①When the life, body, or mind of a victim (limited to a victim who has been subjected to physical violence or declared threats of harm to life, body, freedom, reputation, or property by the spouse (hereinafter "physical violence, etc." in this Chapter); hereinafter the same applies in this Article and in Article 12, paragraph (1), items (iii) and (iv)) is highly likely to be seriously harmed due to further physical violence, etc. by the spouse (including a former spouse when the victim has obtained a divorce or annulment of marriage subsequent to being subjected to physical violence, etc. by the spouse; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and in Article 12, paragraph (1), items (ii) through (iv)), the court, upon petition by the victim, is to order the spouse to refrain from approaching the victim at the victim's residence (excluding residences where the victim and spouse share a principal place of daily activity; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) or any other place, or from loitering in the vicinity of the residence, workplace, or any other location normally frequented by the victim, for a one-year period from the day on which the order comes into effect.

②In the case referred to in the preceding paragraph, upon petition by the victim, the court that will issue or has issued an order under the same paragraph (hereinafter a "stay-away order") is to, on or after the day the order comes into effect, order the spouse to refrain from carrying out the following acts against the victim during a period up to the day on which one year has elapsed from the day on which the stay-away order comes into effect:

③In the case referred to in paragraph (1), if the victim lives with a child who has not yet attained the age of majority (hereinafter simply referred to as a "child" in this paragraph, the following paragraph, and Article 12, paragraph (1), item (iii)), and if the court that will issue or has issued a stay-away order finds it necessary for preventing the victim from being compelled to meet the spouse with regard to the child who lives with the victim because the spouse has said or done something or there are other circumstances sufficient to cause the victim to suspect that the spouse will take the young child away, upon petition by the victim, the court is to, on or after the day the order comes into effect, order the spouse to refrain from approaching the child at the child's residence (excluding residences where the child and spouse share a principal place of daily activity; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), the school the child attends, or any other place, or from loitering in the vicinity of the child's residence, school, or any other location normally frequented by the child, and to refrain from carrying out the acts set forth in items (ii) through (xi) of the preceding paragraph against the child (in the case of the acts set forth in item (v) of the same paragraph, limited to making phone calls and transmitting messages, etc. by fax), for a one-year period from the day on which the stay-away order comes into effect; however, if the child is 15 years of age or older, this provision applies only if the child gives consent.

④In the case referred to in paragraph (1), if the court that will issue or has issued a stay-away order finds it necessary for preventing the victim from being compelled to meet the spouse with regard to a relative of the victim or another person with whom the victim has a close social relationship (excluding a child who lives with the victim and a person who lives with the spouse; hereinafter a "relative, etc." in this paragraph, the following paragraph, and Article 12, paragraph (1), item (iv)) because the spouse has visited the residence of the relative, etc. uninvited and has spoken or acted in an extremely rude or violent manner, or there are other circumstances, upon petition by the victim, the court is to, on or after the day the order comes into effect, order the spouse to refrain from approaching the relative, etc. at their residence (excluding residences where the relative, etc. and spouse share a principal place of daily activity; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) or any other place, or from loitering in the vicinity of the residence, workplace, or any other location normally frequented by the relative, etc., for a one-year period from the day on which the stay-away order comes into effect.

⑤A petition referred to in the preceding paragraph may be filed only when the relative, etc. (excluding a child of the victim under 15 years of age; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) gives consent (if the relative, etc. is a person under 15 years of age or an adult ward, only when their legal representative gives consent).

⑥The term "sending electronic mail, etc." as used in paragraph (2), items (iv) and (v) means either of the following acts (excluding making phone calls and transmitting messages, etc. by fax):

If the life or person of a victim (limited to a victim who has been subjected to physical violence or life-threatening intimidation, etc. (meaning declared threats of harm to the victim's life or person; hereinafter the same applies in this Chapter) by a spouse; hereinafter the same applies in this Article and Article 18, paragraph (1)) is highly likely to be seriously harmed as a result of further physical violence by the spouse (including a former spouse when the victim has obtained a divorce or annulment of marriage subsequent to being subjected to physical violence or life-threatening intimidation, etc. by the spouse; hereinafter the same applies in this Article, Article 12, paragraph (2), item (ii), and Article 18, paragraph (1)), upon petition by the victim, the court is to order the spouse to leave the residence where the victim and spouse share a principal place of daily activity and to refrain from loitering in the vicinity of the residence for a two-month period from the day on which the order comes into effect (or a six-month period if the victim is the sole owner or lessee of the building or condominium unit (meaning a condominium unit prescribed in Article 2, item (xxii) of the Real Property Registration Act (Act No. 123 of 2004)) that is used by the victim and the spouse as their principal place of daily activity, and if the victim has filed a petition); however this is limited to cases where the victim and spouse share the same principal place of daily activity at the time of the petition.

①Cases pertaining to a petition for a stay-away order and an order under the provisions of the preceding Article (hereinafter an "eviction order") are subject to the jurisdiction of the district court that has jurisdiction over the locality of the opposite party's domicile (or residence if the opposite party does not have a domicile in Japan or the domicile of the opposite party is unknown).

②A petition for a stay-away order may be filed in a district court that has jurisdiction over the places set forth in the following items:

③A petition for an eviction order may be filed in a district court that has jurisdiction over the places set forth in the following items:

①A petition for a stay-away order and an order under the provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) through (4) must be made in writing and specify the following matters:

②A petition for an eviction order must be made in writing and specify the following matters:

③If a written document referred to in the preceding two paragraphs (hereinafter a "written petition") does not contain a matter set forth in paragraph (1), items (v), (a) through (d) or in items (iii), (a) through (d) of the preceding paragraph, the petitioner must attach to the written petition documents or electronic or magnetic records in which statements by the petitioner with regard to the matters set forth in paragraph (1), items (i) through (iv) or items (i) and (ii) of the preceding paragraph are written or recorded, certified pursuant to the provisions of Article 53, paragraph (1) or Article 59, paragraph (3) of the Notary Act (Act No. 53 of 1908).

The court is to render judicial decisions promptly on cases pertaining to petitions for stay-away orders, orders under the provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) through (4), and eviction orders (hereinafter "protection order").

①A protection order may not be issued before a date for oral arguments or for a hearing which the opposite party can attend; however, this does not apply when circumstances are such that waiting until that date would prevent the purpose of the petition for the protection order from being achieved.

②When a written petition contains the matters set forth in Article 12, paragraph (1), items (v), (a) through (d) or Article 12, paragraph (2), items (iii), (a) through (d), the court is to request the chief of the relevant spousal violence counseling and support center or police station to submit a document stating the circumstances at the time when the petitioner received counseling or requested assistance or protection, as well as the details of the measures taken in response. In this case, the chief of the relevant spousal violence counseling and support center or police station is to respond promptly.

③If the court finds it necessary to do so, it may ask the chief of the spousal violence counseling and support center or police station referred to in the preceding paragraph or the personnel from whom the petitioner received counseling or requested assistance or protection to further explain the matters for which the court requested the submission of documents pursuant to the provisions of the same paragraph.

①A summons for an appearance date in the proceedings for a protection order is to be made by serving a writ of summons, making an announcement of the date to a person who has appeared in connection with the case in question, or any other method that is found to be reasonable.

②If a summons for an appearance date is made other than through the service of a writ of summons or an announcement of the date to a person who has appeared in connection with the case in question, no legal sanction or other disadvantage may be attributed to a person who does not appear on that date; however, this does not apply if the relevant person has submitted a document stating that the person has received a summons for the appearance date.

Service by publication in the proceedings for a protection order is effected by the posting, in the posting area for the court, of notice that the court clerk has retained the document to be served and will deliver it to the person that is to be served at any time.

①A petition or other statement in the proceedings for a protection order (hereinafter referred to as a "petition, etc." in this Article) which, pursuant to the provisions of this Act or other laws and regulations concerning the petition, etc., is to be filed or entered with the court specified by the Supreme Court (including one to be filed or entered with that court's presiding judge, authorized judge, commissioned judge, or court clerk) by means of a paper document, etc. (meaning a paper document, a transcript, extract, authenticated copy, or duplicate of a document, a duplicate of a bill or note, or any other paper or other tangible object into which information that can be perceived with the human senses, such as characters and shapes, has been entered; hereinafter the same applies in the following paragraph and in paragraph (4)), may be filed or entered using an electronic data processing system (meaning an electronic data processing system that connects a computer (including its input and output devices; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph and in paragraph (3)) used by the court and the computer used by the person filing the petition, etc. over telecommunication lines) as provided for by the Rules of the Supreme Court, notwithstanding the provisions of the relevant laws and regulations.

②A petition, etc. filed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph is deemed to have been filed by means of a paper document, etc. prescribed in the provisions of the laws and regulations relevant to the petition, etc., in which it is provided that the petition, etc. is to be filed by means of a paper document, etc., and the provisions of the laws and regulations relevant to the petition, etc. apply.

③A petition, etc. filed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is deemed to have arrived at the court as referred to in that paragraph when it is recorded in a file stored on the computer used by that court.

④Notwithstanding the provisions of other laws and regulations relevant to the petition, etc., in the case referred to in paragraph (1), a person filing a petition, etc. that is to bear a signature, etc. (meaning the relevant person's signature, name, or seal or other inclusion of the relevant person's name or trade name in the paper document, etc.; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) pursuant to the provisions of those laws and regulations, in lieu of affixing this signature, etc., is to take measures to clarify the name or trade name of the person filing the petition, etc., as provided for by the Rules of the Supreme Court.

⑤When a petition, etc. filed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has been recorded in the file prescribed in paragraph (3), the court as referred to in paragraph (1) is to output the contents of the data recorded in the file in the form of a paper document.

⑥The inspection or copying of a case record or issuance of an authenticated copy, transcript, or extract of a case record under the provisions of this Act or other laws and regulations in relation to a petition, etc. filed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is to be effected by means of a paper document as referred to in the preceding paragraph. The same applies to service or delivery of a document in connection with the petition, etc.

①A decision on a petition for a protection order must contain the reasons therefor; however, if the decision is reached without oral arguments, it is sufficient to indicate the gist of the reasons.

②A protection order becomes effective when the written decision is delivered to the opposite party or when the decision has been rendered on the date of oral arguments or a hearing which the opposite party attended.

③When a protection order has been issued, the court clerk is to promptly notify the Superintendent General of the Metropolitan Police Department or the chief of the prefectural police headquarters with jurisdiction over the domicile or residence of the petitioner of this fact and the details thereof.

④If a protection order has been issued, and it is known that the petitioner has received counseling or requested assistance or protection from personnel at a spousal violence counseling and support center, and the written petition contains the matters set forth in Article 12, paragraph (1), items (v), (a) through (d) or Article 12, paragraph (2), items (iii), (a) through (d) pertaining to the relevant facts, the court clerk is to promptly notify the chief of the spousal violence counseling and support center whose name is stated in the written petition (if the names of two or more spousal violence counseling and support centers are stated in the written petition, the one where the petitioner most recently received counseling or requested assistance or protection from the personnel) of the fact that the protection order has been issued and the details thereof.

⑤A protection order is not enforceable.

①An immediate appeal may be lodged against a judicial decision on a petition for a protection order.

②An immediate appeal referred to in the preceding paragraph has no impact on the validity of the protection order.

③When an immediate appeal against a ruling has been lodged, a court in charge of an appeal may order, upon a petition, the suspension of the validity of the protection order until the judicial decision on the immediate appeal against a ruling becomes effective only if a prima facie showing is made with regard to circumstances that are clearly grounds for revocation of the protection order. The court of prior instance may also order this disposition if the case records are still in its possession.

④When ordering the suspension of the validity of a stay-away order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the court must also order the suspension of the validity of any order issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) through (4).

⑤No appeal may be entered against a judicial decision under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs.

⑥When revoking a stay-away order, the court in charge of an appeal must also revoke any order issued pursuant to the provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) through (4).

⑦Regarding a protection order for which a notification under paragraph (4) of the preceding Article has been made, if the court has ordered the suspension of the validity of the order or the court in charge of an appeal has revoked the order pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) or (4), the court clerk is to promptly notify the chief of the spousal violence counseling and support center to which the notification was made of this fact and the details thereof.

⑧The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the cases referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4) and when the court in charge of an appeal has revoked a protection order.

①A court that has issued a protection order must revoke the order when the person who petitioned for the order has filed a petition for its revocation; the same applies if the person subject to a protection order files a petition for the revocation of the order and the court confirms that the person who petitioned for the order does not object, on or after the day on which three months have elapsed from the day on which the stay-away order became effective in the case of a stay-away order or an order under the provisions of Article 10, paragraphs (2) through (4), or on or after the day two weeks have elapsed from the day on which the eviction order became effective in the case of an eviction order.

②The provisions of paragraph (6) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to cases where the court that issued a stay-away order revokes the stay-away order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

③A person subject to a paragraph (3) order may file a petition for revocation of the paragraph (3) order with the court that issued the paragraph (3) order on the grounds that a requirement prescribed in Article 10, paragraph (3) is no longer being met on or after the day on which six months have elapsed from the day on which the stay-away order became effective or the day on which three months have elapsed from the day on which the paragraph (3) order became effective, whichever comes later.

④When rendering a judicial decision on the revocation referred to in the preceding paragraph, the court must hear the opinion of the person who filed the paragraph (3) order pertaining to the revocation.

⑤An immediate appeal may be lodged against a judicial decision on a petition for revocation referred to in paragraph (3).

⑥A judicial decision on the revocation referred to in paragraph (3) does not become effective until it becomes final and binding.

⑦The provisions of Article 15, paragraph (3) and paragraph (7) of the preceding Article apply mutatis mutandis to the cases referred to in paragraphs (1) through (3).

①When an eviction order has been issued and a subsequent petition is filed for an eviction order on the same grounds of physical violence or life-threatening intimidation, etc. as for the petition for the issued eviction order, the court is to issue the subsequent eviction order only where the victim who intends to move from the residence where the victim and spouse share a principal place of daily activity is unable to complete the move within the term of the issued order due to grounds not attributable to the victim, or where there are other circumstances that cause the court to find it necessary to issue another eviction order; however, the court may choose not to issue the eviction order if it finds that issuing the eviction order would cause extreme hindrance to the spouse's daily life.

②With regard to the application of the provisions of Article 12 to cases of filing a subsequent petition referred to in the preceding paragraph, the term "matters" in the main clause in the parts other than the items of Article 12, paragraph (2) is deemed replaced with "matters and the circumstances referred to in the main clause of Article 18, paragraph (1)", "the matters" in Article 12, paragraph (2), item (iii) is deemed to be replaced with "the matters and the circumstances referred to in the main clause of Article 18, paragraph (1)", and " the matters" in Article 12, paragraph (3) is deemed to be replaced with "the matters and the circumstances referred to in the main clause of Article 18, paragraph (1)".

With regard to procedures concerning a protection order, the party may submit a request to the court clerk for the inspection or a copy of case records, the delivery of case records or a transcript or extract thereof, or the issuance of a certificate of matters concerning the case; however, this does not apply to the opposite party until the date for oral arguments or a hearing summoning the opposite party with regard to the petition for the protection order has been designated or until the protection order has been served to the opposite party.

Beyond what is provided for in this Act, any matters necessary for procedures concerning a protection order are provided by the Rules of the Supreme Court.