet (Act No. 225 of 1947), court proceedings and other procedures in court, an execution of judicial decisions, an investigation of criminal cases, an investigation into criminal cases pursuant to the provisions of the Acts on taxation, or the audit by the Board of Audit (hereinafter collectively referred to as "House Examination, etc." in Article 36), or in any other case where it is necessary for the public interest as specified by Cabinet Order;

if it is necessary for protecting the life, body or property of humans and there is the consent of the Person or it is difficult to obtain the consent of the Person; and

if it is a case provided for by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission as equivalent thereto.

It is prohibited for any person to, except in cases falling under any of the items of the preceding Article, collect or keep Specific Personal Information (limited to information including another person's Individual Number).

The Prime Minister, in consultation with the Commission, is to establish the Information Providing Network System and manage it.

The Prime Minister, when requested by a Person Referring Information to provide Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) of this Act, must, using the Information Providing Network System, notify the Person Providing Information that there was a request to provide Specific Personal Information for Use, as provided for by Cabinet Orders, except if the Prime Minister finds that there has been a fact of violation of the provisions of Article 28 (excluding paragraphs (3) and (5)) with regard to the Specific Personal Information File held by the Person Referring Information in which said Specific Personal Information for Use is to be recorded or the Specific Personal Information File held by the Person Providing Information in which said Specific Personal Information for Use is recorded.

A Person Referring Information or a Person Providing Information (referred to as a "Person Referring Information, etc." in this Article) may acquire an information provision personal identification code from the Prime Minister.

The acquisition of an information provision personal identification code under the provisions of the preceding paragraph is to be effected, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, by a method in which the Person Referring Information, etc. notifies the Prime Minister of an acquisition number (meaning a number assigned with regard to that acquisition which, by being assigned so as to differ for each specific individual to be identified by that information provision personal identification code, enables that specific individual to be identified, and which is specified by Digital Agency Order as one that is not an Individual Number or a residence certificate code; hereinafter the same applies in this Article) through the Agency (for a Person Providing Information who is the Minister of Justice referred to in Article 9, paragraph (3), through the mayor of the municipality of the individual's registered domicile and the Agency), and the Prime Minister notifies that Person Referring Information, etc. of that information provision personal identification code together with that acquisition number.

A Person Referring Information, etc., the Prime Minister, the Agency and the mayor of the municipality referred to in the preceding paragraph must not retain an acquisition number beyond the scope necessary for achieving the purpose of carrying out the processes pertaining to the acquisition of an information provision personal identification code under the provisions of paragraph (1).

The persons provided for in the preceding paragraph must not themselves use an acquisition number for any purpose other than the purpose provided for in that paragraph.

The provisions of Article 19 (limited to the parts pertaining to item (vi) and items (xiii) through (xvii)) apply mutatis mutandis to the provision of an acquisition number by the persons provided for in paragraph (3). In this case, the phrase "the following" in that Article is deemed to be replaced with "the case of making the notification under the provisions of Article 21-2, paragraph (2) and the following", and the phrase "Article 35, paragraph (1)" in item (xiii) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 35, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-2, paragraph (8)".

A person who has been provided with an acquisition number pursuant to the provisions of Article 19 (limited to the parts pertaining to item (vi) and items (xiii) through (xvii)) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the following paragraph) must not retain that acquisition number beyond the scope necessary for achieving the purpose for which it was provided.

The provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the persons provided for in the preceding paragraph. In this case, the phrase "provided for in that paragraph" in paragraph (4) is deemed to be replaced with "for which it was provided".

The provisions of Chapter VI apply mutatis mutandis to the handling of acquisition numbers. In this case, the phrase "Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc." in Article 33 is deemed to be replaced with "person provided for in Article 21-2, paragraph (3) or (6)", and the phrase "Article 19, item (xv)" in Article 36 is deemed to be replaced with "Article 19, item (xv) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-2, paragraph (5) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (7) of that Article)".

If a Person Providing Information, pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) of this Act, is requested to provide Specific Personal Information for Use, and receives a notification regarding said request of provision from the Prime Minister under the provisions of Article 21, paragraph (2), as provided for by Cabinet Orders, the person must provide said Specific Personal Information for Use to the Person Referring Information.

If Specific Personal Information for Use is provided pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, and, pursuant to the provisions of other laws and regulations, the submission of documents with the same information content as said Specific Personal Information for Use is obligatory, it is deemed as though said documents have been submitted.

The Person Referring Information and the Person Providing Information, when requested for or provided with Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) of this Act, must record the following information in the computer used by said person that is connected to the Information Providing Network System and keep said record for the period specified by Cabinet Order:

names of the Person Referring Information and Person Providing Information;

date and time of request for provision and, if there was provision, the date and time thereof;

items of the Specific Personal Information for Use; and

in addition to those listed in the preceding three items, information specified by Digital Agency Order.

In addition to the information set forth in preceding paragraph, the Person Referring Information and Person Providing Information, if the fact of said request for provision or provision of Specific Personal Information for Use falls under any of the following items, must record the same in the computer used by said person that is connected with the Information Providing Network System and keep said record for the period specified in the same paragraph:

if it is found that it corresponds to Non-Disclosure Information as set forth in Article 78, paragraph (1) of the Personal Information Protection Act (including as applied by deeming pursuant to the provisions of Article 125, paragraph (2) of the Personal Information Protection Act; the same applies in the following item); or

if it is found that it corresponds to Non-Disclosure Information as set forth in Article 78, paragraph (1) of the Personal Information Protection Act as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 31, paragraph (3) of this Act.

The Prime Minister, if there was a request for or provision of Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) of this Act, must record the information set forth in the preceding two paragraphs in the Information Providing Network System and keep said record for the period specified in paragraph (1).

The Prime Minister, the Person Referring Information and the Person Providing Information, with regard to the secrecy regarding the process for information provision, etc. (meaning processes related to requests for provision or provision of Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) of this Act; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and the following Article), in order to prevent divulgation and properly control the secrecy, must ensure the safety and reliability of the Information Providing Network System and of the computers used for the process for information provision, etc. by the Person Referring Information and the Person Providing Information, and take other necessary measures.

A person who is engaged or was engaged in providing information, etc. processes or in processes related to the operation of the Information Providing Network System must not leak or steal secrets related to said processes that may have been learned during the course of the operation.

The provisions of Article 21 (excluding paragraph (1)) through the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to a request for the provision of Specific Personal Information for Use by a Person Referring Information for Processes under Ordinances and the provision of Specific Personal Information for Use by a Person Providing Information for Processes under Ordinances under the provisions of Article 19, item (ix). In this case, the phrase "must provide said Specific Personal Information for Use to the Person Referring Information" in Article 22, paragraph (1) is deemed to be replaced with "must provide said Specific Personal Information for Use to the Person Referring Information; provided, however, that this does not apply if the chief of a local government or other executive agency for which the scope of Specific Personal Information for Use that may be provided under the provisions of Article 19, item (ix) is limited by Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance has notified the Commission to that effect in advance pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, and the Specific Personal Information for Use pertaining to the request for provision is not included in that limited scope of Specific Personal Information for Use"; the phrase "laws and regulations" in paragraph (2) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Prefectural or Municipal Ordinances"; the phrase "process for information provision, etc. (meaning processes related to requests for provision or provision of Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii)" in Article 24 is deemed to be replaced with "process for information provision, etc. for processes under Ordinances (meaning processes related to requests for provision or provision of Specific Personal Information for Use pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (ix)", and the phrase "used for the process for information provision, etc." in that Article with "used for the process for information provision, etc. for processes under Ordinances"; and the phrase "process for information provision, etc." in the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "process for information provision, etc. for processes under Ordinances".

The Commission, in order to ensure the proper handling of Specific Personal Information, is to establish and make public the guidelines (in the following paragraph and paragraph (3) of the following Article, referred to simply as "guidelines") specifying measures that a person who intends to hold Specific Personal Information Files must take, such as conducting by themselves a Specific Personal Information Protection Assessment (meaning an assessment of the risk of occurrence and impact of leakage of Specific Personal Information and other situations), preventing the occurrence of these situations, and other measures to properly manage Specific Personal Information.

The Commission, considering the technological progress and international trends related to the protection of Personal Information, is to reexamine the guidelines at least every three years, and, if it is found to be necessary, to change the guidelines.

If the head of an administrative organ, etc. intends to hold Specific Personal Information Files (excluding those in which personnel affairs, remuneration, or welfare benefit of a person who is or was exclusively an official of said head of the administrative organ, etc. is recorded and others that are specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission; hereinafter the same applies in this Article), before holding said Specific Personal Information File, pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, the head is to make a public notification of the document stating the results of assessing the following items (hereinafter the document is referred to as "Assessment Report" in this Article) and to seek comments widely from the citizens. With regard to said Specific Personal Information File, if the head intends to make a material change specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, the same applies:

the number of persons who are engaged in processes that use the Specific Personal Information File;

the amount of Specific Personal Information to be recorded in the Specific Personal Information File;

past situation of the handling of the Personal Information File by the head of an administrative organ, etc.;

outline of the processes that use the Specific Personal Information File;

the structure of the electronic data processing system used for handling the Specific Personal Information File and the method of computer processing, etc.;

measures to protect Specific Personal Information recorded in the Specific Personal Information File; and

in addition to those listed in the preceding items, matters specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission.

In the case set forth in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, the head of an administrative organ, etc., as provided for by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, after giving enough consideration to the opinions obtained pursuant to the provisions of the first sentence of the same paragraph and making the necessary reviews in the Assessment Report, is to obtain the approval of the Commission with regard to the handling of Specific Personal Information Files stated in said Assessment Report. With regard to said Specific Personal Information Files, if the head intends to make a material change specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, the same applies.

The Commission must not give the approval set forth in the preceding paragraph unless it is found by judgment based on the content of the Assessment Report, the information obtained pursuant to the provisions of Article 35, paragraph (1) of this Act and other information that the handling of the Specific Personal Information Files stated in said Assessment Report is in conformance with the guidelines.

If the head of an administrative organ, etc. receives the approval concerning the Assessment Report pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), the head is to promptly make public said Assessment Report.

When an Assessment Report has been made public pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the notification under the provisions of Article 74, paragraph (1) of the Personal Information Protection Act is deemed to have been made.

The head of an administrative organ, etc. must not provide information recorded in a Specific Personal Information File, for which the Assessment Report has not been made public, pursuant to the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) or (ix) of this Act or must not request for the provision of information to be recorded in said Specific Personal Information File pursuant to the provisions of those items.

A Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. and other persons engaged in a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. must not create a Specific Personal Information File beyond the extent necessary for handling a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. except in cases falling under any of Article 19, items (xiii) through (xvii) of this Act where said persons can provide or be provided with Specific Personal Information.

When holding or intending to hold a Specific Personal Information File, the head of an administrative organ, etc. is to, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order, provide the persons engaged in processes handling Specific Personal Information Files with training on matters concerning ensuring cybersecurity (meaning cybersecurity as set forth in Article 2 of the Basic Act on Cybersecurity (Act No. 104 of 2014); the same applies in Article 32) necessary to ensure the appropriate handling of Specific Personal Information, and on other matters.

Administrative organs, incorporated administrative agencies, etc. and the Agency that hold a Specific Personal Information File are to periodically undergo inspections by the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, regarding the status of the handling of Specific Personal Information recorded in said Specific Personal Information File.

Local governments and local incorporated administrative agencies that hold a Specific Personal Information File are to periodically report to the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission, on the status of the handling of Specific Personal Information recorded in said Specific Personal Information File.

If a leakage, loss or damage of Specific Personal Information recorded in a Specific Personal Information File or any other situation concerning ensuring the security of Specific Personal Information that is specified by Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission as being highly likely to harm the rights and interests of individuals has occurred, a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. must report to the Commission that the situation has occurred, pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission. This does not apply, however, if said Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. has been entrusted with all or part of said Process Using an Individual Number, etc. by another Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. and has notified that other Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. that the situation has occurred, pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission.

In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. (excluding a person who has given notice under the proviso to that paragraph) must notify the person themselves that the situation has occurred, pursuant to the provisions of Rules of the Personal Information Protection Commission. This does not apply, however, if it is difficult to notify the person themselves and the Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. takes alternative measures necessary to protect the rights and interests of the person themselves.

For Specific Personal Information protection, the Commission is to cooperate with the organization established in the Cabinet Secretariat to handle processes concerning ensuring cybersecurity, while collaborating with each other by sharing information with it and by other means.

To the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, the Commission may give necessary guidance and advice regarding the handling of Specific Personal Information to a Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc.

If an act violating the provisions of laws and regulations related to the handling of Specific Personal Information is performed and the Commission finds it necessary to ensure the appropriate handling of Specific Personal Information, it may fix time limit and recommend that the person who performed said violation cease the violation and take other necessary measures to correct the violation.

If the person who receives the recommendation under the preceding paragraph does not, without justifiable grounds, take the measures recommended, the Commission may fix a time limit and order the person to take the measures recommended.

Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if an act violating the provisions of laws and regulations related to the handling of Specific Personal Information is performed and, due to a serious infringement of the rights and interests of individuals, the Commission finds it necessary to take emergency measures, it may fix a time limit and order the person who performed said violation to cease it and take other necessary measures to correct it.

To the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, the Commission may request the persons handling Specific Personal Information and other persons concerned to make the necessary reports or submit materials regarding the handling of Specific Personal Information, or have its officials enter the office of the person handling said Specific Personal Information or of persons concerned or enter other necessary places and ask questions related to the handling of Specific Personal Information or inspect books, documents and other items.

The officials who conduct on-site inspections pursuant to the preceding paragraph must carry an identification card and, if requested by persons concerned, present it to them.

The authority to conduct on-site inspections under the provisions of paragraph (1) must not be construed as being vested with the authority for criminal investigation.

The provisions of the preceding three Articles do not apply to the handling of Specific Personal Information in which the Specific Personal Information is provided, received or obtained if a House Examination, etc. is conducted or in cases, from among the cases specified by the Cabinet Order set forth in Article 19, item (xv) of this Act, where procedures provided for by Cabinet Order as being equivalent to a House Examination, etc. are conducted.

The Commission may request that the Prime Minister and the other heads of the administrative organs concerned secure cost reduction and other improvements in the rationality and the efficiency, regarding, the construction, maintenance, and management of the Information Providing Network System and other information systems that are used in the handling of Individual Numbers and other Specific Personal Information, and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and reliability of the function of said systems.

If the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, requests the implementation of the measures under said paragraph, it may also request that the heads of the Administrative Organs under said paragraph report the status of implementation of the measures.

The Commission may express opinions about the improvement of the measures related to the protection of Specific Personal Information, obtained during the implementation of the functions under the jurisdiction, to the Prime Minister.

The Agency must establish Rules for the Management of Processes Handled by the Agency regarding the matters specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications concerning the implementation of the processes that the Agency handles pursuant to the provisions of this Act (hereinafter referred to as a "Process Handled by the Agency"), and obtain the authorization of the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. The same applies when the Agency intends to change them.

If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds that the Rules for the Management of Processes Handled by the Agency authorized pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph have become inappropriate for the proper and reliable implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency, the Minister may order the Agency to change them.

When conducting computer processing, etc. of Specific Personal Information handled in a Process Handled by the Agency and other information specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (referred to as "Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency" in this Article and paragraph (2) of the following Article), the Agency must take necessary measures for the appropriate management of Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency, such as preventing the leakage, loss, or damage of Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis where a person who has been entrusted by the Agency with the computer processing, etc. of Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency (including entrustment over two or more tiers) performs the entrusted services.

An officer or employee of the Agency (including a member of the Committee for the Protection of Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency as set forth in Article 27, paragraph (1) of the Act on the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems (Act No. 29 of 2013)) or a person who formerly held such a position must not divulge any secret learned in connection with a Process Handled by the Agency.

A person who has been entrusted by the Agency with the computer processing, etc. of Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency (including entrustment over two or more tiers), or an officer or employee thereof, or a person who was formerly any of these, must not divulge any secret concerning Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency or any secret concerning the computer processing, etc. of Specific Personal Information, etc. in Processes Handled by the Agency that they have learned in connection with the entrusted services.

The Agency must, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, keep and preserve books stating the matters concerning the Processes Handled by the Agency that are specified by Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The Agency must, at least once every year, prepare a report on the status of the implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency, pursuant to the provisions of Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and make it public.

If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it necessary in order to ensure the proper implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency, the Minister may issue to the Agency orders necessary for supervision concerning the implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency.

If the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications finds it necessary in order to ensure the proper implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency, the Minister may request the Agency to make the necessary reports or submit the necessary materials concerning the status of implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency, or may have the Minister's officials enter the offices of the Agency, ask questions concerning the status of implementation of the Processes Handled by the Agency, or inspect books, documents and other articles.

The provisions of Article 35, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to on-site inspections under the preceding paragraph.

With regard to the implementation of processes related to Individual Number Cards (meaning the processes the Agency handles pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-2, Article 17, paragraph (3), Article 18-2, paragraphs (2), (3), (8) and (10) through (13), and Article 18-5, paragraph (2), and the certification processes provided for in Article 39, paragraph (1) of the Public Personal Authentication Act; the same applies hereinafter in this Article through Article 38-12), the competent minister must establish objectives concerning business operations that the Agency is to achieve over a period of three years or more and five years or less (hereinafter referred to as the "medium-term objectives"), give instructions on them to the Agency, and make them public. The same applies when the competent minister has changed them.

The medium-term objectives are to specifically provide for the following matters:

the period of the medium-term objectives (meaning the period specified by the competent minister within the scope of the period referred to in the preceding paragraph; the same applies in Article 38-11, paragraph (1), items (ii) and (iii));

matters concerning the improvement of the quality of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards;

matters concerning the optimization of business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards; and

other important matters concerning business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards.

When the Agency has received the instructions under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, it must, based on the medium-term objectives and as provided for by order of the competent ministry, prepare a plan for achieving those medium-term objectives (referred to as the "medium-term plan" in this Article through Article 38-11) and obtain the approval of the competent minister for it. The same applies when the Agency intends to change it.

The medium-term plan is to provide for the following matters:

measures to be taken to achieve the objectives concerning the improvement of the quality of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards;

measures to be taken to achieve the objectives concerning the optimization of business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards; and

other matters concerning business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards that are specified by order of the competent ministry.

If the competent minister finds that a medium-term plan approved pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has become inappropriate for the proper and reliable implementation of the matters listed in paragraph (2), items (ii) through (iv) of the preceding Article, the competent minister may order the Agency to change that medium-term plan.

When the Agency has obtained the approval under paragraph (1), it must make its medium-term plan public without delay.

Before the start of each business year, the Agency must, based on the medium-term plan approved under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article and as provided for by order of the competent ministry, establish a plan concerning business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards for that business year (referred to as the "annual plan" in paragraph (5) of the following Article), notify the competent minister of it, and make it public. The same applies when the Agency has changed it.

After the end of each business year, the Agency must obtain an evaluation by the competent minister of the matters specified in the following items, according to which of the business years listed in those items that business year falls under:

a business year other than the business years listed in the following item and item (iii): the performance of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards in that business year;

the business year immediately preceding the last business year of the period of the medium-term objectives: the performance of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards in that business year, and the performance of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards over the period of the medium-term objectives as anticipated at the end of the period of the medium-term objectives; and

the last business year of the period of the medium-term objectives: the performance of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards in that business year, and the performance of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards over the period of the medium-term objectives.

When the Agency intends to obtain the evaluation under the preceding paragraph, it must, as provided for by order of the competent ministry, submit to the competent minister, within three months after the end of each business year, a report clarifying the matters specified in item (i), (ii) or (iii) of that paragraph and the results of its own evaluation of those matters, and make the report public.

The evaluation under paragraph (1) must be conducted by assigning an overall rating to the matters specified in item (i), (ii) or (iii) of that paragraph. In such a case, the evaluation of the performance of operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards in that business year provided for in each item of that paragraph must be conducted by investigating and analyzing the status of implementation of the medium-term plan in that business year and taking the results into consideration.

When the competent minister has conducted the evaluation under paragraph (1), the competent minister must notify the Agency of the results of that evaluation and make them public without delay.

The Agency must appropriately reflect the results of the evaluation under paragraph (1) in its medium-term plan and annual plan and in the improvement of business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards, and must make public, each fiscal year, the status of how the evaluation results have been reflected.

If the competent minister finds it necessary based on the results of the evaluation under paragraph (1), the competent minister may order the Agency to take measures necessary for improving business operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards and other necessary measures.

If the president of the Agency has committed an act in violation of the order under the preceding paragraph, the competent minister may order the representatives' meeting of the Agency (meaning the representatives' meeting provided for in Article 8, paragraph (1) of the Act on the Japan Agency for Local Authority Information Systems; the same applies in the following paragraph) to dismiss that president, specifying a time limit.

If the representatives' meeting of the Agency fails to comply with the order under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the competent minister may dismiss the president to whom the order under that paragraph pertains.

The national government may, within the scope of its budget, subsidize the Agency in an amount equivalent to all or part of the amount necessary to fund the operations pertaining to processes related to Individual Number Cards.

The competent minister must consult with the Minister of Finance in the following cases:

when the competent minister intends to establish or change the medium-term objectives pursuant to the provisions of Article 38-8, paragraph (1);

when the competent minister intends to grant the approval under the provisions of Article 38-9, paragraph (1).

The Commissioner of the National Tax Agency, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Orders, is to designate a Corporation Number to a corporation, etc. (meaning national government organs, local governments, and corporations that have registered their incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act (Act No. 86 of 2005) and other laws and regulations and corporations other than said corporations or unincorporated association or foundation for which a representative or an administrator has been designated (hereinafter referred to as "Unincorporated Association, etc." in this Article) and that are required to submit notification pursuant to the provisions of Article 230 of the Income Tax Act, Articles 148, 149, or 150 of the Corporation Tax Act (Act No. 34 of 1965), or Article 57 of the Consumption Tax Act (Act No. 108 of 1988)) and to notify said corporation, etc. of the Corporation Number.

A corporation other than corporations, etc. or an unincorporated association, etc. that are specified by Cabinet Orders may, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Orders, notify the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency of the trade name or name and the location of the head office or principal office and other information of said person specified by Ordinance of the Ministry of Finance and have a Corporation Number designated.

The person that made the notification under the preceding paragraph, if there are any changes to the information pertaining to the notification (including cases where there are changes to the information pertaining to the notification under the provisions of this paragraph) must, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Orders, notify the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency of the information that has changed.

The Commissioner of the National Tax Agency must, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Orders, make public the trade name or name, the location of the head office or principal office, and the Corporation Number of a person that has been designated a Corporation Number (hereinafter referred to as a "Corporation Number Holder") pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2); provided, however, that with regard to Unincorporated Associations, etc., the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency must in advance obtain the consent of its representative or administrator.

When the head of an administrative organ, local government agency, or incorporated administrative agency, etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "head of an administrative organ, etc." in this Chapter) requests that other heads of administrative organs, etc. provide Specific Corporate Information (information related to the Corporation Number Holder and that can be searched through the corporate number; the same applies in Article 42 of this Act), the head is to do it by notifying said other heads of administrative organs, etc. of said corporate number.

The head of an administrative organ, etc. may request the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency for the provision of information, with regard to the trade name or name, the location of the head office or principal office, and the Corporation Number of the Corporation Number Holder.

If the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency finds it necessary to designate a corporate number pursuant to the provisions of Article 39, paragraph (1) of this Act, the Commissioner may request that the Minister of Justice provide the Company, etc. Number (limited to numbers recorded in the registry created at the registry office with jurisdiction over the location of the head office or principal office of a corporation that has registered its incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act and other laws and regulations) under Article 7 of the Commercial Registration Act (Act No. 125 of 1963) (including cases applied mutatis mutandis in other laws and regulations) and other information recorded in said registry.

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the Commissioner of the National Tax Agency finds it necessary to designate or notify the corporate number pursuant to the provisions of Article 39, paragraph (1) or (2) of this Act or to make the publication under the provisions of Article 39, paragraph (4), the Commissioner may request that a public agency provide the trade name or name, the location of the head office or principal office and other necessary materials of the Corporation Number Holder.

With regard the specific corporation information held, the head of an administrative organ, etc. must, to the extent necessary to accomplish the purpose of use, endeavor to make it correspond to facts, of the past or present.

With regard to the application to designated cities as set forth in the provisions of Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947) (hereinafter referred to simply as "designated city" in the next paragraph) that are specified by Cabinet Orders in this Act, a ward and an administratively consolidated ward are deemed to be a city and the mayor of a ward and the mayor of an administratively consolidated ward are deemed to be a city mayor.

In addition to what is provided for in the preceding paragraph, with regard to the application of the provisions of this Act to designated cities, special provisions may be provided for by Cabinet Orders.

The processes to be handled by municipalities pursuant to the provisions of Article 7, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 8, paragraph (1) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 3, paragraph (4) of the Supplementary Provisions), Article 16-2, paragraphs (2) and (6), Article 17, paragraphs (1) through (5) and paragraph (7) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (8) of that Article), Article 18-5, paragraphs (4) and (6), Article 21-2, paragraph (2) (limited to the part concerning the notice in the case where the Person Providing Information is the Minister of Justice referred to in Article 9, paragraph (3), and including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 26), and Article 3, paragraphs (1) through (3) of the Supplementary Provisions are Type 1 statutory entrusted affairs as provided for in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act.

The head of an Administrative Organ may delegate authority or processes as specified in Chapters II, IV, V and the preceding Chapter of this Act to officials of said Administrative Organs pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Orders (in case of an organ under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet and Board of Audit, the orders of said organ).

The Minister of Justice must not retain Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information (meaning information prepared by means of computer processing, etc. of information recorded in the duplicate of a family register or a removed family register in order to prepare Family Register Related Information (excluding Family Register Related Information); the same applies hereinafter in this Article) beyond the extent necessary for achieving the purpose of carrying out the processes concerning the preparation of Family Register Related Information to be used for the provision under the provisions of Article 19, item (viii) or (ix).

The Minister of Justice must, for the prevention of leakage of and other appropriate management of secrets concerning the processes concerning the preparation of Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information, take measures to ensure the security and reliability of the computers used for those processes and other necessary measures.

A person who is engaged or was engaged in the processes provided for in the preceding paragraph must not leak or steal secrets concerning those processes that the person has learned in the course of the person's duties.

The Minister of Justice must not itself use Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information for any purpose other than the purpose provided for in paragraph (1).

The provisions of Article 19 (limited to the parts concerning items (vi), (xiii) and (xv) through (xvii)) apply mutatis mutandis to the provision of Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information by the Minister of Justice. In such a case, the phrase "the following" in that Article is deemed to be replaced with "in the case of giving the notice under the provisions of Article 21-2, paragraph (2), and the following", and the phrase "Article 35, paragraph (1)" in item (xiii) of that Article is deemed to be replaced with "Article 35, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 45-2, paragraph (9)".

A person who has received Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information pursuant to the provisions of Article 19 (limited to the parts concerning items (vi), (xiii) and (xv) through (xvii)) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the preceding paragraph (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the following paragraph) must not retain that Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information beyond the extent necessary for achieving the purpose for which it was received.

The provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) apply mutatis mutandis to the person provided for in the preceding paragraph. In such a case, the phrase "provided for in paragraph (1)" in paragraph (4) is deemed to be replaced with "for which it was received".

The provisions of Chapter V, Section 4 of the Personal Information Protection Act do not apply to Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information.

The provisions of Chapter VI apply mutatis mutandis to the handling of Information for Preparing Family Register Related Information. In such a case, the phrase "Person in Charge of a Process Using an Individual Number, etc." in Article 33 is deemed to be replaced with "the Minister of Justice or a person provided for in Article 45-2, paragraph (6)", and the phrase "Article 19, item (xv)" in Article 36 is deemed to be replaced with "Article 19, item (xv) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 45-2, paragraph (5) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (7) of that Article)".

The order of the competent ministry in this Act is the Digital Agency Order and Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

In addition to what is provided for by this Act, procedures for enforcing this Act and other matters necessary to enforce this Act are provided for by Cabinet Orders.

If a person who is engaged or was engaged in processes related to a Process Using an Individual Number, etc. or in the designation or notification of Individual Numbers under the provisions of Article 7, paragraph (1) or (2) of this Act, in the generation or notification of the number to be an Individual Number under the provisions of Article 8, paragraph (2), or in the provision of Identity Confirmation Information Retained by the Agency, etc. under the provisions of Article 14, paragraph (2) provides, without justifiable grounds, Specific Personal Information Files containing information classified as individual secrets that were handled in the course of the operation (including Specific Personal Information Files of which all or part is copied or processed), this person is punished by imprisonment for four years or less, by a fine of two million yen or less, or by both.

If the person specified in the preceding Article provides or misappropriates the Individual Numbers that same person has learnt in the course of the operation for the purpose of acquiring an unlawful economic benefit for the same or a third party or of causing damage to the person themselves or another person, said person is punished by imprisonment for three years or less, by a fine of one million five hundred thousand yen or less, or by both.

A person who, in violation of the provisions of Article 25 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 26), leaks or steals any secrets is punished by imprisonment for three years or less, by a fine of one million five hundred thousand yen or less, or by both.

If Individual Numbers are obtained by deceiving, assaulting, or intimidating a person or, by stealing or damaging property, trespassing on a facility, intercepting wire telecommunications, hacking (which means an act of unauthorized access as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (4) of the Act on Prohibition of Unauthorized Computer Access (Act No. 128 of 1999)) or committing any other act harmful to the management of an Individual Number holder, the person who committed said violation is punished by imprisonment for three years or less or by a fine of one million five hundred thousand yen or less.

The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not preclude application of the Penal Code (Act No. 45 of 1907) and other penal provisions.

If an official of a national government organ, local government agency, or the Agency, or an officer or an official of an incorporated administrative agency, etc. or a local incorporated administrative agency (including a consular officer who is not any of these persons), in an abuse of authority, collects documents, pictures or electric or magnetic records (meaning a record created in electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by human senses) containing Specific Personal Information classified as individual secret for an exclusive purpose of using it in something other than their work, said person is punished by imprisonment for two years or less or by a fine of one million yen or less.

A person who, in violation of the provisions of Article 38-3-2, leaks any secrets is punished by imprisonment for two years or less or by a fine of one million yen or less.

A person who, in violation of the provisions of Article 45-2, paragraph (3) of this Act, leaks or steals any secrets is punished by imprisonment for two years or less, by a fine of one million yen or less, or by both.

If an order under the provisions of Article 34, paragraph (2) or (3) is violated, the person who committed the violating act is punished by imprisonment for two years or less or by a fine of five hundred thousand yen or less.

If an order under the provisions of Article 34, paragraph (2) or (3) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-2, paragraph (8) or Article 45-2, paragraph (9) is violated, the person who committed the violating act is punished by imprisonment for one year or less or by a fine of five hundred thousand yen or less.

If a person fails to submit the report or materials under the provisions of Article 35, paragraph (1) of this Act, makes a false report, submits false materials, or fails to answer or replies with a false answer to the questions asked by officials in question, or refuses, obstructs, or avoids an inspection, the person who committed the violating act is punished by imprisonment for one year or less or by a fine of five hundred thousand yen or less.

If a person receives the delivery of an Individual Number Card or the issuance of a Card Substitute Electronic Record by deception or other wrongful means, the person who committed the violating act is punished by imprisonment for six months or less or by a fine of five hundred thousand yen or less.

If a person fails to submit the report or materials under the provisions of Article 35, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 21-2, paragraph (8) or Article 45-2, paragraph (9), makes a false report, submits false materials, or fails to answer or replies with a false answer to the questions asked by officials in question, or refuses, obstructs, or avoids an inspection, the person who committed the violating act is punished by a fine of three hundred thousand yen or less.

When any of the following items applies, an officer or employee of the Agency who has committed the violating act is punished by a fine of not more than 300,000 yen.

when, in violation of the provisions of Article 38-4, books have not been kept, entries have not been made in the books or false entries have been made in the books, or the books have not been preserved;

when the report or materials under the provisions of Article 38-7, paragraph (1) have not been submitted, a false report has been made or false materials have been submitted, or no answer has been given or a false answer has been given to the questions under the provisions of that paragraph, or the inspection under the provisions of that paragraph has been refused, obstructed or avoided.

The provisions of Articles 48 through 52-3 and Article 55 also apply to a person who commits the crimes under those Articles outside Japan.

If the representative or administrator of a corporation (including an organization that is not a corporation and that has a designated representative or administrator; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), or an agent, employee or other worker of a corporation or individual, commits a violating act of the provisions listed in any of the following items with regard to the business of that corporation or individual, not only is the offender punished, but the corporation is also subject to the fine prescribed in the relevant item and the individual to the fine prescribed in the relevant Article.

Article 48, Article 49 and Article 53: a fine of one hundred million yen or less; and

Article 51 and Articles 53-2 through 55-2: the fine prescribed in the relevant Article.

If the provisions of the preceding paragraph are applied to an organization without legal personality, its representatives or administrators represent the organization without legal personality for the procedural action, and the provisions of the laws concerning criminal actions with a corporation as the accused or the suspect apply mutatis mutandis.