# 民法 / Civil Code — 第三章 (Part 1, Chapter 3)

- Law: 民法 (Civil Code), 明治二十九年法律第八十九号
- English title "Civil 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: 第三章 (Part 1, Chapter 3) — address `pt-1/ch-3`
- Text in force since: 2026-06-24
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/pt-1/ch-3
- Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/pt-1/ch-3
- 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.

---

## 第三章　法人 — Chapter III Corporations
<sup>heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>pt-1/ch-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/pt-1/ch-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/pt-1/ch-3</sup>

### 第三十三条（法人の成立等） — (Formation of Corporations)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-33 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-33 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-33</sup>

  **第一項**  法人は、この法律その他の法律の規定によらなければ、成立しない。
  <sup>art-33/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-33/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-33/par-1</sup>
  No corporation can be formed unless it is formed pursuant to the provisions of this Code and other laws.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  学術、技芸、慈善、祭祀、宗教その他の公益を目的とする法人、営利事業を営むことを目的とする法人その他の法人の設立、組織、運営及び管理については、この法律その他の法律の定めるところによる。
  <sup>art-33/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-33/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-33/par-2</sup>
  The formation, organization, operation, and management of corporations including corporations formed for academic activities, art, charity, worship, religion and other public interests, and corporations formed for engaging in business for profit are governed by the provisions of this Code and other laws.
  <sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

### 第三十四条（法人の能力） — (Capacity of Corporations)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-34 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-34 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-34</sup>

  **第一項**  法人は、法令の規定に従い、定款その他の基本約款で定められた目的の範囲内において、権利を有し、義務を負う。
  <sup>art-34/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-34/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-34/par-1</sup>
  A corporation has rights and is subject to duties, subject to the provisions of laws and regulations and within the scope of the purpose stated in its articles of incorporation and other basic provisions.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第三十五条（外国法人） — (Foreign Corporations)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-35 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-35 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-35</sup>

  **第一項**  外国法人は、国、国の行政区画及び外国会社を除き、その成立を認許しない。ただし、法律又は条約の規定により認許された外国法人は、この限りでない。
  <sup>art-35/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-35/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-35/par-1</sup>
  With the exception of states, any administrative division of states, and foreign companies, the formation of a foreign corporation is not recognized; provided, however, that, this does not apply to any foreign corporation that are recognized pursuant to the provisions of a law or treaty.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  前項の規定により認許された外国法人は、日本において成立する同種の法人と同一の私権を有する。ただし、外国人が享有することのできない権利及び法律又は条約中に特別の規定がある権利については、この限りでない。
  <sup>art-35/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-35/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-35/par-2</sup>
  A foreign corporation recognized pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph possesses the same private rights as those possessed by a corporation of the same kind which can be formed in Japan; provided, however, that, this does not apply to any right that a foreign national is not entitled to enjoy or to any right for which there are special provisions in a law or treaty.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第三十六条（登記） — (Registration)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-36 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-36 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-36</sup>

  **第一項**  法人及び外国法人は、この法律その他の法令の定めるところにより、登記をするものとする。
  <sup>art-36/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-36/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-36/par-1</sup>
  Corporations and foreign corporations are to complete their registration pursuant to the provisions of this Code and other laws and regulations.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第三十七条（外国法人の登記） — (Registration of Foreign Corporations)
<sup>caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>
<sup>art-37 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37</sup>

  **第一項**  外国法人（第三十五条第一項ただし書に規定する外国法人に限る。以下この条において同じ。）が日本に事務所を設けたときは、三週間以内に、その事務所の所在地において、次に掲げる事項を登記しなければならない。
  <sup>art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1</sup>
  If a foreign corporation (limited to the foreign corporation prescribed in the proviso to Article 35, paragraph (1); the same applies in this Article below) establishes an office in Japan, the registration of the foreign corporation must be completed by registering the following particulars at the location of the office, within three weeks:
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **一**  外国法人の設立の準拠法
    <sup>art-37/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1/item-1</sup>
    the law governing the incorporation of the foreign corporations;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **二**  目的
    <sup>art-37/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1/item-2</sup>
    the purpose;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **三**  名称
    <sup>art-37/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1/item-3</sup>
    the name;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **四**  事務所の所在場所
    <sup>art-37/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1/item-4</sup>
    the address of the office;
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **五**  存続期間を定めたときは、その定め
    <sup>art-37/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1/item-5</sup>
    the duration, if it is specified; and
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

    **六**  代表者の氏名及び住所
    <sup>art-37/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1/item-6 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1/item-6</sup>
    the name and address of its representative.
    <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第二項**  前項各号に掲げる事項に変更を生じたときは、三週間以内に、変更の登記をしなければならない。この場合において、登記前にあっては、その変更をもって第三者に対抗することができない。
  <sup>art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-2</sup>
  If there is a change in any of the particulars stated in the items of the preceding paragraph, a registration of the change must be completed for within three weeks. In this case, the change may not be asserted against any third party before it is registered.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第三項**  代表者の職務の執行を停止し、若しくはその職務を代行する者を選任する仮処分命令又はその仮処分命令を変更し、若しくは取り消す決定がされたときは、その登記をしなければならない。この場合においては、前項後段の規定を準用する。
  <sup>art-37/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-3</sup>
  If a provisional disposition order suspending the execution of duties by the representative or appointing a person who will perform those duties on behalf of the representative is issued or a ruling changing or setting aside that provisional disposition order is made, its registration must be completed. In this case, the provisions of the second sentence of the preceding paragraph apply mutatis mutandis.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第四項**  前二項の規定により登記すべき事項が外国において生じたときは、登記の期間は、その通知が到達した日から起算する。
  <sup>art-37/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-4</sup>
  If particulars that must be registered pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs arises in a foreign country, the period for registration is counted from the day on which the notice of these particulars reached.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第五項**  外国法人が初めて日本に事務所を設けたときは、その事務所の所在地において登記するまでは、第三者は、その法人の成立を否認することができる。
  <sup>art-37/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-5</sup>
  If a foreign corporation established an office in Japan for the first time, a third party may decline to recognize that corporation's formation until it has been registered in the location of that office.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第六項**  外国法人が事務所を移転したときは、旧所在地においては三週間以内に移転の登記をし、新所在地においては四週間以内に第一項各号に掲げる事項を登記しなければならない。
  <sup>art-37/par-6 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-6 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-6</sup>
  If a foreign corporation relocates its office, the registration of relocation must be completed at the former location within three weeks and the registration of the foreign corporation must be completed by registering the items of paragraph (1) at the new location within four weeks.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第七項**  同一の登記所の管轄区域内において事務所を移転したときは、その移転を登記すれば足りる。
  <sup>art-37/par-7 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-7 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-7</sup>
  If a foreign corporation relocates its office within the jurisdictional district of the same registry office, it is sufficient for it to register its relocation.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

  **第八項**  外国法人の代表者が、この条に規定する登記を怠ったときは、五十万円以下の過料に処する。
  <sup>art-37/par-8 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-8 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-8</sup>
  If a representative of a foreign corporation fails to complete a registration provided for in this Article, the representative is subject to a civil fine of not more than 500,000 yen.
  <sup>Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System</sup>

### 第三十八条から第八十四条まで  〔削除 / repealed〕
<sup>art-38-to-84 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-38-to-84 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-38-to-84</sup>

  **第一項**  削除
  <sup>art-38-to-84/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-38-to-84/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-38-to-84/par-1</sup>

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## Cites
- art-35/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第三十五条第一項 (Article 35, paragraph (1)), art-35/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-35/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-35/par-1
- art-37/par-1: 第三十五条第一項 → 民法 第三十五条第一項 (Article 35, paragraph (1)), art-35/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-35/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-35/par-1
- art-37/par-1: この条 → 民法 第三十七条 (Article 37), art-37 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37
- art-37/par-2: 前項 → 民法 第三十七条第一項 (Article 37, paragraph (1)), art-37/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1
- art-37/par-3: 前項 → 民法 第三十七条第二項 (Article 37, paragraph (2)), art-37/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-2
- art-37/par-4: 前二項 → 民法 第三十七条第二項 (Article 37, paragraph (2)), art-37/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-2
- art-37/par-4: 前二項 → 民法 第三十七条第三項 (Article 37, paragraph (3)), art-37/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-3
- art-37/par-6: 第一項 → 民法 第三十七条第一項 (Article 37, paragraph (1)), art-37/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37/par-1
- art-37/par-8: この条 → 民法 第三十七条 (Article 37), art-37 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-37 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-37

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## Sources

- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 民法 — the text in force from 2026-06-24 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/129AC0000000089/20260624_508AC0000000045), retrieved 2026-10-11
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Civil Code — Ministry of Justice translation (part 1 of 2) (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/4848/tb), retrieved 2026-10-11
- claude-sonnet-5-5 — Machine translation, batch civil-code-20261011T170941-001, translated 2026-10-12
- This site's parser, version 190 — 民法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-11