# 会社法 / Companies Act — 第二章 (Part 3, Chapter 2) This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2. 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: 会社法 (Companies Act), 平成十七年法律第八十六号 - English title "Companies Act": 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: 第二章 (Part 3, Chapter 2) — address `pt-3/ch-2` - Text: the text as amended with effect from 2028-12-23 (The date on which the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, etc. (Act No. 45 of 2026) comes into force. The exact day is not fixed yet.) — NOT yet in force (revision 20281223_508AC0000000046) - URL (this text's page, at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2 - The same address in the text in force (its wording there may differ): https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/pt-3/ch-2 - Every provision below carries its address and its place on this text's page 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. The Ministry's English is given only where this text's Japanese is a wording the Ministry translated — the same as the text in force, or for a text not yet in force, a wording it translated ahead; every other paragraph's English is machine translation. --- ## 第二章　社員 — Chapter II Members heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-3/ch-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2 ## 第一節　社員の責任等 — Section 1 Responsibility of Members heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-3/ch-2/sec-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#pt-3/ch-2/sec-1 ### 第五百八十条（社員の責任） — (Responsibility of Members) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-580 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-580 **第一項** 社員は、次に掲げる場合には、連帯して、持分会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-580/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-580/par-1 Members are jointly and severally liable for the performance of obligations of the membership company in the cases set forth below: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **一** 当該持分会社の財産をもってその債務を完済することができない場合 art-580/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-580/par-1/item-1 if the obligations of relevant membership company cannot be fully performed with the assets of the same; or Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **二** 当該持分会社の財産に対する強制執行がその効を奏しなかった場合（社員が、当該持分会社に弁済をする資力があり、かつ、強制執行が容易であることを証明した場合を除く。） art-580/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-580/par-1/item-2 if judicial enforcement against the assets of relevant membership company has not been successful (except for the cases where the members have proven that relevant membership company has financial resources to pay and that the enforcement can be effected at ease). Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 有限責任社員は、その出資の価額（既に持分会社に対し履行した出資の価額を除く。）を限度として、持分会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-580/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-580/par-2 Members with limited liability are liable for the performance of the obligations of the membership company to the extent of the value of their investment (excluding the value of the contributions already performed to the membership company). Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十一条（社員の抗弁） — (Members' Defenses) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-581 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-581 **第一項** 社員が持分会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う場合には、社員は、持分会社が主張することができる抗弁をもって当該持分会社の債権者に対抗することができる。 art-581/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-581/par-1 If members are liable for the performance of the obligations of a membership company, the members may assert defenses against the creditors of relevant membership company that the membership company may raise against creditors. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項に規定する場合において、持分会社がその債権者に対して相殺権、取消権又は解除権を有するときは、これらの権利の行使によって持分会社がその債務を免れるべき限度において、社員は、当該債権者に対して債務の履行を拒むことができる。 art-581/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-581/par-2 In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if a membership company has a right to set-off, right to rescind or right to terminate against its creditors, the members may refuse the performance of obligations to relevant creditors, up to the amount of the membership company's obligations that are to be released as a result of the exercise of those rights. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十二条（社員の出資に係る責任） — (Members' Liability in Relation to Contributions) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-582 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-582 **第一項** 社員が金銭を出資の目的とした場合において、その出資をすることを怠ったときは、当該社員は、その利息を支払うほか、損害の賠償をしなければならない。 art-582/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-582/par-1 If a member provides monies as the subject matter of a contribution, if the member fails to effect that contribution, relevant member must compensate the loss in addition to the payment of interest on that contribution. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 社員が債権を出資の目的とした場合において、当該債権の債務者が弁済期に弁済をしなかったときは、当該社員は、その弁済をする責任を負う。この場合においては、当該社員は、その利息を支払うほか、損害の賠償をしなければならない。 art-582/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-582/par-2 If a member provides claims as the subject matter of a contribution, if the obligor of relevant claims fails to perform the obligations when they become due, relevant member must be liable for the performance of the same. In these cases, relevant member must compensate the loss in addition to the payment of interest on the obligations. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十三条（社員の責任を変更した場合の特則） — (Special Provisions in Case of Members' Liability Change) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-583 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583 **第一項** 有限責任社員が無限責任社員となった場合には、当該無限責任社員となった者は、その者が無限責任社員となる前に生じた持分会社の債務についても、無限責任社員としてこれを弁済する責任を負う。 art-583/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583/par-1 If a member with limited liability has become a member with unlimited liability, the person who has become relevant member with unlimited liability is also liable as a member with unlimited liability for the performance of the obligations of the membership company that arose before relevant person became a member with unlimited liability. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 有限責任社員（合同会社の社員を除く。）が出資の価額を減少した場合であっても、当該有限責任社員は、その旨の登記をする前に生じた持分会社の債務については、従前の責任の範囲内でこれを弁済する責任を負う。 art-583/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583/par-2 Even if a member with limited liability (excluding members of limited liability company) reduce the value of the contributions, relevant member with limited liability is liable to the extent of the member's pre-existing liability for the obligations of the membership company that arose before the registration to that effect. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 無限責任社員が有限責任社員となった場合であっても、当該有限責任社員となった者は、その旨の登記をする前に生じた持分会社の債務については、無限責任社員として当該債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-583/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583/par-3 Even if a member with unlimited liability has become a member with limited liability, the person who has become such a member with limited liability is liable as a member with unlimited liability for the performance of the obligations of the membership company that arose before the registration to that effect. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第四項** 前二項の責任は、前二項の登記後二年以内に請求又は請求の予告をしない持分会社の債権者に対しては、当該登記後二年を経過した時に消滅する。 art-583/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583/par-4 The liability under the preceding two paragraphs to the creditors of the membership company who do not make their claims, or do not give an advance notice of their claims, within two years from the day of relevant registration is extinguished when two years have elapsed from the day of the registration in the preceding two paragraphs. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十四条（無限責任社員となることを許された未成年者の行為能力） — (Capacity to Act of Minors Permitted to Become Members with Unlimited Liability) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-584 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-584 **第一項** 持分会社の無限責任社員となることを許された未成年者は、社員の資格に基づく行為に関しては、行為能力者とみなす。 art-584/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-584/par-1 A minor who is permitted to become a member with unlimited liability of a membership company is deemed to be a person with capacity to act regarding any act committed in the minor's capacity as a member. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ## 第二節　持分の譲渡等 — Section 2 Transfers of Equity Interests heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-3/ch-2/sec-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#pt-3/ch-2/sec-2 ### 第五百八十五条（持分の譲渡） — (Transfers of Equity Interest) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-585 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585 **第一項** 社員は、他の社員の全員の承諾がなければ、その持分の全部又は一部を他人に譲渡することができない。 art-585/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-1 A member cannot transfer all or part of the member's own equity interests to others without the approval of all other members. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の規定にかかわらず、業務を執行しない有限責任社員は、業務を執行する社員の全員の承諾があるときは、その持分の全部又は一部を他人に譲渡することができる。 art-585/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-2 Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a member with limited liability who does not execute business may transfer some or all of the 'ember's own equity interests to others if the approval of all other members who execute the business is obtained. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 第六百三十七条の規定にかかわらず、業務を執行しない有限責任社員の持分の譲渡に伴い定款の変更を生ずるときは、その持分の譲渡による定款の変更は、業務を執行する社員の全員の同意によってすることができる。 art-585/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-3 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 637, if a change in the articles of incorporation arises in conjunction with the transfer of equity interests of any member with limited liability who does not execute the business, the change in the articles of incorporation due to the transfer of that equity interest may be effected with the consent of all members who execute the business. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第四項** 前三項の規定は、定款で別段の定めをすることを妨げない。 art-585/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-4 The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs do not preclude the provisions to the contrary in the articles of incorporation. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十六条（持分の全部の譲渡をした社員の責任） — (Liability of Members Who Transfer Entire Equity Interests) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-586 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-586 **第一項** 持分の全部を他人に譲渡した社員は、その旨の登記をする前に生じた持分会社の債務について、従前の責任の範囲内でこれを弁済する責任を負う。 art-586/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-586/par-1 A member who transferred all of the member's own equity interests to others is liable to the extent of the member's pre-existing liability for the obligations of the membership company that arose before the registration to that effect. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の責任は、同項の登記後二年以内に請求又は請求の予告をしない持分会社の債権者に対しては、当該登記後二年を経過した時に消滅する。 art-586/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-586/par-2 Liability in the preceding paragraph to the creditors of the membership company who do not state their claims or do not give an advance notice of their claims, within two years from the day of relevant registration is extinguished when two years have elapsed from the day of the registration in that paragraph. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十七条 art-587 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-587 **第一項** 持分会社は、その持分の全部又は一部を譲り受けることができない。 art-587/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-587/par-1 membership companies may not accept the transfer of some or all of their own equity interests. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 持分会社が当該持分会社の持分を取得した場合には、当該持分は、当該持分会社がこれを取得した時に、消滅する。 art-587/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-587/par-2 If a membership company has acquired any equity interest in relevant membership company, relevant equity interest is extinguished when relevant membership company acquires the same. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ## 第三節　誤認行為の責任 — Section 3 Liability for Mistaken Acts heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-3/ch-2/sec-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#pt-3/ch-2/sec-3 ### 第五百八十八条（無限責任社員であると誤認させる行為等をした有限責任社員の責任） — (Liability of Members with Limited Liability for Acts Mistaken as Acts of Members with Unlimited Liability) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-588 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-588 **第一項** 合資会社の有限責任社員が自己を無限責任社員であると誤認させる行為をしたときは、当該有限責任社員は、その誤認に基づいて合資会社と取引をした者に対し、無限責任社員と同一の責任を負う。 art-588/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-588/par-1 If a member with limited liability of a limited partnership company engages in an act that causes relevant member with limited liability to be mistaken as a member with unlimited liability, relevant member with limited liability assumes the same liability as that assumed by a member with unlimited liability in relation to persons who transact with the limited partnership company based on that mistaken belief. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 合資会社又は合同会社の有限責任社員がその責任の限度を誤認させる行為（前項の行為を除く。）をしたときは、当該有限責任社員は、その誤認に基づいて合資会社又は合同会社と取引をした者に対し、その誤認させた責任の範囲内で当該合資会社又は合同会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-588/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-588/par-2 If a member with limited liability of a limited partnership company or limited liability company engages in an act that causes mistake as to the extent of the liability of relevant member with limited liability(excluding that in the preceding paragraph), relevant member with limited liability assumes the liability to perform the obligations of relevant limited partnership company or limited liability company in relation to persons who transact with the limited partnership company or limited liability company on the bases of that mistaken belief, to the extent of the liability so mistaken. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五百八十九条（社員であると誤認させる行為をした者の責任） — (Responsibility for Acts Mistaken as Acts of Members) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-589 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-589 **第一項** 合名会社又は合資会社の社員でない者が自己を無限責任社員であると誤認させる行為をしたときは、当該社員でない者は、その誤認に基づいて合名会社又は合資会社と取引をした者に対し、無限責任社員と同一の責任を負う。 art-589/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-589/par-1 If a person who is neither a member of a general partnership company nor limited partnership company engages in an act that causes relevant person to be mistaken as a member with unlimited liability, relevant person assumes the same liability as that assumed by a member with unlimited liability in relation to persons who transact with the general partnership company or limited partnership company on the bases of that mistaken belief. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 合資会社又は合同会社の社員でない者が自己を有限責任社員であると誤認させる行為をしたときは、当該社員でない者は、その誤認に基づいて合資会社又は合同会社と取引をした者に対し、その誤認させた責任の範囲内で当該合資会社又は合同会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-589/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-589/par-2 If a person who is a member in neither a limited partnership company nor limited liability company engages in an act that causes relevant person to be mistaken as a member with limited liability, relevant person assumes liability to perform the obligations of relevant limited partnership company or limited liability company in relation to persons who transact with the limited partnership company or limited liability company on the bases of that mistaken belief to the extent of the liability so mistaken. Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "If a person who is a member in neither a limited partnership company nor limited liability company engages in an act that causes relevant person to be mistaken as a member with limited liability, relevant person assumes liability to perform the obligations of relevant limited partnership company or limited liability company in relation to persons who transact with the limited partnership company or limited liability company on the bases of that mistaken belief the to the extent of the liability so mistaken." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4481/tb --- ## Cites - art-581/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第五百八十一条第一項 (Article 581, paragraph (1)), art-581/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-581/par-1 - art-583/par-4: 前二項 → 会社法 第五百八十三条第二項 (Article 583, paragraph (2)), art-583/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583/par-2 - art-583/par-4: 前二項 → 会社法 第五百八十三条第三項 (Article 583, paragraph (3)), art-583/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-583/par-3 - art-585/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第五百八十五条第一項 (Article 585, paragraph (1)), art-585/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-1 - art-585/par-3: 第六百三十七条 → 会社法 第六百三十七条 (Article 637), art-637 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-6#art-637 - art-585/par-4: 前三項 → 会社法 第五百八十五条第一項 (Article 585, paragraph (1)), art-585/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-1 - art-585/par-4: 前三項 → 会社法 第五百八十五条第二項 (Article 585, paragraph (2)), art-585/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-2 - art-585/par-4: 前三項 → 会社法 第五百八十五条第三項 (Article 585, paragraph (3)), art-585/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-585/par-3 - art-586/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第五百八十六条第一項 (Article 586, paragraph (1)), art-586/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-586/par-1 - art-588/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第五百八十八条第一項 (Article 588, paragraph (1)), art-588/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/companies-act/amendments/20281223_508AC0000000046/text/pt-3/ch-2#art-588/par-1 --- ## Sources - claude-opus-5-5 — Corrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of paragraphs, written 2026-10-05 - e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 会社法 — the text as 令和八年法律第四十六号 leaves it, from a date not yet fixed (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/417AC0000000086/20281223_508AC0000000046), retrieved 2026-09-17 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Companies Act (会社法), Article 589, paragraph (2) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4481/tb), retrieved 2026-09-17 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Companies Act — Ministry of Justice translation (part 1 of 2) (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4481/tb), retrieved 2026-09-17 - This site's parser, version 223 — 会社法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-09-17