Supplementary Provisions
附 則
Supplementary Provisions, Article 1Effective Date
第一条（施行期日）
This Act comes into effect as of the date specified by Cabinet Order within a period not exceeding six months from the date of promulgation; provided, however, that the provisions amending Article 209, paragraph (1), Article 240, paragraph (2), Article 256-3, Article 280-2, paragraph (1), Article 280-6, item (iii), Article 280-7, Article 288-2, Article 293-2, Article 293-3, paragraph (3), Article 293-4, paragraph (2), Article 341-2, Article 341-7, Article 379, paragraph (1), and Article 498-2 of the Commercial Code, the provisions deleting Article 256-4 of that Code, the provisions adding one Article after Article 280-9 of that Code, the provisions adding four Articles after Article 341-2 of that Code, the provisions adding one Article after Article 406-2 of that Code, and the provisions of the following Article, Article 5, and Articles 10 through 13 of the Supplementary Provisions come into effect as of the date of promulgation.
この法律は、公布の日から起算して六月をこえない範囲内において政令で定める日から施行する。ただし、商法第二百九条第一項、第二百四十条第二項、第二百五十六条ノ三、第二百八十条ノ二第一項、第二百八十条ノ六第三号、第二百八十条ノ七、第二百八十八条ノ二、第二百九十三条ノ二、第二百九十三条ノ三第三項、第二百九十三条ノ四第二項、第三百四十一条ノ二、第三百四十一条ノ七、第三百七十九条第一項及び第四百九十八条ノ二の各改正規定、同法第二百五十六条ノ四を削る改正規定、同法第二百八十条ノ九の次に一条を加える改正規定、同法第三百四十一条ノ二の次に四条を加える改正規定、同法第四百六条ノ二の次に一条を加える改正規定並びに次条、附則第五条及び第十条から第十三条までの規定は、公布の日から施行する。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 2Principles of Transitional Measures
第二条（経過措置の原則）
The provisions of the Commercial Code as amended by this Act also apply to matters that arose before the effective date of the relevant amending provisions, except where there are special provisions; provided, however, that this does not impair the effect that arose under the provisions of the Commercial Code before the amendment.
この法律による改正後の商法の規定は、特別の定めがある場合を除いては、当該改正規定の施行前に生じた事項にも適用する。ただし、改正前の商法の規定によつて生じた効力を妨げない。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 3Transitional Measures Concerning Commercial Books, etc.
第三条（商業帳簿等に関する経過措置）
With regard to the commercial books and their supporting schedules that a person who is a merchant at the time this Act comes into effect is to prepare on or before the fixed time in Article 33 of the Commercial Code as amended that first arrives after this Act comes into effect (in the case of a company, this means the account closing day; the same applies in this Article and the following Article), and the calculations made on or before that fixed time and the calculations relating to that fixed time, the provisions then in force continue to govern even after this Act comes into effect.
Supplementary Provisions, Article 4Transitional Measures Concerning the Valuation of Current Assets and Fixed Assets
第四条（流動資産及び固定資産の評価に関する経過措置）
In applying the provisions of Article 34, items (i) and (ii) of the Commercial Code as amended, assets that a person who is a merchant other than a stock company at the time this Act comes into effect acquired or produced on or before the fixed time in Article 33 of the Commercial Code as amended that first arrives after this Act comes into effect are deemed to have been acquired or produced on the day following that fixed time, at the maximum price that may be assigned at that fixed time (or, if there is a value separately assigned within the range of that amount, that value).
改正後の商法第三十四条第一号及び第二号の規定の適用については、この法律の施行の際現に株式会社以外の商人である者がこの法律の施行後最初に到来する改正後の商法第三十三条の一定の時期以前に取得し、又は製作した資産は、当該一定の時期において附することができる最高価額（その額の範囲内で別に附した価額があるときは、その価額）をもつて、当該一定の時期の翌日に取得し、又は製作したものとみなす。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 5Transitional Measures Concerning Cumulative Voting
第五条（累積投票に関する経過措置）
An article of incorporation that, at the time the provisions amending Article 256-3 of the Commercial Code and the provisions deleting Article 256-4 of that Code come into effect, provides that cumulative voting is not to be used for the election of directors is deemed to contain a provision that a shareholder holding shares equivalent to one-fourth or more of the total number of issued shares may demand that cumulative voting be used; provided, however, that this does not apply where there is a provision that a shareholder holding shares equivalent to a proportion of one-fourth or less of the total number of issued shares, or more, may make that demand.
商法第二百五十六条ノ三の改正規定及び同法第二百五十六条ノ四を削る改正規定の施行の際現に取締役の選任について累積投票によらないことを定めた定款には、発行済株式の総数の四分の一以上に当たる株式を有する株主が累積投票によるべきことを求めることができる旨の定めがあるものとみなす。ただし、発行済株式の総数の四分の一以下の割合以上に当たる株式を有する株主がその請求をすることができる旨の定めがある場合は、この限りでない。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 6Transitional Measures Concerning Representation of a Company in an Action between the Company and a Director or Liquidator
第六条（会社と取締役又は清算人との間の訴えについての会社代表に関する経過措置）
With regard to the person who is to represent the company in an action that a stock company existing at the time this Act comes into effect brings against a director or liquidator, or that a director or liquidator brings against that company, the provisions then in force continue to govern even after this Act comes into effect, until the close of the ordinary general meeting relating to the first account closing day that arrives after this Act comes into effect.
この法律の施行の際現に存する株式会社が取締役若しくは清算人に対し、又は取締役若しくは清算人がその会社に対して提起する訴えについて会社を代表すべき者に関しては、この法律の施行後最初に到来する決算期に関する定時総会の終結前は、この法律の施行後も、なお従前の例による。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 7Transitional Measures Concerning Company Auditors
第七条（監査役に関する経過措置）
With regard to a company auditor of a stock company existing at the time this Act comes into effect who is in office before the close of the ordinary general meeting relating to the first account closing day that arrives after this Act comes into effect, the provisions then in force continue to govern even after this Act comes into effect.
この法律の施行の際現に存する株式会社の監査役で、この法律の施行後最初に到来する決算期に関する定時総会の終結前に在任するものに関しては、この法律の施行後も、なお従前の例による。
A company auditor who is in office at the close of the ordinary general meeting referred to in the preceding paragraph retires at the same time as the close of that ordinary general meeting.
Supplementary Provisions, Article 8Transitional Measures Concerning Documents to Be Attached to the Notice of Convocation of an Ordinary General Meeting
第八条（定時総会の招集の通知に添附すべき書類に関する経過措置）
The provisions of Article 283, paragraph (2) of the Commercial Code as amended do not apply to an ordinary general meeting relating to an account closing day on or before the first account closing day that arrives after this Act comes into effect.
改正後の商法第二百八十三条第二項の規定は、この法律の施行後最初に到来する決算期以前の決算期に関する定時総会については、適用しない。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 9Transitional Measures Concerning the Valuation of Shares of Subsidiaries
第九条（子会社の株式の評価に関する経過措置）
Where a stock company existing at the time this Act comes into effect has assigned a market price to shares of a subsidiary, at the first account closing day that arrives after this Act comes into effect, pursuant to the provisions of Article 285-2, paragraph (2) of the Commercial Code as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 285-6, paragraph (2) of that Code before the amendment, which is still to be followed pursuant to the provisions of Article 3 of the Supplementary Provisions, then for the purpose of applying Article 285-6, paragraph (1) of the Commercial Code as amended and the proviso to Article 285-2, paragraph (1) of that Code as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 285-6, paragraph (2), the market price so assigned is deemed to be the acquisition cost.
この法律の施行の際現に存する株式会社がこの法律の施行後最初に到来する決算期において附則第三条の規定によりなおその例によるものとされる改正前の商法第二百八十五条ノ六第二項において準用する同法第二百八十五条ノ二第二項の規定により子会社の株式に時価を附した場合においては、改正後の商法第二百八十五条ノ六第一項及び同条第二項において準用する同法第二百八十五条ノ二第一項ただし書の規定の適用については、その附した時価を取得価額とみなす。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 10Transitional Measures Concerning Dividends in Shares
第十条（株式による配当に関する経過措置）
If a resolution of the board of directors on the convocation of a shareholders meeting was made before the provisions amending Article 293-2 of the Commercial Code come into effect, and all or part of a dividend of profits is to be made in newly issued shares by a resolution of that shareholders meeting, the provisions then in force continue to govern even after those amending provisions come into effect.
商法第二百九十三条ノ二の改正規定の施行前に株主総会の招集に関する取締役会の決議があつた場合において、その株主総会の決議をもつて利益の配当の全部又は一部を新たに発行する株式をもつてするときは、その改正規定の施行後も、なお従前の例による。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 11Transitional Measures Concerning the Issue of Convertible Bonds
第十一条（転換社債の発行に関する経過措置）
If a resolution to issue convertible bonds was made before the provisions amending the provisions concerning convertible bonds come into effect, the provisions then in force continue to govern the issue of those convertible bonds even after those amending provisions come into effect.
転換社債に関する改正規定の施行前に転換社債の発行の決議があつたときは、その転換社債の発行に関しては、その改正規定の施行後も、なお従前の例による。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 12Transitional Measures Concerning Capital Reduction
第十二条（資本の減少に関する経過措置）
If a resolution on a capital reduction was made before the provisions amending Article 379, paragraph (1) of the Commercial Code come into effect, the provisions then in force continue to govern that capital reduction even after those amending provisions come into effect.
商法第三百七十九条第一項の改正規定の施行前に資本の減少の決議があつたときは、その資本の減少に関しては、その改正規定の施行後も、なお従前の例による。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 13Special Provisions on Dormant Companies
第十三条（休眠会社に関する特例）
A stock company for which 10 years have elapsed after its last registration on October 1, 1974 is deemed to have been dissolved on that day.
昭和四十九年十月一日において、最後の登記をした後十年を経過している株式会社は、その日に解散したものとみなす。
The provisions of Article 406-3, paragraph (3) of the Commercial Code as amended apply mutatis mutandis to the case referred to in the preceding paragraph.
改正後の商法第四百六条ノ三第三項の規定は、前項の場合について準用する。
The provisions of Article 91-2 of the Commercial Registration Act (Act No. 125 of 1963) apply mutatis mutandis to the registration of dissolution under the provisions of paragraph (1).
商業登記法（昭和三十八年法律第百二十五号）第九十一条の二の規定は、第一項の規定による解散の登記について準用する。
Supplementary Provisions, Article 14Transitional Measures Concerning the Application of Penal Provisions
第十四条（罰則の適用に関する経過措置）
With regard to the application of penal provisions to acts committed before this Act comes into effect and to acts committed after this Act comes into effect that relate to matters for which the provisions then in force are to be followed under the provisions of the Supplementary Provisions of this Act, the provisions then in force continue to govern.
この法律の施行前にした行為及びこの法律附則の規定により従前の例によることとされる事項に係るこの法律の施行後にした行為に対する罰則の適用については、なお従前の例による。
merchant
「商人」
A person who, in their own name, carries on commercial transactions (商行為) as a business.
Defined inArticle 4, paragraph (1)· applies throughout the law
fixed timemachine translation
「一定の時期」
The fixed time referred to in Article 33 of the Commercial Code as amended by Act No. 21 of 1974 — for a company, its account closing day (決算期) — up to the first of which after that Act came into effect a merchant's commercial books (商業帳簿) and accounts stay under the former rules.
Defined inSupplementary Provisions, Article 3, paragraph (1)· applies only in this article and in Supplementary Provisions, Article 4
articles of incorporation
定款
A company's own basic rules, written by its founders when it is formed: at least its purpose, its trade name, where its head office is, the value of the property contributed at incorporation and who the founders are (Companies Act, Article 27). A stock company's must be certified by a notary before it takes effect (Article 30, paragraph (1)), and can later be changed by a resolution of the shareholders meeting (Article 466). Many rules in the Act apply "unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise", so a company's articles decide a great deal of how the Act applies to it.
Written by AI using Companies Act, Arts. 26, 27, 30, 466, 575 as a reference.
board of directors
取締役会
The body made up of all of a stock company's directors (Companies Act, Article 362, paragraph (1)). It decides how the company's business is carried out, supervises the directors, and appoints and removes the representative directors (代表取締役) (Article 362, paragraphs (2) and (3)) — except in a company with a nominating committee and the other committees (指名委員会等設置会社), where it appoints representative executive officers (代表執行役) instead (Articles 416 and 420). Some decisions, such as disposing of important assets or borrowing a large amount, it normally may not hand to the directors (Article 362, paragraph (4)). A company with an audit and supervisory committee (監査等委員会設置会社) can hand more of them to directors (Article 399-13, paragraphs (5) and (6)), and a company with the committees hands them to executive officers (執行役) rather than directors (Article 416, paragraphs (3) and (4)). A company chooses in its articles of incorporation whether to have one (Article 326, paragraph (2)), but a public company (公開会社), among others, must (Article 327, paragraph (1)): a public company is one whose articles of incorporation let at least some of its shares change hands without the company's approval (Article 2, item (v)). A company with a board must have at least three directors (Article 331, paragraph (5)).
Written by AI using Companies Act, Arts. 2, 326, 327, 331, 362, 399-13, 416, 420 as a reference.
company auditor
監査役
An officer of a stock company, elected by the shareholders meeting (Companies Act, Article 329, paragraph (1)), whose job is to audit how the directors carry out their duties and to write an audit report on it (Article 381, paragraph (1)). Not an outside accountant — that is the financial auditor (会計監査人) — and not a director: a company auditor may not also be a director or employee of the company or its subsidiaries (Article 335, paragraph (2)). The term normally runs to the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year ending within four years of election (Article 336, paragraph (1)).
Written by AI using Companies Act, Arts. 329, 335, 336, 381 as a reference.
director
取締役
An officer of a stock company, elected by the shareholders meeting (Companies Act, Article 329, paragraph (1)). Every stock company has at least one (Article 326, paragraph (1)). Where there is no board of directors, the directors run the company's business unless the articles of incorporation say otherwise (Article 348, paragraph (1)), and each of them represents it unless the company has chosen representative directors (代表取締役) or others to do that (Article 349, paragraphs (1) and (3)). Where there is a board (取締役会, board of directors), the directors are its members, and the board decides the business and normally chooses the representative directors from among them (Article 362). The term normally runs to the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year ending within two years of election (Article 332, paragraph (1)).
Written by AI using Companies Act, Arts. 326, 329, 332, 348, 349, 362 as a reference.
registration
登記
Entry in a public register kept by a registry office (登記所) — a Legal Affairs Bureau or one of its branch offices — so that the matter is made public (Real Property Registration Act, Articles 1 and 6, paragraph (1)). Rights in land and buildings, such as ownership, a superficies (地上権), a statutory lien (先取特権), a mortgage and a right of lease (賃借権), can be registered under that Act (Article 3), and matters the Commercial Code, the Companies Act and other Acts require to be registered are registered under the Commercial Registration Act (Article 1). Registration also lets a right be asserted against third parties: acquiring, losing or changing a right in rem (物権) in land or a building, such as ownership, cannot be asserted against third parties until it is registered (Civil Code, Article 177), and a matter the Companies Act requires to be registered cannot be asserted against a third party who does not know of it until it has been registered, nor, even after that, against one who had a justifiable reason for not knowing of the registration (Companies Act, Article 908, paragraph (1)).
Written by AI using Real Property Registration Act, Arts. 1, 3, 6, Commercial Registration Act, Art. 1, Civil Code, Art. 177 and Companies Act, Art. 908 as a reference.
shareholders meeting
株主総会
The meeting of a stock company's shareholders, and the body through which they decide the company's basic matters. It elects the directors and company auditors (Companies Act, Article 329, paragraph (1)) and changes the articles of incorporation (Article 466). In a company without a board of directors it may decide any matter about the company; in one with a board, only what the Act or the articles of incorporation leave to it (Article 295). An annual shareholders meeting must be called after the end of every business year, and another may be called whenever needed (Article 296). A resolution normally passes by a majority of the votes present, with holders of a majority of the votes entitled to vote attending (Article 309, paragraph (1)).
Written by AI using Companies Act, Arts. 295, 296, 309, 329, 466 as a reference.