第五章 公告
Chapter V Public Notice
第一節 総則
Section 1 General Provisions
Article 939Method of Public Notice of a Company
A company may prescribe any one of the following methods as the method of public notice in its articles of incorporation:
官報に掲載する方法
publication in Official Gazette;
時事に関する事項を掲載する日刊新聞紙に掲載する方法
publication in a daily newspaper that publishes matters on current affairs; or
A foreign company may prescribe any one of the methods set forth in the items of the preceding paragraph as the method of public notice.
会社又は外国会社が第一項第三号に掲げる方法を公告方法とする旨を定める場合には、電子公告を公告方法とする旨を定めれば足りる。この場合においては、事故その他やむを得ない事由によって電子公告による公告をすることができない場合の公告方法として、同項第一号又は第二号に掲げる方法のいずれかを定めることができる。
If a company or a foreign company prescribes to the effect that the method set forth in paragraph (1), item (iii) is to be the method of public notice, it is sufficient to prescribe to the effect that electronic public notice is the method of public notice. In these cases, the method set forth in item (i) or item (ii) of that paragraph may be prescribed as the method of public notice for cases where it is unable to give public notice by way of electronic public notice due to an accident or other unavoidable circumstances.
The method of public notice of a company or a foreign company that does not have the provisions under the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) is the method referred to in paragraph (1), item (i).
Article 940Public Notice Period of Electronic Public Notice
If a stock company or a membership company gives public notice under the provisions of this Act by way of electronic public notice, it must give public notice by way of electronic public notice continuously until the days specified in the following items for the categories of public notice set forth respectively in those items:
この法律の規定により特定の日の一定の期間前に公告しなければならない場合における当該公告 当該特定の日
public notice if the public notice must be given a certain period prior to a specified date pursuant to the provisions of this Act:the specified date;
public notice under the provisions of Article 440, paragraph (1):the day on which five years have elapsed from the day of the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting referred to in that paragraph;
公告に定める期間内に異議を述べることができる旨の公告 当該期間を経過する日
public notice to the effect that objections may be stated within the period specified in the public notice:the day on which the period has elapsed; and
前三号に掲げる公告以外の公告 当該公告の開始後一箇月を経過する日
public notice other than that referred in the preceding three items:the day on which one month has elapsed from the start of relevant public notice.
If a foreign company gives public notice under the provisions of Article 819, paragraph (1) by way of electronic public notice, it must give public notice by way of electronic public notice continuously until the day on which five years have elapsed from the day of the conclusion of the procedure referred to in that paragraph.
前二項の規定にかかわらず、これらの規定により電子公告による公告をしなければならない期間（以下この章において「公告期間」という。）中公告の中断（不特定多数の者が提供を受けることができる状態に置かれた情報がその状態に置かれないこととなったこと又はその情報がその状態に置かれた後改変されたことをいう。以下この項において同じ。）が生じた場合において、次のいずれにも該当するときは、その公告の中断は、当該公告の効力に影響を及ぼさない。
Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if an interruption of public notice (meaning that the information, which was made available to the general public, is no longer made available or that the information has been altered after being made available to the general public; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) occurs during the period in which public notice was to be given by way of electronic public notice pursuant to these provisions (hereinafter referred to as the "public notice period" in this Chapter), if all of the following conditions are met, that interruption of public notice does not affect the effects of relevant public notice:
公告の中断が生ずることにつき会社が善意でかつ重大な過失がないこと又は会社に正当な事由があること。
the company acts in good faith and without gross negligence without gross negligence or the company has justifiable grounds with regard to the occurrence of the interruption of public notice;
公告の中断が生じた時間の合計が公告期間の十分の一を超えないこと。
the total time during which the interruption of public notice has occurred does not exceed one-tenth of the public notice period; and
会社が公告の中断が生じたことを知った後速やかにその旨、公告の中断が生じた時間及び公告の中断の内容を当該公告に付して公告したこと。
promptly after learning about the occurrence of the interruption of public notice, the company has given public notice of that fact, the time when the interruption of public notice occurred and the details of the interruption of public notice by appending the information to the relevant public notice.
第二節 電子公告調査機関
Section 2 Electronic Public Notice Investigation Body
Article 941Electronic Public Notice Investigation
この法律又は他の法律の規定による公告（第四百四十条第一項の規定による公告を除く。以下この節において同じ。）を電子公告によりしようとする会社は、公告期間中、当該公告の内容である情報が不特定多数の者が提供を受けることができる状態に置かれているかどうかについて、法務省令で定めるところにより、法務大臣の登録を受けた者（以下この節において「調査機関」という。）に対し、調査を行うことを求めなければならない。
A company that intends to give public notice under the provisions of this Act or another Act (excluding the public notice under the provisions of Article 440, paragraph (1); hereinafter the same applies in this Section) by way of electronic public notice must request a person who has been registered by the Minister of Justice (hereinafter referred to as an "investigation body" in this Section) to carry out an investigation as to whether the information contained in relevant public notice is being made available to the general public during the public notice period, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
Article 942Registration
The registration referred to in the preceding Article (hereinafter simply referred to as the "registration" in this Section) is made through an application by a person who intends to conduct the investigation under the provisions of that Article (hereinafter referred to as the "electronic public notice investigation" in this Section).
登録を受けようとする者は、実費を勘案して政令で定める額の手数料を納付しなければならない。
A person who intends to obtain the registration must pay a fee to the amount specified by Cabinet Order by giving consideration to the actual cost.
Article 943Grounds for Disqualification
次のいずれかに該当する者は、登録を受けることができない。
A person who falls under any one of the following categories of persons may not obtain the registration:
この節の規定若しくは農業協同組合法（昭和二十二年法律第百三十二号）第九十七条の四第五項、金融商品取引法第五十条の二第十項及び第六十六条の四十第六項、公認会計士法第三十四条の二十第六項及び第三十四条の二十三第四項、消費生活協同組合法（昭和二十三年法律第二百号）第二十六条第六項、水産業協同組合法（昭和二十三年法律第二百四十二号）第百二十六条の四第五項、中小企業等協同組合法（昭和二十四年法律第百八十一号）第三十三条第七項（輸出水産業の振興に関する法律（昭和二十九年法律第百五十四号）第二十条並びに中小企業団体の組織に関する法律（昭和三十二年法律第百八十五号）第五条の二十三第三項及び第四十七条第二項において準用する場合を含む。）、弁護士法（昭和二十四年法律第二百五号）第三十条の二十八第六項（同法第四十三条第三項並びに外国弁護士による法律事務の取扱い等に関する法律（昭和六十一年法律第六十六号）第六十七条第二項、第八十条第一項及び第八十二条第三項において準用する場合を含む。）、船主相互保険組合法（昭和二十五年法律第百七十七号）第五十五条第三項、司法書士法（昭和二十五年法律第百九十七号）第四十五条の二第六項、土地家屋調査士法（昭和二十五年法律第二百二十八号）第四十条の二第六項、商品先物取引法（昭和二十五年法律第二百三十九号）第十一条第九項、行政書士法（昭和二十六年法律第四号）第十三条の二十の二第六項、投資信託及び投資法人に関する法律（昭和二十六年法律第百九十八号）第二十五条第二項（同法第五十九条において準用する場合を含む。）及び第百八十六条の二第四項、税理士法第四十八条の十九の二第六項（同法第四十九条の十二第三項において準用する場合を含む。）、信用金庫法（昭和二十六年法律第二百三十八号）第八十七条の四第四項、輸出入取引法（昭和二十七年法律第二百九十九号）第十五条第六項（同法第十九条の六において準用する場合を含む。）、中小漁業融資保証法（昭和二十七年法律第三百四十六号）第五十五条第五項、労働金庫法（昭和二十八年法律第二百二十七号）第九十一条の四第四項、技術研究組合法（昭和三十六年法律第八十一号）第十六条第八項、農業信用保証保険法（昭和三十六年法律第二百四号）第四十八条の三第五項（同法第四十八条の九第七項において準用する場合を含む。）、社会保険労務士法（昭和四十三年法律第八十九号）第二十五条の二十三の二第六項、森林組合法（昭和五十三年法律第三十六号）第八条の二第五項、銀行法第四十九条の二第二項及び第五十二条の六十の三十六第七項（協同組合による金融事業に関する法律（昭和二十四年法律第百八十三号）第六条の五第一項及び信用金庫法第八十九条第七項において準用する場合を含む。）、保険業法（平成七年法律第百五号）第六十七条の二及び第二百十七条第三項、資産の流動化に関する法律（平成十年法律第百五号）第百九十四条第四項、弁理士法（平成十二年法律第四十九号）第五十三条の二第六項、農林中央金庫法（平成十三年法律第九十三号）第九十六条の二第四項、信託業法第五十七条第六項、一般社団法人及び一般財団法人に関する法律第三百三十三条、資金決済に関する法律（平成二十一年法律第五十九号）第二十条第四項、第六十一条第七項、第六十二条の二十五第七項及び第六十三条の二十第七項並びに労働者協同組合法（令和二年法律第七十八号）第二十九条第六項（同法第百十一条第二項において準用する場合を含む。）（以下この節において「電子公告関係規定」と総称する。）において準用する第九百五十五条第一項の規定又はこの節の規定に基づく命令に違反し、罰金以上の刑に処せられ、その執行を終わり、又は執行を受けることがなくなった日から二年を経過しない者
a person who has been sentenced to a fine or a severer punishment for the violation of the provisions of this Section or the provisions of Article 955, paragraph (1) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 97-4, paragraph (5) of the Agricultural Cooperatives Act (Act No. 132 of 1947), Article 50-2, paragraph (10) and Article 66-40, paragraph (6) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, Article 34-20, paragraph (6) and Article 34-23, paragraph (4) of the Certified Public Accountants Act, Article 26, paragraph (6) of the Consumer Cooperatives Act (Act No. 200 of 1948), Article 126-4, paragraph (5) of the Fisheries Cooperatives Act (Act No. 242 of 1948), Article 33, paragraph (7) of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Cooperatives Act (Act No. 181 of 1949) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 20 of the Export Fisheries Promotion Act (Act No. 154 of 1954) and Article 5-23, paragraph (3) and Article 47, paragraph (2) of the Act on Organizations of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (Act No. 185 of 1957)), Article 30-28, paragraph (6) of the Attorneys Act (Act No. 205 of 1949) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 43, paragraph (3) of that Act and Article 67, paragraph (2), Article 80, paragraph (1), and Article 82, paragraph (3) of the Act on the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers (Act No. 66 of 1986) ), Article 55, paragraph (3) of the Ship Owners' Mutual Insurance Union Act (Act No. 177 of 1950), Article 45-2, paragraph (6) of the Judicial Scrivener Act (Act No. 197 of 1950), Article 40-2, paragraph (6) of the Land and House Investigator Act (Act No. 228 of 1950), Article 11, paragraph (9) of the Commodity Futures Act (Act No. 239 of 1950), Article 13-20-2, paragraph (6) of the Administrative Scrivener Act (Act No. 4 of 1951), Article 25, paragraph (2) of the Act on Securities Investment Trust and Securities Investment Corporations (Act No. 198 of 1951) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 59 of that Act) and Article 186-2, paragraph (4) of that Act, Article 48-19-2, paragraph (6) of the Certified Public Tax Accountant Act (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 49-12, paragraph (3) of that Act), Article 87-4, paragraph (4) of the Shinkin Bank Act (Act No. 238 of 1951), Article 15, paragraph (6) of the Export and Import Transaction Act (Act No. 299 of 1952) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 19-6 of that Act), Article 55, paragraph (5) of the Loan Security Act for Small and Medium Sized Fishery Industry (Act No. 346 of 1952), Article 91-4, paragraph (4) of the Labor Bank Act (Act No. 227 of 1953), Article 16, paragraph (8) of the Research and Development Partnerships Act (Act No. 81 of 1961), Article 48-3, paragraph (5) of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Insurance Act (Act No. 204 of 1961) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 48-9, paragraph (7) of that Act), Article 25-23-2, paragraph (6) of the Act on Public Consultants on Social and Labor Insurance (Act No. 89 of 1968), Article 8-2, paragraph (5) of the Forestry Partnership Act (Act No. 36 of 1978), Article 49-2, paragraph (2) and Article 52-60-36, paragraph (7) of the Banking Act (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 6-5, paragraph (1) of the Act on Financial Businesses by Cooperatives (Act No. 183 of 1949) and Article 89, paragraph (7) of the Shinkin Bank Act), Article 67-2 and Article 217, paragraph (3) of the Insurance Business Act (Act No. 105 of 1995), Article 194, paragraph (4) of the Act on Securitization of Assets (Act No. 105 of 1998), Article 53-2, paragraph (6) of the Patent Attorney Act (Act No. 49 of 2000), Article 96-2, paragraph (4) of the Norinchukin Bank Act (Act No. 93 of 2001), Article 57, paragraph (6) of the Trust Business Act, Article 333 of the Act on General Incorporated Association and General Incorporated Foundation, Article 20, paragraph (4), Article 61, paragraph (7), Article 62-25, paragraph (7), and Article 63-20, paragraph (7) of the Payment Services Act (Act No. 59 of 2009), and Article 29, paragraph (6) of the Workers' Cooperatives Act (Act No. 78 of 2020) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 111, paragraph (2) of that Act) (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "electronic public notice related provisions" in this Section) or the violation of an order based on the provisions of this Section and where two years have yet to elapse from the day on which the execution of the sentence has been completed or the sentence has become no longer applicable;
a person whose registration has been rescinded pursuant to the provisions of Article 954 and where two years have yet to elapse from the day of the rescission; or
法人であって、その業務を行う理事等（理事、取締役、執行役、業務を執行する社員、監事若しくは監査役又はこれらに準ずる者をいう。第九百四十七条において同じ。）のうちに前二号のいずれかに該当する者があるもの
a corporation where the directors, etc. engaged in the business thereof (meaning directors, executive officers, members executing business, inspectors, company auditors or persons equivalent thereto; the same applies in Article 947) include a person who falls under any one of the preceding two items.
Article 944Registration Standards
法務大臣は、第九百四十二条第一項の規定により登録を申請した者が、次に掲げる要件のすべてに適合しているときは、その登録をしなければならない。この場合において、登録に関して必要な手続は、法務省令で定める。
When a person who has filed an application for a registration pursuant to the provisions of Article 942, paragraph (1) satisfies all of the following requirements, the Minister of Justice must complete the registration of that person. In these cases, the necessary procedures concerning a registration are prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order:
電子公告調査に必要な電子計算機（入出力装置を含む。以下この号において同じ。）及びプログラム（電子計算機に対する指令であって、一の結果を得ることができるように組み合わされたものをいう。以下この号において同じ。）であって次に掲げる要件のすべてに適合するものを用いて電子公告調査を行うものであること。
the person carries out the electronic public notice investigation by using the computers (including input-output devices; hereinafter the same applies in this item) and programs (meaning instructions given to a computer, combined so as to obtain a certain result; hereinafter the same applies in this item) necessary for the electronic public notice investigation, which satisfy all of the following requirements:
relevant computers and programs allow users to inspect, through the internet, the information that is publicly notified by way of electronic public notice;
当該電子計算機若しくはその用に供する電磁的記録を損壊し、若しくは当該電子計算機に虚偽の情報若しくは不正な指令を与え、又はその他の方法により、当該電子計算機に使用目的に沿うべき動作をさせず、又は使用目的に反する動作をさせることを防ぐために必要な措置が講じられていること。
necessary measures are taken for preventing persons from making relevant computers fail to operate in accordance with the purpose of use or making them operate against the purpose of use by damaging relevant computers or an electronic or magnetic record to be used by the computers, giving false information or wrongful instructions to the computers or any other method;
relevant computers and programs have the function of preserving the information and instructions that have been input into relevant computers and the information received through the internet throughout the period of carrying out the electronic public notice investigation; and
電子公告調査を適正に行うために必要な実施方法が定められていること。
the necessary implementation method for carrying out the electronic public notice investigation appropriately has been prescribed.
登録は、調査機関登録簿に次に掲げる事項を記載し、又は記録してするものとする。
The registration is to be completed by stating or recording the following matters in the investigation body register:
登録年月日及び登録番号
the date of the registration and the registration number;
登録を受けた者の氏名又は名称及び住所並びに法人にあっては、その代表者の氏名
the name and address of the person who obtained the registration, and in the case of a corporation, the name of the representative thereof; and
the location of the place of business where the person who obtained the registration will carry out the electronic public notice investigation.
Article 945Renewal of Registration
登録は、三年を下らない政令で定める期間ごとにその更新を受けなければ、その期間の経過によって、その効力を失う。
Unless a registration is renewed at an interval of not less than three years as specified by Cabinet Order, it becomes ineffective by the expiration of the period.
The provisions of the preceding three Articles apply mutatis mutandis to the renewal of a registration referred to in the preceding paragraph.
Article 946Obligation of Investigation
When being requested to carry out an electronic public notice investigation, an investigation body must carry out the electronic public notice investigation except if there are justifiable grounds.
An investigation body must carry out an electronic public notice investigation fairly and by the method prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order.
調査機関は、電子公告調査を行う場合には、法務省令で定めるところにより、電子公告調査を行うことを求めた者（以下この節において「調査委託者」という。）の商号その他の法務省令で定める事項を法務大臣に報告しなければならない。
If an investigation body carries out an electronic public notice investigation, the investigation body must report to the Minister of Justice the trade name of the person who has requested the electronic public notice investigation (hereinafter referred to as the "investigation entruster" in this Section) and any other matters prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
An investigation body must, without delay after an electronic public notice investigation, notify the investigation entruster of the results of the electronic public notice investigation, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
Article 947Cases Where an Electronic Public Notice Investigation Is Unable to Be Carried Out
An investigation body is unable to carry out an electronic public notice investigation with regard to public notice given by any one of the following persons by way of electronic public notice or with regard to the public notice in the cases prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order as those where the persons or directors, etc. thereof were involved in the public notice given by way of electronic public notice:
当該調査機関
the relevant investigation body;
the parent stock company (meaning a stock company which has the relevant investigation body as its subsidiary company) if the relevant investigation body is a stock company;
a corporation whose directors, etc. or employees (including those who have been in either of the positions within the past two years; the same applies in the following item) constitute more than half of the directors, etc. of the relevant investigation body; or
理事等又は職員のうちに当該調査機関（法人であるものを除く。）又は当該調査機関の代表権を有する理事等が含まれている法人
a corporation whose directors, etc. or employees include the relevant investigation body (excluding one who is a corporation) or a director, etc. having the authority of representation of the relevant investigation body.
Article 948Notification of a Change in the Place of Business
When an investigation body intends to change the location of the place of business where electronic public notice investigations will be carried out, the investigation body must give notification to the Minister of Justice by two weeks prior to the day of that change.
Article 949Business Rules
An investigation body must prescribe rules concerning the business of electronic public notice investigations (referred to as the "business rules" in the following paragraph) and notify the Minister of Justice thereof prior to the commencement of the business of electronic public notice investigations. The same applies when the investigation body intends to change the business rules.
The business rules must provide for the implementation method of electronic public notice investigations, fees concerning electronic public notice investigations and any other matters prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order.
Article 950Suspension or Discontinuance of Business
When an investigation body intends to suspend or discontinue all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigations, the investigation body must notify the Minister of Justice to that effect in advance, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
Article 951Keeping and Inspection of Financial Statements
調査機関は、毎事業年度経過後三箇月以内に、その事業年度の財産目録、貸借対照表及び損益計算書又は収支計算書並びに事業報告書（これらの作成に代えて電磁的記録の作成がされている場合における当該電磁的記録を含む。次項において「財務諸表等」という。）を作成し、五年間事業所に備え置かなければならない。
An investigation body must, within three months from the end of each business year, prepare an inventory of property, a balance sheet, profit and loss statement or settlement of accounts, and business report (including electronic or magnetic records, if electronic or magnetic records are prepared in lieu of these documents; referred to as the "financial statements, etc." in the following paragraph) for the business year, and keep them at the investigation body's place of business for five years.
調査委託者その他の利害関係人は、調査機関に対し、その業務時間内は、いつでも、次に掲げる請求をすることができる。ただし、第二号又は第四号に掲げる請求をするには、当該調査機関の定めた費用を支払わなければならない。
An investigation entruster or any other interested party may make the following requests to an investigation body at any time during the business hours of the investigation body;provided, however, that that person must pay the fee designated by the investigation body when making the request set forth in item (ii) or item (iv):
財務諸表等が書面をもって作成されているときは、当該書面の閲覧又は謄写の請求
when the financial statements, etc. are prepared in the form of documents, requests for the inspection or copying of relevant documents;
前号の書面の謄本又は抄本の交付の請求
requests for the delivery of a transcript or extract of the documents referred to in the preceding item;
if the financial statements, etc. have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; and
a request to be provided with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding item by an electronic or magnetic means that the Investigation body has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
Article 952Compliance Order
法務大臣は、調査機関が第九百四十四条第一項各号のいずれかに適合しなくなったと認めるときは、その調査機関に対し、これらの規定に適合するため必要な措置をとるべきことを命ずることができる。
When the Minister of Justice finds that an investigation body no longer complies with any one of the items of Article 944, paragraph (1), the minister may order the investigation body to take necessary measures for complying with these provisions.
Article 953Order for Improvement
法務大臣は、調査機関が第九百四十六条の規定に違反していると認めるときは、その調査機関に対し、電子公告調査を行うべきこと又は電子公告調査の方法その他の業務の方法の改善に関し必要な措置をとるべきことを命ずることができる。
When the Minister of Justice finds that an investigation body violates the provisions of Article 946, the minister may order the investigation body to carry out electronic public notice investigations or to take necessary measures to improve the method of electronic public notice investigation or the method of any other business.
Article 954Rescission of Registration
When an investigation body falls under any one of the following items, the Minister of Justice may rescind the registration of the investigation body or order the suspension of all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigations for a set period:
第九百四十三条第一号又は第三号に該当するに至ったとき。
when the investigation body falls under Article 943, item (i) or (iii);
第九百四十七条（電子公告関係規定において準用する場合を含む。）から第九百五十条まで、第九百五十一条第一項又は次条第一項（電子公告関係規定において準用する場合を含む。）の規定に違反したとき。
when the investigation body violates the provisions of Article 947 (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the electronic public notice related provisions) to Article 950, Article 951, paragraph (1) or paragraph (1) of the following Article (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the electronic public notice related provisions);
正当な理由がないのに第九百五十一条第二項各号又は次条第二項各号（電子公告関係規定において準用する場合を含む。）の規定による請求を拒んだとき。
when the investigation body rejects a request under the provisions of the items of Article 951, paragraph (2) or the items of paragraph (2) of the following Article (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the electronic public notice related provisions) without justifiable grounds;
when the investigation body violates the order referred to in Article 952 or in the preceding Article (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the electronic public notice related provisions); or
when the investigation body obtains the registration referred to in Article 941 by wrongful means.
Article 955Statements in an Investigation Record Book
調査機関は、法務省令で定めるところにより、調査記録又はこれに準ずるものとして法務省令で定めるもの（以下この条において「調査記録簿等」という。）を備え、電子公告調査に関し法務省令で定めるものを記載し、又は記録し、及び当該調査記録簿等を保存しなければならない。
An investigation body must, pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order, keep investigation records or what is prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order as being equivalent thereto (hereinafter referred to as the "investigation record book, etc." in this Article), state or record the matters prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order concerning electronic public notice investigations, and preserve relevant investigation record book, etc.
調査委託者その他の利害関係人は、調査機関に対し、その業務時間内は、いつでも、当該調査機関が前項又は次条第二項の規定により保存している調査記録簿等（利害関係がある部分に限る。）について、次に掲げる請求をすることができる。ただし、当該請求をするには、当該調査機関の定めた費用を支払わなければならない。
An investigation entruster or any other interested party may make the following requests to an investigation body with regard to the investigation record book, etc. preserved by relevant investigation body pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph or paragraph (2) of the following Article (limited to the portions in which that person has an interest) at any time during the business hours of the investigation body;provided, however, that the person must pay the fee designated by the investigation body when making relevant requests:
調査記録簿等が書面をもって作成されているときは、当該書面の写しの交付の請求
when the investigation record book, etc. is prepared in the form of documents, requests for the delivery of a copy of relevant documents; and
when the investigation record book, etc. has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to be provided with the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record by an electronic or magnetic means that the investigation body has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
Article 956Succession of an Investigation Record Book
調査機関は、電子公告調査の業務の全部の廃止をしようとするとき、又は第九百五十四条の規定により登録が取り消されたときは、その保存に係る前条第一項（電子公告関係規定において準用する場合を含む。）の調査記録簿等を他の調査機関に引き継がなければならない。
When an investigation body intends to discontinue all of its business of electronic public notice investigation or when its registration is rescinded pursuant to the provisions of Article 954, the investigation body must have another investigation body succeed to the investigation record book, etc. referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to the electronic public notice related provisions), which the former investigation body has preserved.
An investigation body that has succeeded to the investigation record book, etc. referred to in the preceding paragraph pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph must preserve the investigation record book, etc. pursuant to the provisions of Ministry of Justice Order.
Article 957Implementation of the Business of Electronic Public Notice Investigation by the Minister of Justice
法務大臣は、登録を受ける者がないとき、第九百五十条の規定による電子公告調査の業務の全部又は一部の休止又は廃止の届出があったとき、第九百五十四条の規定により登録を取り消し、又は調査機関に対し電子公告調査の業務の全部若しくは一部の停止を命じたとき、調査機関が天災その他の事由によって電子公告調査の業務の全部又は一部を実施することが困難となったとき、その他必要があると認めるときは、当該電子公告調査の業務の全部又は一部を自ら行うことができる。
When no person obtains a registration, when a notification to suspend or discontinue all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation under the provisions of Article 950 is given, when rescinding a registration or ordering an investigation body to suspend all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation pursuant to the provisions of Article 954, when it becomes difficult for an investigation body to implement all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation due to a natural disaster or on any other grounds, or in any other cases where it is found necessary, the Minister of Justice may personally carry out all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation.
The succession of the business of electronic public notice investigation and any other necessary matters if the Minister of Justice personally carries out all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph are prescribed by Ministry of Justice Order.
A person who seeks the electronic public notice investigation carried out by the Minister of Justice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) must pay a fee to the amount specified by Cabinet Order by giving consideration to the actual cost.
Article 958Reports and Inspections
法務大臣は、この法律の施行に必要な限度において、調査機関に対し、その業務若しくは経理の状況に関し報告をさせ、又はその職員に、調査機関の事務所若しくは事業所に立ち入り、業務の状況若しくは帳簿、書類その他の物件を検査させることができる。
The Minister of Justice may, to the extent necessary for the enforcement of this Act, have an investigation body report on the status of the investigation body's business or accounting, or have officials of the Minister of Justice enter the office or place of business of an investigation body and inspect the status of the business or the books, documents or any other articles.
前項の規定により職員が立入検査をする場合には、その身分を示す証明書を携帯し、関係人にこれを提示しなければならない。
An official must, when conducting an on-site inspection pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, carry an identification card and present it to the person concerned.
第一項の規定による立入検査の権限は、犯罪捜査のために認められたものと解釈してはならない。
The authority to conduct on-site inspections under paragraph (1) must not be construed as being vested for criminal investigation.
Article 959Public Notice
法務大臣は、次に掲げる場合には、その旨を官報に公示しなければならない。
In the following cases, the Minister of Justice must give public notice to that effect in Official Gazette:
登録をしたとき。
when the minister completes a registration;
第九百四十五条第一項の規定により登録が効力を失ったことを確認したとき。
when the minister confirms that a registration became ineffective pursuant to the provisions of Article 945, paragraph (1);
when the notification referred to in Article 948 or Article 950 is given;
when the minister rescinds a registration or orders the suspension of all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation pursuant to the provisions of Article 954; or
第九百五十七条第一項の規定により法務大臣が電子公告調査の業務の全部若しくは一部を自ら行うものとするとき、又は自ら行っていた電子公告調査の業務の全部若しくは一部を行わないこととするとき。
when the Minister of Justice personally carries out all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation pursuant to the provisions of Article 957, paragraph (1) or when the minister ceases to carry out all or part of the business of electronic public notice investigation that the minister had personally carried out.