①The National Pension Fund Association is to pay a pension, or a lump-sum benefit whose ground for payment is death, to an early leaver that is to be paid a pension or lump-sum benefit under Article 137-17, paragraph (4), and to a member of a dissolved fund relating to a National Pension Fund that is a member of the National Pension Fund Association.

②The National Pension Fund Association may conduct the following projects; provided, however, that when it conducts the project listed in item (i), it must obtain the authorization of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.

③The National Pension Fund Association may establish facilities necessary to promote the welfare of members of a National Pension Fund and persons who were members.

④When the National Pension Fund Association concludes, with a trust company, a financial institution engaged in trust business, a life insurance company, a federation of agricultural cooperatives or a federation of fishery cooperatives for mutual aid, or a financial instruments business operator, a contract of trust, insurance or mutual aid, or a discretionary investment contract, concerning the expenses required for the pension or lump-sum benefit paid by that National Pension Fund Association, it must do so as provided by Cabinet Order.

⑤The provisions of Article 128, paragraph (4) apply mutatis mutandis to the trust contract under the preceding paragraph (excluding a trust contract that specifies the method of investment and that is specified by Cabinet Order), insurance or mutual aid contract, or discretionary investment contract.

⑥The National Pension Fund Association may, with the authorization of the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, entrust part of its operations to a trust company, a financial institution engaged in trust business, a life insurance company, a federation of agricultural cooperatives, a federation of fishery cooperatives for mutual aid, or any other juridical person specified by Cabinet Order.