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.