When engaging in the operations of Real Estate Brokerage, a real estate transaction specialist must, as an expert in dealings in Building Lots or buildings, perform the affairs provided for in this Act fairly and in good faith so as to contribute to the protection of the profits of buyers, etc. and to the smooth distribution of Building Lots or buildings, and must endeavor to cooperate with persons engaged in operations related to Real Estate Brokerage.

A real estate transaction specialist must not engage in any act that would damage the credibility or dignity of real estate transaction specialists.

A real estate transaction specialist must endeavor to maintain and improve the knowledge and abilities necessary for the affairs pertaining to transactions involving Building Lots or buildings.

①A prefectural governor must administer a qualifications Examination for real estate transaction specialists (hereinafter referred to as "Examination") pursuant to the provisions of an Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

②An Examination is to be administered to test the required knowledge concerning Real Estate Brokerage.

③A person who has obtained a registration with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism pursuant to the provisions of Articles 17-3 through 17-5 (hereinafter referred to as "Registered Training Agency") and who has completed a course on training to be provided as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (hereinafter referred to as "Registered Training") is exempted from part of the Examination as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

①A prefectural governor may have a person designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism engage in processes relating to the administration of an Examination (hereinafter referred to as "Examination Processes").

②The designation under the preceding paragraph is made through the application of a person intending to engage in Examination Processes.

③A prefectural governor is not to engage in Examination Processes if a person designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is to engage in Examination Processes.

①Unless the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems an application under paragraph (2) of the preceding article to be in compliance with the following items, said minister is not to make a designation under paragraph (1) of the same article:

②If a person who has submitted an application under paragraph (2) of the preceding article falls under any of the following items, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is not to make a designation under paragraph (1) of the same article:

①If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism grants a designation under Article 16-2, paragraph (1), said minister must issue a public notice of the name of the designated person, location of the principal business office thereof, and date of said designation.

②If a person for whom a designation under Article 16-2, paragraph (1), has been made (hereinafter referred to as "Designated Examination Body") intends to change the name or location of the principal business office thereof, the person must notify the fact thereof to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by no later than two weeks prior to the intended date of said change.

③If a notification under the preceding paragraph is filed, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must issue a public notification of the fact thereof.

①A prefectural governor who has delegated their Examination Processes to a Designated Examination Body pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-2, paragraph (1), (hereinafter referred to as "Delegating Prefectural Governor") must issue a public notice of the name of said Designated Examination Body, location of the principal business office thereof, location of the business office thereof handling said Examination Processes, and date of the delegation of Examination Processes to said Designated Examination Body.

②If a Designated Examination Body intends to change the name, location of the principal business office, or location of the business office handling Examination Processes thereof, the Designated Examination Body must notify the fact thereof to the Delegating Prefectural Governor (relevant Delegating Prefectural Governor for the location of the business office handling Examination Processes) by no later than two weeks prior to the intended date of said change.

③If a notification under the preceding paragraph is filled, the Delegating Prefectural Governor must issue a public notice of the fact thereof.

①Appointment or dismissal of an officer of a Designated Examination Body will take effect unless approved by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

②If an officer of a Designated Examination Body engages in conduct contravening this Act (including an order or disposition based on this Act) or the regulations governing Examination Processes as provided for in Article 16-9, paragraph (1), or engages in considerably inappropriate conduct in connection with Examination Processes, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may order the Designated Examination Body to dismiss said officer.

①A Designated Examination Body must appoint qualification examiners for real estate transaction specialists (hereinafter referred to as "examiners") from among persons satisfying requirements as specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and have them prepare and mark Examination questions.

②If an examiner as provided for in the preceding paragraph is appointed or dismissed, the Designated Examination Body must, without delay, notify the fact thereof to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

③The provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding article apply mutatis mutandis to the dismissal of an examiner as provided for in paragraph (1).

①No officer or employee of a Designated Examination Body (including an examiner as provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding article; the same applies in the following paragraph) or person who was formerly in such a position is to leak confidential information obtained concerning Examination Processes.

②With respect to the application of the Penal Code or any other penal provisions, officers and employees of a Designated Examination Body engaging in Examination Processes are deemed to be an officials engaged in public services under laws.

①A Designated Examination Body must prescribe the regulations governing Examination Processes concerning matters relating to the conducting of Examination Processes as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and have them approved by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. The same applies when a Designated Examination Body intends to revise said regulations.

②If a Designated Examination Body intends to revise regulations governing Examination Processes pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of the preceding paragraph, it must hear the opinions of the Delegating Prefectural Governor.

③The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may, when deems that the regulations governing Examination Processes as approved pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) have become inappropriate for the proper and reliable conducting of Examination Processes, order the Designated Examination Body to revise said regulations.

①A Designated Examination Body must prepare a business plan, as well as a revenue and expenditure budget each business year and have them approved by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prior to the commencement of the corresponding business year (or, for the business year in which falls the date on which a designation was obtained under Article 16-2, paragraph (1), without delay upon obtaining said designation). The same applies when a Designated Examination Body intends to revise said business plan or revenue or expenditure budget.

②If a Designated Examination Body intends to prepare or revise a business plan or revenue and expenditure budget, it must hear the opinions of the Delegating Prefectural Governor.

③A Designated Examination Body must prepare a business report and statement of accounts each business year and submit them to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Delegating Prefectural Governor within three months after the end of the corresponding business year.

A Designated Examination Body must, as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, prepare books in which matters that relate to Examination Processes and that are specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are stated and retain said books.

①If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems it necessary to secure proper conducting of Examination Processes, said minister may issue an order required for supervision in connection with Examination Processes to a Designated Examination Body.

②If a Delegating Prefectural Governor deems it necessary to secure the proper conducting of their entrusted Examination Processes, said governor may issue instructions to have measures required for the proper conducting of Examination Processes to a Designated Examination Body.

①If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems it necessary to secure the proper conducting of Examination Processes, said minister may request required reports on the status of Examination Processes from a Designated Examination Body or have said ministers officials enter the business office of the Designated Examination Body and inspect the status of Examination Processes or the equipment, books, documents, and other materials and articles of the Designated Examination Body.

②If a Delegating Prefectural Governor deems it necessary to secure the proper conducting of their entrusted Examination Processes, said governor may request required reports on the status of Examination Processes from a Designated Examination Body or have said governors officials enter the business office of the Designated Examination Body handling said Examination Processes and inspect the status of Examination Processes or the equipment, books, documents, and other materials and articles of the Designated Examination Body.

③An official conducting an on-site inspection pursuant to the provision of paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph must carry personal identification, and present said identification if requested to do so by a concerned person.

④The authority to conduct an on-site inspection under paragraph (1) or (2) must not be interpreted as having been accorded for the purpose of a criminal investigation.

①A Designated Examination Body must not suspend or discontinue Examination Processes in whole or in part unless the permission of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is obtained.

②The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is not to grant permission under the preceding paragraph unless it can be deemed that there is no risk that the suspension or abolition of Examination Processes in whole or in part by the Designated Examination Body will impede the proper and reliable conducting of Examination Processes.

③If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism intends to grant permission under paragraph (1), said minister must hear the opinions of the relevant Delegating Prefectural Governor.

④If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has granted permission under paragraph (1), said minister must notify the fact thereof to the relevant Delegating Prefectural Governor and issue a public notice of the fact thereof.

①If a Designated Examination Body comes to fall under any of the items listed in Article 16-3, paragraph (2), (excluding item (iii)), the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must rescind the designation of said Designated Examination Body.

②If a Designated Examination Body falls under any of the following items, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may rescind the designation of said Designated Examination Body or order said Designated Examination Body to suspend Examination Processes in whole or in part for a prescribed period:

③In holding a hearing pertaining to a disposition under either of the preceding two paragraphs, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must provide a notification under Article 15, paragraph (1) of the Administrative Procedure Act (Act No. 88 of 1993) and issue a public notice of the date and location of the hearing by no later than one week prior to the date thereof.

④If a notification as provided for in the preceding paragraph is to be made according to a method as prescribed in Article 15, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Procedure Act, the reasonable period of time to be provided prior to the date of the hearing pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the same article must not be less than two weeks in length.

⑤Proceedings on the date of the hearing as provided for in paragraph (3) must be open to the public.

⑥If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism carries out a disposition under paragraph (1) or (2), said minister must notify the fact thereof to the relevant Delegating Prefectural Governor and issue a public notice of the fact thereof.

①If a Delegating Prefectural Governor determines that a Designated Examination Body will no longer conduct Examination Processes, said governor must provide notification of the fact thereof to the Designated Examination Body by no later than three months prior thereto.

②If a Delegating Prefectural Governor determines that a Designated Examination Body has chosen to no longer conduct Examination Processes, said governor must issue a public notice of the fact thereof.

①If a Designated Examination Body suspends Examination Processes in whole or in part pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-14, paragraph (1); if the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism issues an order to a Designated Examination Body to suspend Examination Processes in whole or in part pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-15, paragraph (2); or if it has become difficult for a Designated Examination Body to conduct Examination Processes in whole or in part due to a natural disaster or for other reasons; the Delegating Prefectural Governor is to conduct said Examination Processes in whole or in part notwithstanding the provisions of Article 16-2, paragraph (3).

②If a Delegating Prefectural Governor is to conduct Examination Processes pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph or if the reason for the conducting of Examination Processes by the Delegating Prefectural Governor pursuant to the provisions of the same paragraph no longer applies, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must promptly provide notification of the fact thereof to said Delegating Prefectural Governor.

③If a Delegating Prefectural Governor receives a notification under the preceding paragraph, said governor must issue a public notice of the fact thereof.

The succession of Examination Processes and other required matters applicable in the event that a Delegating Prefectural Governor is to conduct Examination Processes pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding article, in the event that the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism grants permission to discontinue Examination Processes pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-14, paragraph (1), or rescinds a designation pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-15, paragraph (1) or (2), or in the event that a Delegating Prefectural Governor determines that said governor will not have Examination Processes conducted by a Designated Examination Body is to be as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

If a fee pertaining to Examinations is to be collected pursuant to the provisions of Article 227 of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947), a prefecture may, as specified by an Ordinance, have a person intending to take an Examination administered by a Designated Examination Body pursuant to the provisions of Article 16-2 pay said fee to said Designated Examination Body and treat said fee as revenue accruing thereto.

①A prefectural governor may rescind the decision that such a person has passed who has taken or attempted to take an Examination by unlawful means or ban said person from taking said Examination.

②A Designated Examination Body may exercise the authority of a Delegating Prefectural Governor as prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

③A prefectural governor may, when circumstances warrant, identify a person subject to disposition under the preceding two paragraphs as someone who may not take an Examination for a prescribed period of time not exceeding three years.

A request for review may be made to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism against a disposition pertaining to Examination Processes carried out by a Designated Examination Body or its omission to act. In this case, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is deemed to be the higher administrative agency of the Designated Examination Body with regard to the application of the provisions of Article 25, paragraphs (2) and (3), Article 46, paragraphs (1) and (2), Article 47, and Article 49, paragraph (3) of the Administrative Complaint Review Act (Act No. 68 of 2014).

Registration as provided for in Article 16, paragraph (3), is carried out by way of the application of a person intending to engage in operations relating to the administration of Registered Training (hereinafter referred to as "Training Course Operations").

A person falling under any of the following items may not obtain a registration as provided for in Article 16, paragraph (3):

①If Registered Training to be administered by a person who has applied for registration pursuant to the provisions of Article 17-3 is to be administered by an instructor as listed in the right column of the Appended Table corresponding to a course as listed in the left column thereof, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must carry out said registration. In such a case, procedures required concerning a registration is to be as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

②A registration is to be carried out by stating the matters as listed below in a registry of Registered Training Agencies:

①A registration as provided for in Article 16, paragraph (3), will cease to be effective upon the expiration of a period of not less than three years as specified by Cabinet Order unless renewed each time at said frequency.

②The provisions of the preceding three articles apply mutatis mutandis to the renewal of a registration as provided for in the preceding paragraph.

A Registered Training Agency must carry out Training Course Operations fairly, and by a method that conforms to standards as prescribed in the provisions of Article 17-5, paragraph (1), and as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

If a Registered Training Agency intends to change a particular as listed in any of items (ii) through (iv) in Article 17-5, paragraph (2), said change must be notified of the fact thereof to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by no later than two weeks prior to the date on which said change is intended to be made.

①A Registered Training Agency must prescribe regulations governing Training Course Operations (hereinafter referred to as "Regulations Governing Training Course Operations") and provide a notification thereof to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism prior to the commencement of Training Course Operations. The same applies when a Registered Training Agency intends to revise said regulations.

②The method by which Registered Training will be administered, fees relating to Registered Training, and other matters as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must be as specified in the Regulations Governing Training Course Operations.

If a Registered Training Agency intends to suspend or discontinue Training Course Operations in whole or in part, it must, as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, provide a notification of the fact thereof in advance to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

①A Registered Training Agency must prepare, within three months after the end of each business year, an inventory of property, balance sheet, income statement, statement of receipts and disbursements, and business report for said business year ( this includes electronic or magnetic records (meaning records used in computer data processing, which are created in electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by the human senses; hereinafter the same applies in this Article)if electronic records are prepared in lieu of such written documents; referred to hereinafter in the next paragraph and Article 85-2 as "Financial Statements") and keep said documents at a business office of the Registered Training Agency for a period of five years.

②A person intending to undergo Registered Training or another interested person may make any of the following requests at any time during the operating hours of a Registered Training Agency. Provided, however, that prescribed fees of the Registered Training Agency must be paid when making a request as provided for in item (ii) or (iv).

If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems that a Registered Training Agency no longer conforms to the provisions of Article 17-5, paragraph (1), said minister may order said Registered Training Agency to take measures required to ensure conformity with the provisions of the same paragraph.

If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems that a Registered Training Agency has contravened the provisions of Article 17-7, said minister may order said Registered Training Agency to carry out Training Course Operations under Article 17-7 or take measures required for the amelioration of the method by which Registered Training is carried out or any other operational method.

If a Registered Training Agency falls under any of the following items, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may rescind the registration thereof or order the suspension of Training Course Operations in whole or in part for a prescribed period:

A Registered Training Agency must, as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, prepare books, enter particulars concerning Training Course Operations as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism therein, and retain said books.

If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems it necessary for maintaining the proper conducting of Training Course Operations, said minister may submit a request for a report required in connection with the status of Training Course Operations to a Registered Training Agency.

①If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism deems it necessary for maintaining the proper conducting of Training Course Operations, said minister may have officials enter the business office of a Registered Training Agency and inspect the status of Training Course Operations or the equipment, books, documents, and other materials and objects of the Registered Training Agency.

②An official conducting an on-site inspection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must carry personal identification and present said identification if requested to do so by a concerned person.

③The authority to conduct an on-site inspection under paragraph (1) must not be interpreted as having been accorded for the purpose of a criminal investigation..

The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must, in the following cases, issue a public notice of the fact thereof in the Official Gazette:

①A person who passes an Examination and who has practical experience of a term equal to or greater than a term as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism or who is deemed by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to possess skills of a level that is at least equal to that of a person with said practical experience may, pursuant to the provisions of an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, obtain a registration from the prefectural governor who administered said Examination. Provided, however, that this does not to apply to a person who falls under any of the following items:

②A registration as provided for in the preceding paragraph is to be carried out by a prefectural governor by stating the name, date of birth, address, other particulars as specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, registration number, and date of registration in a registry of real estate transaction specialists.

①A person who is entitled to obtain a registration as provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding article and who intends to obtain said registration must submit a registration application form to the prefectural governor as provided for in the same paragraph.

②If a registration application form as provided for in the preceding paragraph is received, a prefectural governor must carry out the registration without delay.

If a person who has obtained a registration as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1), engages in or intends to engage in operations of the business office of a Real Estate Broker situated in a prefecture other than the prefecture under the jurisdiction of the prefectural governor who carried out said registration, said person can submit an application for a registration transfer to the prefectural governor with jurisdiction over the location of said business office through the prefectural governor who carried out said registration. Provided, however, that this is not to apply if said person has been subject to a disposition of prohibition under Article 68, paragraph (2) or (4), and the period thereof has not yet expired.

If there has been a change to a particular subject to said registration, a person who has obtained a registration as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1), must apply for a registration of change without delay.

If a person who has obtained a registration as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1), comes to fall under any of the following items, the person as specified in the applicable item must provide a notification of the fact thereof to the prefectural governor who carried out said registration within thirty days of the applicable date (for item (i), the date on which the fact corresponding thereto becomes known):

A prefectural governor must delete a registration as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1) if a case falls under any of the following items:

①A person who has obtained a registration as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1), may submit an application for the issuance of a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card to the prefectural governor who carried out said registration.

②A person intending to receive a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card must undergo, within six months prior to the application for issuance, a course designated pursuant to the provisions of an Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism by the prefectural governor who carried out the registration thereof. Provided, however, that this is not to apply to a person who intends on receiving a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card within one year after the date on which said person passes an Examination or to a person who intends on receiving a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card as prescribed in paragraph (5).

③The period of validity of a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card (excluding a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card issued pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (5)) is to be five years.

④If a registration is transferred pursuant to the provisions of Article 19-2 after a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card has been issued, said real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card ceases to be effective.

⑤If an application for the issuance of a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card is made together with an application for the transfer of a registration in a case as prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the post-transfer prefectural governor must issue a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card for which the period up to the expiration of the period of validity of the real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card as provided for in the preceding paragraph is to be treated as the period of validity.

⑥If a registration as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1), is deleted or a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card ceases to be effective, a real estate transaction specialist must promptly return said real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card to the prefectural governor that issued said real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card.

⑦If a real estate transaction specialist is subject to disposition by suspension under Article 68, paragraph (2) or (4), said specialist must promptly submit their real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card to the prefectural governor that issued said real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card.

⑧A prefectural governor who has received a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card that was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must promptly return said real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card, if a request for the return thereof is received from the submitting party in a case in which the period of prohibition as provided for in the same paragraph expires.

①The period of validity of a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card is to be renewed by submitting an application.

②The provisions of the main clause of paragraph (2) of the preceding article apply mutatis mutandis to a person intending to renew the period of validity of a real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card and the provisions of paragraph (3) of the same article apply mutatis mutandis to the period of validity of a renewed real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card.

If a person concerned with transactions makes a request, a real estate transaction specialist must present their real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Card.

In addition to what is prescribed in this chapter, required particulars in connection with Examinations, Registered Training, Registered Training Agencies, Designated Examination Bodies, registrations as provided for in Article 18, paragraph (1), transfers thereof, and real estate Transaction Specialist Identification Cards are to be as specified by Order of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.