# 会社法 / Companies Act — 第四章 (Part 1, Chapter 4) This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/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: 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: 第四章 (Part 1, Chapter 4) — address `pt-1/ch-4` - Text: the text as amended with effect from 2027-07-22 (On a day set by Cabinet Order, no later than 22 July 2027 — the amending law allows up to one year from promulgation. The exact day is not fixed yet.), standing until 2027-12-04 as now scheduled, since the next amendment's day is not fixed — NOT yet in force (revision 20270722_508AC0000000064) - URL (this text's page, at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4 - The same address in the text in force (its wording there may differ): https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/pt-1/ch-4 - 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. --- ## 第四章　事業の譲渡をした場合の競業の禁止等 — Chapter IV Non-Competition after Transfers of Business heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System pt-1/ch-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4 ### 第二十一条（譲渡会社の競業の禁止） — (Non-Competition by Transferor Company) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-21 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21 **第一項** 事業を譲渡した会社（以下この章において「譲渡会社」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。以下この項において同じ。）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、その事業を譲渡した日から二十年間は、同一の事業を行ってはならない。 art-21/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21/par-1 Unless the parties otherwise manifest their intention, a company which transferred its business (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "transferor company") may not carry out the same line of business within the area of the same city, town or village (including special wards, and ward or administratively consolidated ward of the cities designated under Article 252-19 paragraph (1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947); hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph), or within the area of any of its neighboring cities, towns or villages for twenty years from the day of the transfer of the business. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 譲渡会社が同一の事業を行わない旨の特約をした場合には、その特約は、その事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-21/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21/par-2 If the transferor company agreed to special provisions to the effect that it will not carry out the same line of the business, the effectiveness of the special provision is limited to the period of thirty years from the day of the transfer of the business. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 前二項の規定にかかわらず、譲渡会社は、不正の競争の目的をもって同一の事業を行ってはならない。 art-21/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21/par-3 Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the transferor company may not carry out the same line of business with the purpose of unfair competition. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第二十二条（譲渡会社の商号を使用した譲受会社の責任等） — (Liabilities of the Transferee Company Using the Trade Name of the Transferor Company) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-22 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22 **第一項** 事業を譲り受けた会社（以下この章において「譲受会社」という。）が譲渡会社の商号を引き続き使用する場合には、その譲受会社も、譲渡会社の事業によって生じた債務を弁済する責任を負う。 art-22/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-1 If any company to which any business is transferred (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "transferee company") continues to use the trade name of the transferor company, the transferee company is also liable for the performance of any obligations having arisen from the business of the transferor company. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 前項の規定は、事業を譲り受けた後、遅滞なく、譲受会社がその本店の所在地において譲渡会社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。事業を譲り受けた後、遅滞なく、譲受会社及び譲渡会社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-22/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-2 The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not apply if the transferee company registers, at the location of its head office, without delay after it has accepted the transfer of the business, a statement to the effect that it will not be liable for the performance of the obligations of the transferor company. If the transferee company and transferor company give notice to the above effect to any third party without delay after the transfer of the business, the same applies to the third party who receives that notice. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 譲受会社が第一項の規定により譲渡会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う場合には、譲渡会社の責任は、事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-22/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-3 If the transferee company is liable for the performance of the obligations of the transferor company pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the liability of the transferor company is extinguished upon lapse of two years after the day of the transfer of the business to any obligee who does not demand the performance, or does not give an advance notice of the demand, within that period. 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、譲渡会社の事業によって生じた債権について、譲受会社にした弁済は、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-22/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-4 In cases provided for in paragraph (1), any performance made to the transferee company with respect to any claim arising from the business of the transferor company remains effective if the performing party has acted in good faith and without gross negligence. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第二十三条（譲受会社による債務の引受け） — (Assumption of Obligations by Transferee Company) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-23 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23 **第一項** 譲受会社が譲渡会社の商号を引き続き使用しない場合においても、譲渡会社の事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、譲渡会社の債権者は、その譲受会社に対して弁済の請求をすることができる。 art-23/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23/par-1 Even if a transferee company does not continue to use the trade name of the transferor company, if it advertises to the effect that it will assume the obligations that have arisen from the business of the transferor company, the obligees of the transferor company may demand the performance against the transferee company. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 譲受会社が前項の規定により譲渡会社の債務を弁済する責任を負う場合には、譲渡会社の責任は、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-23/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23/par-2 If the transferee company is liable for the performance of the obligations of the transferor company pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the liability of the transferor company is extinguished upon lapse of two years after the day of the advertisement under that paragraph regarding any obligee who does not demand the performance, or does not give an advance notice of the demand, within that period. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第二十三条の二（詐害事業譲渡に係る譲受会社に対する債務の履行の請求） — (Request for Performance of Obligations from a Transferee Company Related to Fraudulent Transfer of Business) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-23-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2 **第一項** 譲渡会社が譲受会社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事業を譲渡した場合には、残存債権者は、その譲受会社に対して、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、その譲受会社が事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-23-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2/par-1 If a transferor company transfers business, with the knowledge that it harms creditors of the obligations that are not succeeded by the transferee company (hereinafter the creditors are referred to as "remaining creditor" in this Article), the remaining creditor may demand from the transferee company the performance of obligations up to the value of the succeeding properties; provided, however, that this does not apply to cases where the transferee company has no knowledge that it harms remaining creditor when the transfer of business becomes effective. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 譲受会社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、譲渡会社が残存債権者を害することを知って事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。事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-23-2/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2/par-2 If a transferor company is liable to performance of obligations referred to in the preceding paragraph pursuant to that paragraph, relevant liability for a remaining creditor, who does not demand or give an advance notice of the demand within two years from when the transferee company transferred business with the knowledge that it harms the remaining creditor, extinguishes when that period elapses. The same applies when ten years have elapsed from the day when the transfer of business comes into effect. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 譲渡会社について破産手続開始の決定、再生手続開始の決定又は更生手続開始の決定があったときは、残存債権者は、譲受会社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-23-2/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2/par-3 When an order of commencement of bankruptcy proceedings, order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings, or order of commencement of reorganization proceedings is made against the transferor company, the remaining creditor may not exercise the right to demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) from the transferee company. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第二十四条（商人との間での事業の譲渡又は譲受け） — (Transfers of Business to or from a Merchant) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-24 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-24 **第一項** 会社が商人に対してその事業を譲渡した場合には、当該会社を商法第十六条第一項に規定する譲渡人とみなして、同法第十七条から第十八条の二までの規定を適用する。この場合において、同条第三項中「又は再生手続開始の決定」とあるのは、「、再生手続開始の決定又は更生手続開始の決定」とする。 art-24/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-24/par-1 If a company transfers its business to a merchant, relevant company is deemed to be the transferee provided for in Article 16, paragraph (1) of the Commercial Code, and the provisions of Articles 17 through 18-2 of the Code apply. In this case, the phrase "or an order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings" in paragraph (3) of the same Article is deemed to be replaced with "an order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings or order of commencement of reorganization proceedings". Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 会社が商人の営業を譲り受けた場合には、当該商人を譲渡会社とみなして、前三条の規定を適用する。この場合において、前条第三項中「、再生手続開始の決定又は更生手続開始の決定」とあるのは、「又は再生手続開始の決定」とする。 art-24/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-24/par-2 If a company accepts transfer of the enterprise of any merchant, relevant merchant is deemed to be the transferor company, and the provisions of the preceding three articles apply. In this case, the phrase ", order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings or order of commencement of reorganization proceedings" in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article is deemed to be replaced with "or an order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings". Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System --- ## Cites - art-21/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-21/par-1: この項 → 会社法 第二十一条第一項 (Article 21, paragraph (1)), art-21/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21/par-1 - art-21/par-3: 前二項 → 会社法 第二十一条第一項 (Article 21, paragraph (1)), art-21/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21/par-1 - art-21/par-3: 前二項 → 会社法 第二十一条第二項 (Article 21, paragraph (2)), art-21/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-21/par-2 - art-22/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第二十二条第一項 (Article 22, paragraph (1)), art-22/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-1 - art-22/par-3: 第一項 → 会社法 第二十二条第一項 (Article 22, paragraph (1)), art-22/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-1 - art-22/par-4: 第一項 → 会社法 第二十二条第一項 (Article 22, paragraph (1)), art-22/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22/par-1 - art-23/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第二十三条第一項 (Article 23, paragraph (1)), art-23/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23/par-1 - art-23-2/par-1: この条 → 会社法 第二十三条の二 (Article 23-2), art-23-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2 - art-23-2/par-2: 前項 → 会社法 第二十三条の二第一項 (Article 23-2, paragraph (1)), art-23-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2/par-1 - art-23-2/par-3: 第一項 → 会社法 第二十三条の二第一項 (Article 23-2, paragraph (1)), art-23-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2/par-1 - art-24/par-1: 商法第十六条第一項 → e-Gov law 132AC0000000048, 第十六条第一項 (Article 16, paragraph (1)), art-16/par-1 — not held in this collection - art-24/par-1: 同法第十七条から第十八条の二まで → e-Gov law 132AC0000000048, 第十七条 (Article 17), art-17 — not held in this collection - art-24/par-1: 同条第三項 → e-Gov law 132AC0000000048, 第十六条第三項 (Article 16, paragraph (3)), art-16/par-3 — not held in this collection - art-24/par-2: 前三条 → 会社法 第二十二条 (Article 22), art-22 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-22 - art-24/par-2: 前三条 → 会社法 第二十三条 (Article 23), art-23 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23 - art-24/par-2: 前三条 → 会社法 第二十三条の二 (Article 23-2), art-23-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2 - art-24/par-2: 前条第三項 → 会社法 第二十三条の二第三項 (Article 23-2, paragraph (3)), art-23-2/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/companies-act/amendments/20270722_508AC0000000064/text/pt-1/ch-4#art-23-2/par-3 --- ## Sources - e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 会社法 — the text as 令和八年法律第六十四号 leaves it, from a date not yet fixed (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/417AC0000000086/20270722_508AC0000000064), 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