Chapter I General Provisions
第一章 総則
第一条（目的）
The purpose of this Act to further disclose the information held by administrative organs by providing for the right to request the disclosure of administrative documents in accordance with the principle of sovereignty of the people, and thereby ensure the government's accountability to the people regarding its various activities, and contribute to the advancement of a fair and democratic administration under the people's appropriate understanding and criticism.
第二条（定義）
The term "administrative organ" as used in this Act means the following organs:
この法律において「行政機関」とは、次に掲げる機関をいう。
organs established within the Cabinet based on the provisions of laws (excluding the Cabinet Office) and organs under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet;
法律の規定に基づき内閣に置かれる機関（内閣府を除く。）及び内閣の所轄の下に置かれる機関
the Cabinet Office, the Imperial Household Agency, and organs prescribed in Article 49, paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Cabinet Office Establishment Act (Act No. 89 of 1999) (for the organs that establish the organs specified by Cabinet Order referred to in item (iv) among those organs, excluding the organs specified by that Cabinet Order);
内閣府、宮内庁並びに内閣府設置法（平成十一年法律第八十九号）第四十九条第一項及び第二項に規定する機関（これらの機関のうち第四号の政令で定める機関が置かれる機関にあっては、当該政令で定める機関を除く。）
organs prescribed in Article 3, paragraph (2) of the National Government Organization Act (Act No. 120 of 1948) (for the organs that establish the organs specified by Cabinet Order referred to in item (v), excluding the organs specified by that Cabinet Order);
国家行政組織法（昭和二十三年法律第百二十号）第三条第二項に規定する機関（第五号の政令で定める機関が置かれる機関にあっては、当該政令で定める機関を除く。）
organs referred to in Article 39 and Article 55 of the Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office, and Article 16, paragraph (2) of the Imperial Household Agency Act (Act No. 70 of 1947), and extraordinary organs referred to in Article 40 and Article 56 (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 18, paragraph (1) of the Imperial Household Agency Act), which are specified by Cabinet Order;
内閣府設置法第三十九条及び第五十五条並びに宮内庁法（昭和二十二年法律第七十号）第十六条第二項の機関並びに内閣府設置法第四十条及び第五十六条（宮内庁法第十八条第一項において準用する場合を含む。）の特別の機関で、政令で定めるもの
facilities referred to in Article 8-2 of the National Government Organization Act, and extraordinary organs referred to in Article 8-3 of that Act, which are specified by Cabinet Order; and
国家行政組織法第八条の二の施設等機関及び同法第八条の三の特別の機関で、政令で定めるもの
the Board of Audit.
会計検査院
The term "administrative document" as used in this Act means documents, pictures, and electronic or magnetic records (a record made by electronic method, magnetic method, or any other method that cannot be perceived by human senses; the same applies below) which have been prepared or obtained by employees of an administrative organ in the course of duties, and held by the administrative organ for organizational use by its employees; provided, however, that the following matters are excluded:
この法律において「行政文書」とは、行政機関の職員が職務上作成し、又は取得した文書、図画及び電磁的記録（電子的方式、磁気的方式その他人の知覚によっては認識することができない方式で作られた記録をいう。以下同じ。）であって、当該行政機関の職員が組織的に用いるものとして、当該行政機関が保有しているものをいう。ただし、次に掲げるものを除く。
things published for the purpose of selling to many and unspecified persons, such as official gazettes, white papers, newspapers, magazines, and books:
官報、白書、新聞、雑誌、書籍その他不特定多数の者に販売することを目的として発行されるもの
specified historical public records and archives as defined in Article 2, paragraph (7) of the Public Records and Archives Management Act (Act No. 66 of 2009); and
公文書等の管理に関する法律（平成二十一年法律第六十六号）第二条第七項に規定する特定歴史公文書等
things that are specially preserved as historical or cultural materials, or materials for academic research in research institutes or other facilities specified by Cabinet Order (excluding those stated in the preceding item), pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
政令で定める研究所その他の施設において、政令で定めるところにより、歴史的若しくは文化的な資料又は学術研究用の資料として特別の管理がされているもの（前号に掲げるものを除く。）