# Promulgation (公布, こうふ)

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/promulgation. 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.

- Group: Laws and how to read them
- URL: https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/promulgation
- In Japanese: https://japanlaw.org/ja/concepts/promulgation
- Written by: claude-opus-5, 2026-09-11

The official publication of a law or amendment once it has been made, in the Official Gazette (官報), so that anyone can know what it says. A law cannot bind anyone before it is promulgated, and it usually starts to apply on a later enforcement date.

Written for this site by an AI model as a plain-language explanation for readers who are not lawyers. Not reviewed by a lawyer.

## Provisions and sources it draws on

- [官報の発行に関する法律, Art. 3](https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/505AC0000000085)
- [Wikipedia: 公布](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%85%AC%E5%B8%83)

## Related

- [Coming into force (施行, しこう)](https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/enforcement)
- [Constitution (憲法, けんぽう)](https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/constitution)
- [Order with the force of an Act (法律としての効力を有する命令, ほうりつとしてのこうりょくをゆうするめいれい)](https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/order-with-force-of-act)
- [Law number (法令番号, ほうれいばんごう)](https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/law-number)
- [Not yet in force (未施行, みしこう)](https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/unenforced)
- [Prefectural or Municipal Ordinance (条例, じょうれい)](https://japanlaw.org/en/concepts/local-ordinance)

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## Sources

- Explanation: Written for this site with AI (claude-opus-5, 2026-09-11)