# 遺失物法 / Lost Property Act — 第三十七条 (Article 37)

- Law: 遺失物法 (Lost Property Act), 平成十八年法律第七十三号
- English title "Lost Property Act": Ministry of Justice translation database, which lists the title
- 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: 第三十七条 (Article 37)（都道府県への所有権の帰属等） — address `art-37`
- Text in force since: 2025-06-01
- URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37
- Permanent URL (e-Gov law ID, never renamed): https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37
- 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.

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### 第三十七条（都道府県への所有権の帰属等） — Vesting of Ownership in Prefectures, etc.
<sup>caption: machine translation, not official</sup>
<sup>art-37 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37</sup>

**第一項**  物件（第三十五条第二号から第五号までに掲げる文書、図画又は電磁的記録に該当する物件を除く。）について、すべての遺失者がその有する権利を放棄した場合又は第七条第一項（第十八条において準用する場合を含む。）の規定による公告をした後三箇月以内（埋蔵物にあっては、六箇月以内。次項において同じ。）に遺失者が判明しない場合において、民法第二百四十条若しくは第二百四十一条の規定又は第三十二条第一項の規定により所有権を取得する者がないとき（その者のすべてが前条の規定によりその所有権を失ったときを含む。）は、当該物件の所有権は、次の各号に掲げる当該物件を保管する者の区分に応じ、それぞれ当該各号に定める者に帰属する。
<sup>art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-1</sup>
With respect to property (excluding property that falls under the documents, drawings or electronic or magnetic records listed in Article 35, items (ii) through (v)), if, in the case where all persons who lost the property have waived the rights they hold or in the case where the person who lost the property is not identified within three months (within six months for a buried thing; the same applies in the following paragraph) after the public notice under Article 7, paragraph (1) (including the case where it applies mutatis mutandis under Article 18) is given, there is no person who acquires ownership under the provisions of Article 240 or 241 of the Civil Code or the provisions of Article 32, paragraph (1) (including the case where all such persons have lost that ownership under the provisions of the preceding Article), ownership of the property vests in the person specified in each of the following items for the category of person who keeps the property listed in that item:
<sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

  **一**  警察署長　当該警察署の属する都道府県（第三十五条第一号に掲げる物に該当する物件にあっては、国）
  <sup>art-37/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-1/item-1</sup>
  the chief of a police station: the prefecture to which that police station belongs (the national government, for property that falls under the things listed in Article 35, item (i));
  <sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

  **二**  特例施設占有者　当該特例施設占有者
  <sup>art-37/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-1/item-2</sup>
  a special-case facility occupant: that special-case facility occupant.
  <sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

**第二項**  警察署長は、第四条第一項又は第十三条第一項の規定による提出を受けた物件のうち、第三十五条第二号から第五号までに掲げる文書、図画又は電磁的記録に該当するものについて、すべての遺失者がその有する権利を放棄したとき又は第七条第一項の規定による公告をした後三箇月以内に遺失者が判明しないときは、国家公安委員会規則で定めるところにより、速やかにこれを廃棄しなければならない。
<sup>art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-2</sup>
With respect to property, among that submitted to the chief of a police station under Article 4, paragraph (1) or Article 13, paragraph (1), that falls under the documents, drawings or electronic or magnetic records listed in Article 35, items (ii) through (v), the chief of a police station must promptly dispose of it in accordance with National Public Safety Commission Rules when all persons who lost the property have waived the rights they hold or when the person who lost the property is not identified within three months after the public notice under Article 7, paragraph (1) is given.
<sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

**第三項**  特例施設占有者は、保管物件のうち、第三十五条第二号から第五号までに掲げる文書、図画又は電磁的記録に該当するものについて、すべての遺失者がその有する権利を放棄したとき又は第十八条において準用する第七条第一項の規定による公告をした後三箇月以内に遺失者が判明しないときは、国家公安委員会規則で定めるところにより、速やかにこれを廃棄しなければならない。
<sup>art-37/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-3</sup>
With respect to property in custody that falls under the documents, drawings or electronic or magnetic records listed in Article 35, items (ii) through (v), a special-case facility occupant must promptly dispose of it in accordance with National Public Safety Commission Rules when all persons who lost the property have waived the rights they hold or when the person who lost the property is not identified within three months after the public notice under Article 7, paragraph (1), as applied mutatis mutandis under Article 18, is given.
<sup>machine translation, not official</sup>

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## Cites
- art-37/par-1: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第二号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (ii)), art-35/par-1/item-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-2
- art-37/par-1: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第三号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (iii)), art-35/par-1/item-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-3
- art-37/par-1: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第四号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (iv)), art-35/par-1/item-4 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-4
- art-37/par-1: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第五号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (v)), art-35/par-1/item-5 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-5
- art-37/par-1: 第七条第一項 → 遺失物法 第七条第一項 (Article 7, paragraph (1)), art-7/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-7/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-7/par-1
- art-37/par-1: 第十八条 → 遺失物法 第十八条 (Article 18), art-18 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-18
- art-37/par-1: 次項 → 遺失物法 第三十七条第二項 (Article 37, paragraph (2)), art-37/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-2
- art-37/par-1: 民法第二百四十条 → 民法 第二百四十条 (Article 240), art-240 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-240 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-240
- art-37/par-1: 第二百四十一条 → 民法 第二百四十一条 (Article 241), art-241 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/civil-code/art-241 · https://japanlaw.org/l/129AC0000000089/art-241
- art-37/par-1: 第三十二条第一項 → 遺失物法 第三十二条第一項 (Article 32, paragraph (1)), art-32/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-32/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-32/par-1
- art-37/par-1: 前条 → 遺失物法 第三十六条 (Article 36), art-36 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-36 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-36
- art-37/par-1/item-1: 第三十五条第一号 → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第一号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (i)), art-35/par-1/item-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-1
- art-37/par-2: 第四条第一項 → 遺失物法 第四条第一項 (Article 4, paragraph (1)), art-4/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-4/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-4/par-1
- art-37/par-2: 第十三条第一項 → 遺失物法 第十三条第一項 (Article 13, paragraph (1)), art-13/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-13/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-13/par-1
- art-37/par-2: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第二号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (ii)), art-35/par-1/item-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-2
- art-37/par-2: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第三号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (iii)), art-35/par-1/item-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-3
- art-37/par-2: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第四号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (iv)), art-35/par-1/item-4 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-4
- art-37/par-2: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第五号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (v)), art-35/par-1/item-5 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-5
- art-37/par-2: 第七条第一項 → 遺失物法 第七条第一項 (Article 7, paragraph (1)), art-7/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-7/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-7/par-1
- art-37/par-3: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第二号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (ii)), art-35/par-1/item-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-2 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-2
- art-37/par-3: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第三号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (iii)), art-35/par-1/item-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-3 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-3
- art-37/par-3: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第四号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (iv)), art-35/par-1/item-4 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-4 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-4
- art-37/par-3: 第三十五条第二号から第五号まで → 遺失物法 第三十五条第一項第五号 (Article 35, paragraph (1), item (v)), art-35/par-1/item-5 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-35/par-1/item-5 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-35/par-1/item-5
- art-37/par-3: 第十八条 → 遺失物法 第十八条 (Article 18), art-18 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-18 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-18
- art-37/par-3: 第七条第一項 → 遺失物法 第七条第一項 (Article 7, paragraph (1)), art-7/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-7/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-7/par-1

## Cited by

3 provisions cite this one. No official source publishes this direction.

- 遺失物法 第二十六条第一項（指示） — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-26/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-26/par-1
- 遺失物法 第三十七条第一項（都道府県への所有権の帰属等） — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-37/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-37/par-1
- 遺失物法 第四十二条第一項第七号 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/lost-property-act/art-42/par-1/item-7 · https://japanlaw.org/l/418AC0000000073/art-42/par-1/item-7

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## Sources

- e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 遺失物法 — the text in force from 2025-06-01 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/418AC0000000073/20250601_504AC0000000068), retrieved 2026-10-11
- Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — 遺失物法 — its English title as the Ministry of Justice's translation database lists it (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/1640), retrieved 2026-10-11
- claude-sonnet-5-5 — Machine translation, batch lost-property-act-20261011T093710-005, translated 2026-10-11
- This site's parser, version 186 — 遺失物法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-11