# 生活保護法 / Public Assistance Act — 第一章 (Chapter 1) - Law: 生活保護法 (Public Assistance Act), 昭和二十五年法律第百四十四号 - English title "Public Assistance 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: 第一章 (Chapter 1) — address `ch-1` - Text: the text as amended with effect from 2029-06-24 (On a day set by Cabinet Order, no later than 24 June 2029 — the amending law allows up to three years from promulgation. The exact day is not fixed yet.) — NOT yet in force (revision 20290624_508AC0000000051) - URL (this text's page, at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1 - The same address in the text in force (its wording there may differ): https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/ch-1 - 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. --- ## 第一章　総則 — Chapter I General Provisions heading: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ch-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1 ### 第一条（この法律の目的） — (Purpose of This Act) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-1 **第一項** この法律は、日本国憲法第二十五条に規定する理念に基き、国が生活に困窮するすべての国民に対し、その困窮の程度に応じ、必要な保護を行い、その最低限度の生活を保障するとともに、その自立を助長することを目的とする。 art-1/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-1/par-1 The purpose of this Act is for the State to guarantee a minimum standard of living as well as to promote self-support for all citizens who are in living in poverty by providing the necessary public assistance according to the level of poverty, based on the principles prescribed in Article 25 of the Constitution of Japan. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第二条（無差別平等） — (Nondiscrimination and Equality) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-2 **第一項** すべて国民は、この法律の定める要件を満たす限り、この法律による保護（以下「保護」という。）を、無差別平等に受けることができる。 art-2/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-2/par-1 All citizens may receive public assistance under this Act (hereinafter referred to as "public assistance") in a nondiscriminatory and equal manner as long as they satisfy the requirements prescribed by this Act. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第三条（最低生活） — (Minimum Standard of Living) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-3 **第一項** この法律により保障される最低限度の生活は、健康で文化的な生活水準を維持することができるものでなければならない。 art-3/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-3/par-1 The minimum standard of living guaranteed by this Act shall be where a person is able to maintain a wholesome and cultured standard of living. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第四条（保護の補足性） — (Supplementary Nature of Public Assistance) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4 **第一項** 保護は、生活に困窮する者が、その利用し得る資産、能力その他あらゆるものを、その最低限度の生活の維持のために活用することを要件として行われる。 art-4/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4/par-1 Public assistance shall be provided based on a requirement that a person who is living in poverty shall utilize his/her assets, abilities and every other thing available to him/her for maintaining a minimum standard of living. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 民法（明治二十九年法律第八十九号）に定める扶養義務者の扶養及び他の法律に定める扶助は、すべてこの法律による保護に優先して行われるものとする。 art-4/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4/par-2 Any support given by a person responsible for support prescribed by the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896) and any assistance prescribed by any other Act shall be provided in precedence to public assistance under this Act. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** 前二項の規定は、急迫した事由がある場合に、必要な保護を行うことを妨げるものではない。 art-4/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4/par-3 The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not preclude the provision of necessary public assistance in the case where there are urgent circumstances. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第五条（この法律の解釈及び運用） — (Interpretation and Operation of This Act) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-5 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-5 **第一項** 前四条に規定するところは、この法律の基本原理であつて、この法律の解釈及び運用は、すべてこの原理に基いてされなければならない。 art-5/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-5/par-1 What is provided for in the preceding four Articles are fundamental principles of this Act based on which all interpretations and the operation of this Act shall be made. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System ### 第六条（用語の定義） — (Definitions of Terms) caption: Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System art-6 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-6 **第一項** この法律において「被保護者」とは、現に保護を受けている者をいう。 art-6/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-6/par-1 The term "public assistance recipient" as used in this Act means a person who currently receives public assistance. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** この法律において「要保護者」とは、現に保護を受けているといないとにかかわらず、保護を必要とする状態にある者をいう。 art-6/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-6/par-2 The term "person requiring public assistance" is a person who requires public assistance regardless of whether he/she currently receives public assistance. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第三項** この法律において「保護金品」とは、保護として給与し、又は貸与される金銭及び物品をいう。 art-6/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-6/par-3 The term "public assistance benefit" as used in this Act means the money and/or goods furnished or lent as public assistance. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第四項** この法律において「金銭給付」とは、金銭の給与又は貸与によつて、保護を行うことをいう。 art-6/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-6/par-4 The term "performance in money" as used in this Act means to provide public assistance by furnishing or lending money. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第五項** この法律において「現物給付」とは、物品の給与又は貸与、医療の給付、役務の提供その他金銭給付以外の方法で保護を行うことをいう。 art-6/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-6/par-5 The term "performance in kind" as used in this Act means to provide public assistance by furnishing or lending goods, furnishing medical care, providing services or any other means other than by providing performance in money. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System --- ## Cites - art-1/par-1: 日本国憲法第二十五条 → 日本国憲法 第二十五条 (Article 25), art-25 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/constitution/art-25 · https://japanlaw.org/l/321CONSTITUTION/art-25 - art-4/par-3: 前二項 → 生活保護法 第四条第一項 (Article 4, paragraph (1)), art-4/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4/par-1 - art-4/par-3: 前二項 → 生活保護法 第四条第二項 (Article 4, paragraph (2)), art-4/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4/par-2 - art-5/par-1: 前四条 → 生活保護法 第一条 (Article 1), art-1 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-1 - art-5/par-1: 前四条 → 生活保護法 第二条 (Article 2), art-2 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-2 - art-5/par-1: 前四条 → 生活保護法 第三条 (Article 3), art-3 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-3 - art-5/par-1: 前四条 → 生活保護法 第四条 (Article 4), art-4 — https://japanlaw.org/ja/public-assistance-act/amendments/20290624_508AC0000000051/text/ch-1#art-4 --- ## Sources - e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 生活保護法 — the text as 令和八年法律第五十一号 leaves it, from a date not yet fixed (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/325AC0000000144/20290624_508AC0000000051), retrieved 2026-10-19 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Public Assistance Act — Ministry of Justice translation (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/24/tb), retrieved 2026-10-19 - This site's parser, version 210 — 生活保護法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-10-19