Chapter I Actions
第一章 訴え
Article 134Formalities of Filing of an Action
第百三十四条（訴え提起の方式）
An action must be filed through the submission of a complaint to the court.
訴えの提起は、訴状を裁判所に提出してしなければならない。
The following information must be stated in the complaint:
訴状には、次に掲げる事項を記載しなければならない。
the parties and legal representatives;
当事者及び法定代理人
the prayer for relief and a statement of the claim.
請求の趣旨及び原因
An action for declaratory judgment may also be filed to determine the authenticity of the provenance of a paper document that certifies a legal relationship.
確認の訴えは、法律関係を証する書面の成立の真否を確定するためにも提起することができる。
Article 135Action for Future Performance
第百三十五条（将来の給付の訴え）
An action seeking future performance may be filed only if it is necessary to claim this in advance.
将来の給付を求める訴えは、あらかじめその請求をする必要がある場合に限り、提起することができる。
第百三十六条（請求の併合）
Multiple claims may only be filed in a single action if they are handled through the same kind of litigation proceeding.
数個の請求は、同種の訴訟手続による場合に限り、一の訴えですることができる。
Article 137Presiding Judge's Authority to Examine a Complaint
第百三十七条（裁判長の訴状審査権）
If a complaint is in violation of the provisions of Article 134, paragraph (2), the presiding judge must specify a reasonable time frame and order that the defect to be corrected within that time frame.
訴状が第百三十四条第二項の規定に違反する場合には、裁判長は、相当の期間を定め、その期間内に不備を補正すべきことを命じなければならない。
In a case as referred to in the preceding paragraph, if the plaintiff fails to correct the defect, the presiding judge must issue an order dismissing the complaint.
前項の場合において、原告が不備を補正しないときは、裁判長は、命令で、訴状を却下しなければならない。
An immediate appeal may be filed against an order as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
前項の命令に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
Article 137-2Denial of Complaint in Case of Failure to Pay the Fees for Filing an Action
第百三十七条の二（訴えの提起の手数料の納付がない場合の訴状却下）
If a person does not pay the fees for filing an action in accordance with the Act on the Costs of Civil Proceedings (Act No. 40 of 1971), a court clerk must specify a reasonable time frame and order them to pay the fees within that time frame.
民事訴訟費用等に関する法律（昭和四十六年法律第四十号）の規定に従い訴えの提起の手数料を納付しない場合には、裁判所書記官は、相当の期間を定め、その期間内に当該手数料を納付すべきことを命ずる処分をしなければならない。
A disposition as referred to in the preceding paragraph takes effect when notice is given by a means that is considered appropriate.
前項の処分は、相当と認める方法で告知することによって、その効力を生ずる。
Any objection to a disposition as referred to in paragraph (1) must be filed within an inalterable time frame of one week from the day on which the notice is received.
第一項の処分に対する異議の申立ては、その告知を受けた日から一週間の不変期間内にしなければならない。
An objection under the preceding paragraph has the effect of a stay of enforcement.
前項の異議の申立ては、執行停止の効力を有する。
If an objection under paragraph (3) is filed and the court finds that the person will need to pay an amount of fees for filing an action that exceeds the amount the person was ordered to pay in the disposition referred to in paragraph (1), the court must specify a reasonable time frame and order the person to pay that amount within that time frame.
In a case as referred to in paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph, if the plaintiff fails to pay the fees they have been ordered to pay, the presiding judge must issue an order denying the complaint.
An immediate appeal may be filed against an order as referred to in the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this does not apply if the person who files it fails to pay fees for filing an action under the provisions of the Act on the Costs of Civil Proceedings as calculated according to the value of the subject matter of litigation that the person finds to be appropriate.
前項の命令に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。ただし、即時抗告をした者が、その者において相当と認める訴訟の目的の価額に応じて算出される民事訴訟費用等に関する法律の規定による訴えの提起の手数料を納付しないときは、この限りでない。
In a case as referred to in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, the court of prior instance must deny the immediate appeal.
前項ただし書の場合には、原裁判所は、その即時抗告を却下しなければならない。
No appeal may be entered against a ruling on a petition under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
前項の規定による決定に対しては、不服を申し立てることができない。
Article 138Service of a Complaint
第百三十八条（訴状の送達）
A complaint must be served on the defendant.
訴状は、被告に送達しなければならない。
The provisions of Article 137 apply mutatis mutandis if it is not possible to serve the complaint (including if the expenses necessary for serving the complaint are not prepaid).
第百三十七条の規定は、訴状の送達をすることができない場合（訴状の送達に必要な費用を予納しない場合を含む。）について準用する。
Article 139Designation of a Date for Oral Arguments
第百三十九条（口頭弁論期日の指定）
When an action has been filed, the presiding judge must designate a date for oral arguments and summon the parties to appear.
訴えの提起があったときは、裁判長は、口頭弁論の期日を指定し、当事者を呼び出さなければならない。
Article 140Denial of an Action, Without Oral Arguments Being Heard
第百四十条（口頭弁論を経ない訴えの却下）
If an action is not in accordance with the law and this defect cannot be corrected, the court may enter a judgment to deny the action without hearing oral arguments.
訴えが不適法でその不備を補正することができないときは、裁判所は、口頭弁論を経ないで、判決で、訴えを却下することができる。
Article 141Denial of an Action When Expenses for a Summons Have Not Been Prepaid
第百四十一条（呼出費用の予納がない場合の訴えの却下）
If the court has specified a reasonable time frame and ordered the plaintiff to prepay the necessary expenses for summoning the parties to appear for a court date under the provisions of the Act on the Costs of Civil Proceedings, but those expenses have not been prepaid, the court may rule to deny the action, in the form of a ruling, but only if the defendant has no objection to this.
裁判所は、民事訴訟費用等に関する法律の規定に従い当事者に対する期日の呼出しに必要な費用の予納を相当の期間を定めて原告に命じた場合において、その予納がないときは、被告に異議がない場合に限り、決定で、訴えを却下することができる。
An immediate appeal may be filed against a ruling as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
前項の決定に対しては、即時抗告をすることができる。
Article 142Prohibition Against the Filing of Duplicate Actions
第百四十二条（重複する訴えの提起の禁止）
It is not permitted for a party to a case pending before the court to file another action in the case.
裁判所に係属する事件については、当事者は、更に訴えを提起することができない。
第百四十三条（訴えの変更）
As long as it does not fundamentally change the claims, the plaintiff may amend a claim for relief or the statement of the claim until the time that oral arguments reach their conclusion; provided, however, that this does not apply if doing so would substantially delay the litigation proceedings.
原告は、請求の基礎に変更がない限り、口頭弁論の終結に至るまで、請求又は請求の原因を変更することができる。ただし、これにより著しく訴訟手続を遅滞させることとなるときは、この限りでない。
The amendment of a claim for relief must be effected by means of a paper document.
請求の変更は、書面でしなければならない。
The paper document referred to in the preceding paragraph must be served upon the adverse party.
前項の書面は、相手方に送達しなければならない。
If the court finds the amendment of the claim for relief or of the statement of the claims to be inappropriate, it must rule against permitting the amendment, upon petition or sua sponte.
裁判所は、請求又は請求の原因の変更を不当であると認めるときは、申立てにより又は職権で、その変更を許さない旨の決定をしなければならない。
Article 144Addition of Claims on Behalf of or Concerning an Appointing Party
第百四十四条（選定者に係る請求の追加）
If a person has been appointed to act as plaintiff as under the provisions of Article 30, paragraph (3), that person may add a claim on behalf of the appointing party, up until the time that oral arguments reach their conclusion.
If a person has been appointed to act as defendant as under the provisions of Article 30, paragraph (3), the plaintiff may add a claim concerning a person who has appointed that person to act as defendant up until the time that oral arguments reach a conclusion.
The provisions of the proviso to paragraph (1) of the preceding Article and paragraphs (2) through (4) of that paragraph apply mutatis mutandis to the addition of a claim as referred to in the preceding two paragraphs.
前条第一項ただし書及び第二項から第四項までの規定は、前二項の請求の追加について準用する。
Article 145Action with an Interlocutory Declaration
第百四十五条（中間確認の訴え）
If the judicial decision being sought in pending litigation is connected with the validity or invalidity of the legal relationship in dispute, a party may expand the claim and request a declaratory judgment concerning that legal relationship; provided, however, that this does not apply if the request for a declaration concerning that relationship is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of another court (excluding one determined by an agreement between the parties pursuant to the provisions of Article 11).
裁判が訴訟の進行中に争いとなっている法律関係の成立又は不成立に係るときは、当事者は、請求を拡張して、その法律関係の確認の判決を求めることができる。ただし、その確認の請求が他の裁判所の専属管轄（当事者が第十一条の規定により合意で定めたものを除く。）に属するときは、この限りでない。
If litigation as referred to in the preceding paragraph is pending before the court specified in any of the items of Article 6, paragraph (1), and the request for a declaration as referred to in the preceding paragraph is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of another court pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of that Article, the provisions of the proviso to the preceding paragraph do not apply.
If, pursuant to the provisions concerning exclusive jurisdiction, Japanese courts have no jurisdiction over a request for a declaration as referred to in paragraph (1), a party may not request a declaratory judgment as referred to in that paragraph.
The provisions of Article 143, paragraphs (2) and (3) apply mutatis mutandis to the expansion of a claim under the provisions of paragraph (1).
第百四十六条（反訴）
The defendant may file a counterclaim with the court where the principal action is pending up until the time that oral arguments reach a conclusion, but only if the subject matter of the counterclaim is a claim with a bearing on the claim that is the subject matter of the principal action or with a bearing on the means of defense; provided, however, that this does not apply in the following cases:
被告は、本訴の目的である請求又は防御の方法と関連する請求を目的とする場合に限り、口頭弁論の終結に至るまで、本訴の係属する裁判所に反訴を提起することができる。ただし、次に掲げる場合は、この限りでない。
if the claim that is the subject matter of the counterclaim is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of another court (excluding one determined by an agreement between the parties pursuant to the provisions of Article 11);
反訴の目的である請求が他の裁判所の専属管轄（当事者が第十一条の規定により合意で定めたものを除く。）に属するとき。
if the filing of a counterclaim would substantially delay litigation proceedings.
反訴の提起により著しく訴訟手続を遅滞させることとなるとき。
If the principal action is pending before a court specified in any of the items of Article 6, paragraph (1), and the claim that is the subject matter of the counterclaim is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of another court pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of that Article, the provisions of item (i) of the preceding paragraph does not apply.
If the Japanese courts have no jurisdiction over a claim that is the subject matter of a counterclaim, the defendant may file a counterclaim pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) only if the subject matter of the counterclaim is a claim with a close bearing on the claim that is the subject matter of the principal action or with a close bearing on the means of defense; provided, however, that this does not apply if the Japanese courts have no jurisdiction over the claim that is the subject matter of the counterclaim pursuant to the provisions on exclusive jurisdiction.
日本の裁判所が反訴の目的である請求について管轄権を有しない場合には、被告は、本訴の目的である請求又は防御の方法と密接に関連する請求を目的とする場合に限り、第一項の規定による反訴を提起することができる。ただし、日本の裁判所が管轄権の専属に関する規定により反訴の目的である請求について管轄権を有しないときは、この限りでない。
Counterclaims are governed by the provisions on actions.
反訴については、訴えに関する規定による。
Article 147Postponement of the Expiration of the Prescription Period by Judicial Claim
第百四十七条（裁判上の請求による時効の完成猶予等）
The necessary judicial claim to postpone the expiration of the prescription period or to comply with a statutory time limit is considered to have been filed at the time when an action is filed, or at the time when the paper document referred to in Article 143, paragraph (2) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 144, paragraph (3) and Article 145, paragraph (4)) is submitted to the court.