# 商法 / Commercial Code — 第四章 (Part 1, Chapter 4) This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/pt-1/ch-4. Every law, and how to address a provision: https://japanlaw.org/llms.txt. The same laws as MCP tools (no sign-in): https://japanlaw.org/mcp. - Law: 商法 (Commercial Code), 明治三十二年法律第四十八号 - English title "Commercial Code": Ministry of Justice translation - Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say. - Provision: 第四章 (Part 1, Chapter 4) — address `pt-1/ch-4` - Text in force since: 2026-06-24 - URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/pt-1/ch-4 - Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/pt-1/ch-4 - Every provision below carries its address and both URLs on the line under it. - Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below. Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names. They are never merged and never substituted for one another. --- ## 第四章　商号 — Chapter IV Trade Names heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-1/ch-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/pt-1/ch-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/pt-1/ch-4 ### 第十一条（商号の選定） — (Selection of Trade Name) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-11 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-11 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-11 **第一項** 商人（会社及び外国会社を除く。以下この編において同じ。）は、その氏、氏名その他の名称をもってその商号とすることができる。 art-11/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-11/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-11/par-1 A merchant (other than a company or foreign company; hereinafter the same applies in this Part) may use the merchant's surname, full name, or any other name as a trade name. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 商人は、その商号の登記をすることができる。 art-11/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-11/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-11/par-2 A merchant may register its trade name. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十二条（他の商人と誤認させる名称等の使用の禁止） — (Prohibition on Use of Names Causing Misconception That Merchant Is Another Merchant) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-12 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-12 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-12 **第一項** 何人も、不正の目的をもって、他の商人であると誤認されるおそれのある名称又は商号を使用してはならない。 art-12/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-12/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-12/par-1 It is prohibited for any person to use, with a wrongful purpose, a name or trade name that could give rise to the misconception that the person is another merchant. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の規定に違反する名称又は商号の使用によって営業上の利益を侵害され、又は侵害されるおそれがある商人は、その営業上の利益を侵害する者又は侵害するおそれがある者に対し、その侵害の停止又は予防を請求することができる。 art-12/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-12/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-12/par-2 A merchant whose business interests have been or are likely to be infringed upon by the use of a name or trade name that violates the provisions of the preceding paragraph may demand that the person infringing or likely to infringe upon those business interests discontinue or refrain from the infringement. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十三条（過料） — (Civil Fines) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-13 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-13 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-13 **第一項** 前条第一項の規定に違反した者は、百万円以下の過料に処する。 art-13/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-13/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-13/par-1 A person violating the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is subject to a civil fine of not more than one million yen. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十四条（自己の商号の使用を他人に許諾した商人の責任） — (Liability of Merchant Permitting Others to Use Its Trade Name) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-14 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-14 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-14 **第一項** 自己の商号を使用して営業又は事業を行うことを他人に許諾した商人は、当該商人が当該営業を行うものと誤認して当該他人と取引をした者に対し、当該他人と連帯して、当該取引によって生じた債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-14/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-14/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-14/par-1 A merchant that permits another person to carry on a business or engage in operations using the merchant's trade name is jointly and severally liable, together with that other person, to a party that has dealings with the other person based on the misconception that the merchant is the one carrying on the business, for performance of the obligations arising from those dealings. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十五条（商号の譲渡） — (Transfer of Trade Names) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-15 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-15 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-15 **第一項** 商人の商号は、営業とともにする場合又は営業を廃止する場合に限り、譲渡することができる。 art-15/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-15/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-15/par-1 A merchant may transfer its trade name, but only if it transfers this together with its business or if it discontinues its business. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の規定による商号の譲渡は、登記をしなければ、第三者に対抗することができない。 art-15/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-15/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-15/par-2 The transfer of a trade name under the provisions of the preceding paragraph may not be asserted against a third party unless it is registered. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十六条（営業譲渡人の競業の禁止） — (Non-Competition by Transferor of Business) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-16 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-16 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-16 **第一項** 営業を譲渡した商人（以下この章において「譲渡人」という。）は、当事者の別段の意思表示がない限り、同一の市町村（特別区を含むものとし、地方自治法（昭和二十二年法律第六十七号）第二百五十二条の十九第一項の指定都市にあっては、区又は総合区。以下同じ。）の区域内及びこれに隣接する市町村の区域内においては、その営業を譲渡した日から二十年間は、同一の営業を行ってはならない。 art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-16/par-1 Unless the parties manifest a different intention, a merchant that transfers business (hereinafter referred to as the "transferor" in this Chapter) must not engage in the same line of business within the limits of the same city, town, or village (including within the limits of the same special ward; or within the limits of the same ward or administratively consolidated ward, as it concerns designated cities referred to in Article 252-19, paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947); the same applies hereinafter), or within the limits of a neighboring city, town, or village, for 20 years after the day of the business transfer. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 譲渡人が同一の営業を行わない旨の特約をした場合には、その特約は、その営業を譲渡した日から三十年の期間内に限り、その効力を有する。 art-16/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-16/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-16/par-2 If a transferor specifically agrees not to engage in the same line of business, that special agreement is only valid for 30 years after the day of the business transfer. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 前二項の規定にかかわらず、譲渡人は、不正の競争の目的をもって同一の営業を行ってはならない。 art-16/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-16/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-16/par-3 Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the transferor must not engage in the same line of business with the intention of engaging in unfair competition. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十七条（譲渡人の商号を使用した譲受人の責任等） — (Liability of Transferee Using Transferor's Trade Name) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17 **第一項** 営業を譲り受けた商人（以下この章において「譲受人」という。）が譲渡人の商号を引き続き使用する場合には、その譲受人も、譲渡人の営業によって生じた債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-1 If a merchant to which business is transferred (hereinafter referred to as the "transferee" in this Chapter) continues to use the trade name of the transferor, the transferee is also liable for performance of obligations arising from the business of the transferor. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の規定は、営業を譲渡した後、遅滞なく、譲受人が譲渡人の債務を弁済する責任を負わない旨を登記した場合には、適用しない。営業を譲渡した後、遅滞なく、譲受人及び譲渡人から第三者に対しその旨の通知をした場合において、その通知を受けた第三者についても、同様とする。 art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-2 The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply if, without delay after the business transfer, the transferee makes a registration indicating that the transferee is not liable for performance of the transferor's obligations. If the transferee and transferor notify third parties of this without delay after the business transfer, the same applies with respect to a third party that has been so notified. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 譲受人が第一項の規定により譲渡人の債務を弁済する責任を負う場合には、譲渡人の責任は、営業を譲渡した日後二年以内に請求又は請求の予告をしない債権者に対しては、その期間を経過した時に消滅する。 art-17/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-3 If the transferee is liable for performance of the transferor's obligations pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the transferor's liability to an obligee that fails to demand performance or give advance notice of its claim within the two years after the business transfer date is extinguished once those two years have passed. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第四項** 第一項に規定する場合において、譲渡人の営業によって生じた債権について、その譲受人にした弁済は、弁済者が善意でかつ重大な過失がないときは、その効力を有する。 art-17/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-4 In a case as prescribed in paragraph (1), any performance made to the transferee on a claim arising from the business of the transferor is valid if the party performing the obligation does so in good faith and without gross negligence. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十八条（譲受人による債務の引受け） — (Assumption of Obligations by Transferee) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18 **第一項** 譲受人が譲渡人の商号を引き続き使用しない場合においても、譲渡人の営業によって生じた債務を引き受ける旨の広告をしたときは、譲渡人の債権者は、その譲受人に対して弁済の請求をすることができる。 art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18/par-1 Even if a transferee does not continue to use the trade name of the transferor, if the transferee advertises that it will assume the obligations arising from the business of the transferor, the obligees of the transferor may demand that the transferee perform those obligations. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 譲受人が前項の規定により譲渡人の債務を弁済する責任を負う場合には、譲渡人の責任は、同項の広告があった日後二年以内に請求又は請求の予告をしない債権者に対しては、その期間を経過した時に消滅する。 art-18/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18/par-2 If the transferee is liable for performance of the transferor's obligations pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the transferor's liability to an obligee that fails to demand performance of the obligations or give advance notice of its claim within the two years after the day that the transferor advertises as referred to in that paragraph is extinguished once those two years have passed. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第十八条の二（詐害営業譲渡に係る譲受人に対する債務の履行の請求） — (Demand for Transferee Involved in Fraudulent Business Transfer to Perform Obligations) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-18-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2 **第一項** 譲渡人が譲受人に承継されない債務の債権者（以下この条において「残存債権者」という。）を害することを知って営業を譲渡した場合には、残存債権者は、その譲受人に対して、承継した財産の価額を限度として、当該債務の履行を請求することができる。ただし、その譲受人が営業の譲渡の効力が生じた時において残存債権者を害することを知らなかったときは、この限りでない。 art-18-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2/par-1 If a transferor transfers business knowing that this will harm the obligee of an obligation not assumed by the transferee (hereinafter referred to as a "person that remains the obligee" of the transferor in this Article), the person that remains the obligee of the transferor may demand that the transferee perform that obligation, up to the value of the assets to which the transferee has succeeded; provided, however, that this does not apply if the transferee, at the time the business transfer becomes effective, is unaware that the transfer will harm the persons that remain the obligees of the transferor. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 譲受人が前項の規定により同項の債務を履行する責任を負う場合には、当該責任は、譲渡人が残存債権者を害することを知って営業を譲渡したことを知った時から二年以内に請求又は請求の予告をしない残存債権者に対しては、その期間を経過した時に消滅する。営業の譲渡の効力が生じた日から十年を経過したときも、同様とする。 art-18-2/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2/par-2 If a transferee is liable to perform the obligations referred to in the preceding paragraph pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, its liability towards a person that remains the obligee of the transferor but that fails to demand performance of the obligation or give advance notice of its claim within the two years after the day on which it learns that the transferor has transferred the business with the knowledge that it harms the persons that remain its obligees is extinguished once those two years have passed. The same applies once ten years have passed since the day on which the business transfer becomes effective. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 譲渡人について破産手続開始の決定又は再生手続開始の決定があったときは、残存債権者は、譲受人に対して第一項の規定による請求をする権利を行使することができない。 art-18-2/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2/par-3 A person that remains the obligee of the transferor may not exercise the right to a claim against the transferee pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) if an order commencing bankruptcy proceedings or order commencing rehabilitation proceedings involving the transferor has been issued. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System --- ## Cites - art-12/par-2: 前項 → 商法 第十二条第一項 (Article 12, paragraph (1)), art-12/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-12/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-12/par-1 - art-13/par-1: 前条第一項 → 商法 第十二条第一項 (Article 12, paragraph (1)), art-12/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-12/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-12/par-1 - art-15/par-2: 前項 → 商法 第十五条第一項 (Article 15, paragraph (1)), art-15/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-15/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-15/par-1 - art-16/par-1: 地方自治法（昭和二十二年法律第六十七号）第二百五十二条の十九第一項 → e-Gov law 322AC0000000067, 第二百五十二条の十九第一項 (Article 252-19, paragraph (1)), art-252-19/par-1 — not held in this collection - art-16/par-3: 前二項 → 商法 第十六条第一項 (Article 16, paragraph (1)), art-16/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-16/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-16/par-1 - art-16/par-3: 前二項 → 商法 第十六条第二項 (Article 16, paragraph (2)), art-16/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-16/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-16/par-2 - art-17/par-2: 前項 → 商法 第十七条第一項 (Article 17, paragraph (1)), art-17/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-1 - art-17/par-3: 第一項 → 商法 第十七条第一項 (Article 17, paragraph (1)), art-17/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-1 - art-17/par-4: 第一項 → 商法 第十七条第一項 (Article 17, paragraph (1)), art-17/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-17/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-17/par-1 - art-18/par-2: 前項 → 商法 第十八条第一項 (Article 18, paragraph (1)), art-18/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18/par-1 - art-18-2/par-1: この条 → 商法 第十八条の二 (Article 18-2), art-18-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2 - art-18-2/par-2: 前項 → 商法 第十八条の二第一項 (Article 18-2, paragraph (1)), art-18-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2/par-1 - art-18-2/par-3: 第一項 → 商法 第十八条の二第一項 (Article 18-2, paragraph (1)), art-18-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/commercial-code/art-18-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/132AC0000000048/art-18-2/par-1 --- ## Sources - e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 商法 — the text in force from 2026-06-24 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/132AC0000000048/20260624_508AC0000000046), retrieved 2026-11-05 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Commercial Code — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4293/tb), retrieved 2026-11-05 - This site's parser, version 224 — 商法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-11-05