In order to have important matters concerning the Real Estate Brokerage studied and deliberated on in response to requests for advice made by prefectural governors, a prefecture, pursuant to the provisions of Article 138-4, paragraph (3) of the Local Autonomy Act, may set up a Real Estate Brokerage advisory panel.

①In order to secure the proper operations of the Real Estate Brokerage and promote the sound development of the Real Estate Brokerage, a general incorporated association using "real estate brokerage association" in its name (excluding that which is as prescribed in the following paragraph) must aim to engage in processes relating to the provision of guidance to and communications with members and have set forth articles of association to the effect that business are to be carried out within zones of a given prefecture and to the effect that its members are to consist of Real Estate Brokers.

②In order to secure the proper operations of the Real Estate Brokerage and promote the sound development of the Real Estate Brokerage, a general incorporated association using "federation of real estate brokerage associations" in its name must aim to engage in processes relating to the provision of guidance to and communications with members and have set forth articles of association to the effect that business is to be carried out nationwide and to the effect that its members are to consist of general incorporated associations prescribed in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "Real Estate Brokerage Associations").

③The provisions of the articles of association as prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs may not be revised.

④Upon its formation, a Real Estate Brokerage Association or a general incorporated association as prescribed in paragraph (2) (hereinafter referred to as "Federation of Real Estate Brokerage Associations") must, within two weeks of the date of its formation, provide a notification of the fact thereof to which a certificate of registered matters and copy of its articles of association are attached to a prefectural governor if it constitutes a Real Estate Brokerage Association or the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism if it constitutes a Federation of Real Estate Brokerage Associations.

⑤In order to secure the proper operations of the Real Estate Brokerage or promote the sound development of the Real Estate Brokerage, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism may issue a request to have a report on necessary matters submitted or provide necessary guidance, advice, or recommendations to a Federation of Real Estate Brokerage Associations and a prefectural governor may issue a request to have a report concerning necessary matters submitted or provide necessary guidance, advice, or recommendations to a Real Estate Brokerage Association.

A person who does belong to neither a Real Estate Brokerage Association nor a Federation of Real Estate Brokerage Associations is to use a "Real Estate Brokerage Association" or "Federation of Real Estate Brokerage Associations" in the name thereof.

A general incorporated association whose direct or indirect members are Real Estate Brokers must endeavor to implement systematic training pertaining to laws and regulations, finance, and various other fields so that real estate transaction specialists, etc. are able to acquire effectively and efficiently the knowledge and abilities necessary in connection with their duties.

An employee or other worker belonging to a Real Estate Broker is not to divulge any confidential information learned in the course of assisting in the Real Estate Brokerage to another party unless there are justifiable grounds for doing so. The same applies even after a person is no longer an employee or other worker belonging to a Real Estate Broker.

If the Prime Minister deems it necessary for efforts to protect the interests of a Real Estate Brokerage Operation Counterparty as prescribed in Article 35, paragraph (1), item (xiv)(a) of a Real Estate Broker to whom the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has granted a license, said Prime Minister may issue a request to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism for the provision of materials, a briefing, and any other required form of cooperation.

If the period of validity as provided for in Article 3, paragraph (2), expires; a license ceases to be effective pursuant to the provisions of Article 11, paragraph (2); or a Real Estate Broker falls under Article 11, paragraph (1), item (i) or (ii), or is subject to a license rescission pursuant to the provisions of Article 25, paragraph (7); Article 66; or Article 67, paragraph (1); a person formerly constituting said Real Estate Broker or a general successor thereto is still to be regarded as a Real Estate Broker to the extent required to complete transactions based on an agreement concluded by said Real Estate Broker.

①The provisions of Articles 3 through 7; Article 12; Article 25, paragraph (7); Article 66; and Article 67, paragraph (1); is not to apply to a trust company that has obtained a license as provided for in Article 3 or Article 53, paragraph (1) of the Trust Business Act (Act No. 154 of 2004) (excluding that which is as specified by Cabinet Order; the same is not to apply in the following paragraph and paragraph (3)).

②A trust company engaging in the Real Estate Brokerage, with the exception of provisions as listed in the preceding paragraph, is deemed a Real Estate Broker to whom the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has granted a license and is subject to the provisions of this Act, accordingly.

③If a trust company intends to engage in the Real Estate Brokerage, pursuant to the provisions of an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, it must submit a notification of the fact thereof to the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

④Required matters in connection with the application of the provisions of this Act to financial institutions concurrently engaged in trust operations and trust companies as specified by Cabinet Order as provided for in paragraph (1) is to be as specified by Cabinet Order.

①The provisions of Articles 3 through 7; Article 12; Article 25, paragraph (7); Article 66; and Article 67, paragraph (1); is not to apply to a registered investment corporation through which an Approved Real Estate Broker is to invest the assets thereof (registered investment corporation as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (13), of the Act on Investment Trusts and Investment Corporations).

②A registered investment corporation as provided for in the preceding paragraph is deemed a Real Estate Broker to whom the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has granted a license and accordingly subject to the provisions of this Act with the exception of the provisions as listed in the preceding paragraph and the provisions of Article 31-3, Article 35, Article 35-2, Article 37, and Articles 48 through 50.

①The provisions of Articles 3 through 7; Article 12; Article 25, paragraph (7); Article 66; and Article 67, paragraph (1) do not apply to a special business operator (meaning a special business operator as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9) of the Act on Specified Joint Real Estate Ventures; the same applies in the following paragraph).

②A special business operator is deemed a Real Estate Broker that has obtained a license granted by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and accordingly subject to the provisions of this Act with the exception of the provisions as listed in the preceding paragraph and the provisions of Article 31-3, Article 35, Article 35-2, Article 37, and Articles 48 through 50.

①The provisions of this Act are not to apply to the national government or a local government.

②The provisions of Article 33-2 and Articles 37-2 through 43 are not to apply to any transaction carried out by and between Real Estate Brokers.

①A part of the authority of the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as prescribed in this Act may, as specified by an Ordinance of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, be delegated to the Regional Development Bureau Director General or the Hokkaido Development Bureau Director General.

②The authority of the Prime Minister as prescribed in this Act (excluding that which is as specified by Cabinet Order) is delegated to the Director-General of the Consumer Affairs Agency.

①In the cases listed in the following items, the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must, without delay, provide the matters specified in the respective items, and copies of the Specified Documents attached to the license application form under Article 4, paragraph (1) or to the written notification under Article 9, paragraph (1) in the case listed in the respective item, to the prefectural governor with jurisdiction over the location of the principal office of the Real Estate Broker:

②If the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism accepts a notification under the provisions of Article 11, paragraph (1), the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must, without delay, provide a notification of the fact thereof to the prefectural governor with jurisdiction over the location of the principal office of the person who has come to fall under any of the items of the same paragraph.

The processes to be processed by a prefecture pursuant to the provisions of Article 8, Article 10, and Article 14 (limited to those relating to the maintenance of, registration of matters to, inspection of, correction of, and deletion of items from a roster of Real Estate Brokers pertaining to a Real Estate Broker to whom the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has granted a license) are to constitute item (i) statutory entrusted processes as prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (9), item (i) of the Local Autonomy Act.