# 日本国憲法 / The Constitution of Japan — 第一章 (Chapter 1)

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- Law: 日本国憲法 (The Constitution of Japan), 昭和二十一年憲法
- English title "The Constitution of Japan": Ministry of Justice translation
- Kind: Constitution — 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: 第一章 (Chapter 1) — address `ch-1`
- Text in force since: 1947-05-03
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/ch-1
- e-Gov law ID: 321CONSTITUTION — never renamed. A permanent link, `/l/{lawId}/{address}` on this site, redirects to the page.
- Every provision below carries its address and its URL 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.

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## 第一章　天皇 — CHAPTER I. THE EMPEROR
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>ch-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/ch-1</sup>

### 第一条
<sup>art-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-1</sup>

**第一項**  天皇は、日本国の象徴であり日本国民統合の象徴であつて、この地位は、主権の存する日本国民の総意に基く。
<sup>art-1/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-1/par-1</sup>
The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people, deriving his position from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第二条
<sup>art-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-2</sup>

**第一項**  皇位は、世襲のものであつて、国会の議決した皇室典範の定めるところにより、これを継承する。
<sup>art-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-2/par-1</sup>
The Imperial Throne shall be dynastic and succeeded to in accordance with the Imperial House Law passed by the Diet.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第三条
<sup>art-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-3</sup>

**第一項**  天皇の国事に関するすべての行為には、内閣の助言と承認を必要とし、内閣が、その責任を負ふ。
<sup>art-3/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-3/par-1</sup>
The advice and approval of the Cabinet shall be required for all acts of the Emperor in matters of state, and the Cabinet shall be responsible therefor.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第四条
<sup>art-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-4</sup>

**第一項**  天皇は、この憲法の定める国事に関する行為のみを行ひ、国政に関する権能を有しない。
<sup>art-4/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-4/par-1</sup>
The Emperor shall perform only such acts in matters of state as are provided for in this Constitution and he shall not have powers related to government.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第二項**  天皇は、法律の定めるところにより、その国事に関する行為を委任することができる。
<sup>art-4/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-4/par-2</sup>
The Emperor may delegate the performance of his acts in matters of state as may be provided by law.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第五条
<sup>art-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-5</sup>

**第一項**  皇室典範の定めるところにより摂政を置くときは、摂政は、天皇の名でその国事に関する行為を行ふ。この場合には、前条第一項の規定を準用する。
<sup>art-5/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-5/par-1</sup>
When, in accordance with the Imperial House Law, a Regency is established, the Regent shall perform his acts in matters of state in the Emperor's name. In this case, paragraph one of the preceding article will be applicable.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第六条
<sup>art-6 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-6</sup>

**第一項**  天皇は、国会の指名に基いて、内閣総理大臣を任命する。
<sup>art-6/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-6/par-1</sup>
The Emperor shall appoint the Prime Minister as designated by the Diet.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

**第二項**  天皇は、内閣の指名に基いて、最高裁判所の長たる裁判官を任命する。
<sup>art-6/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-6/par-2</sup>
The Emperor shall appoint the Chief Judge of the Supreme Court as designated by the Cabinet.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第七条
<sup>art-7 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7</sup>

**第一項**  天皇は、内閣の助言と承認により、国民のために、左の国事に関する行為を行ふ。
<sup>art-7/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1</sup>
The Emperor, with the advice and approval of the Cabinet, shall perform the following acts in matters of state on behalf of the people:
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **一**  憲法改正、法律、政令及び条約を公布すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-1</sup>
  Promulgation of amendments of the constitution, laws, cabinet orders and treaties.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **二**  国会を召集すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-2</sup>
  Convocation of the Diet.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **三**  衆議院を解散すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-3</sup>
  Dissolution of the House of Representatives.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **四**  国会議員の総選挙の施行を公示すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-4</sup>
  Proclamation of general election of members of the Diet.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **五**  国務大臣及び法律の定めるその他の官吏の任免並びに全権委任状及び大使及び公使の信任状を認証すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-5</sup>
  Attestation of the appointment and dismissal of Ministers of State and other officials as provided for by law, and of full powers and credentials of Ambassadors and Ministers.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **六**  大赦、特赦、減刑、刑の執行の免除及び復権を認証すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-6</sup>
  Attestation of general and special amnesty, commutation of punishment, reprieve, and restoration of rights.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **七**  栄典を授与すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-7 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-7</sup>
  Awarding of honors.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **八**  批准書及び法律の定めるその他の外交文書を認証すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-8 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-8</sup>
  Attestation of instruments of ratification and other diplomatic documents as provided for by law.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **九**  外国の大使及び公使を接受すること。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-9 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-9</sup>
  Receiving foreign ambassadors and ministers.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **十**  儀式を行ふこと。
  <sup>art-7/par-1/item-10 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-7/par-1/item-10</sup>
  Performance of ceremonial functions.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第八条
<sup>art-8 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-8</sup>

**第一項**  皇室に財産を譲り渡し、又は皇室が、財産を譲り受け、若しくは賜与することは、国会の議決に基かなければならない。
<sup>art-8/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-8/par-1</sup>
No property can be given to, or received by, the Imperial House, nor can any gifts be made therefrom, without the authorization of the Diet.
<sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

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## Cites
- art-5/par-1: 前条第一項 → 日本国憲法 第四条第一項 (Article 4, paragraph (1)), art-4/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/constitution/art-4/par-1

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## Sources

- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 日本国憲法 — the text in force from 1947-05-03 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/321CONSTITUTION/19470503_000000000000000), retrieved 2026-09-16
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — The Constitution of Japan — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/174/tb), retrieved 2026-09-16
- This site's parser, version 211 — 日本国憲法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-09-16