GYOSEISHOSHI HAKUMONKAI

Companies Act (Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV (Tentative translation))

Part I General Provisions
Chapter I Common Provisions

(Purpose)
Article 1 The formation, organization, operation and management of companies shall be governed by the provisions of this Act, except as otherwise provided by other acts.

(Definitions)
Article 2 In this Act, the meanings of the terms listed in the following items shall be as prescribed respectively in those items:
(i) "Company" means any Stock Company, General Partnership Company, Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company;
(ii) "Foreign Company" means such any juridical person incorporated under the law of a foreign country or such other foreign organization that is of the same kind as the Company or is similar to a Company;
(iii) "Subsidiary" means any entity which is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the juridical person the management of which is controlled by a Company, including, but not limited to, a Stock Company a majority of all votes in which are owned by the Company;
(iii)-2 "Subsidiary, etc." means a person corresponding to any of the following:
(a) Subsidiary; or
(b) any entity which is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the juridical person for which management is controlled by a person other than a Company.
(iv) "Parent Company" means any entity which is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a juridical person who controls the management of a Stock Company, including, but not limited to, a Company which has a Stock Company as its Subsidiary;
(iv)-2 "Parent Company, etc." means a person corresponding to any of the following:
(a) Parent Company; or
(b) any entity which is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a person who controls the management of a Stock Company (excluding entities who are juridical persons).
(v) "Public Company" means any Stock Company the articles of incorporation of which do not require, as a feature of all or part of its shares, the approval of the Stock Company for the acquisition of such shares by transfer;
(vi) "Large Company" means any Stock Company which satisfies any of the following requirements:
(a) that the amount of the stated capital in the balance sheet as of the end of its Most Recent Business Year (hereinafter in this (a) and (b) below referring to the balance sheet reported to the annual shareholders meeting under the provision of Article 439 in cases provided for in the first sentence of such Article, and referring to the balance sheet under Article 435(1) in cases where the first annual shareholders meeting after the incorporation of the Stock Company has not yet been held) is 500,000,000 yen or more; or
(b) that the total sum of the amounts in the liabilities section of the balance sheet as of the end of its Most Recent Business Year is 20,000,000,000 yen or more;
(vii) "Company with Board of Directors" means any Stock Company which has a board of directors, or any Stock Company which is required to have a board of directors under the provisions of this Act;
(viii) "Company with Accounting Advisor(s)" means any Stock Company which has accounting advisor(s);
(ix) "Company with Company Auditor(s)" means any Stock Company which has company auditor(s) (excluding any Stock Company the articles of incorporation of which provide that the scope of the audit by its company auditor(s) shall be limited to an audit related to accounting), or any Stock Company which is required to have company auditor(s) under the provisions of this Act;
(x) "Company with Board of Company Auditors" means any Stock Company which has a board of company auditors, or any Stock Company which is required to have a board of company auditors under the provisions of this Act;
(xi) "Company with Financial Auditor(s)" means any Stock Company which has financial auditor(s), or any Stock Company which is required to have financial auditor(s) under the provisions of this Act; -
(xi)-2 "Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee" means any Stock Company which has an Audit and Supervisory Committee;
(xii) "Company with Nominating Committee, etc." means any Stock Company which has a nominating committee, an audit committee and a compensation committee (hereinafter referred to as "Nominating Committees, etc.");
(xiii) "Company with Class Shares" means any Stock Company which issues two or more classes of shares with different features as to the matters listed in the items of Article 108(1), including, but not limited to, the Dividend of Surplus;
(xiv) "General Meeting of Class Shareholders" means a meeting of Class Shareholders (hereinafter referring to the shareholders of any class of shares of a Company with Class Shares);
(xv) "Outside Director" means a director of any Stock Company who satisfies all of the following requirements;
(a) a person who is not an Executive Director (meaning a director as listed in the items of Article 363 (1) of a Stock Company or other directors who execute the operations of said Stock Company; hereinafter the same shall apply) or Executive Officer, manager, or other employee (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Executive Director, etc.") of said Stock Company or its Subsidiary and has not been an Executive Director, etc. of said Stock Company or its Subsidiary for ten years prior to assuming his/her office;
(b) if a person who has been a director, accounting advisor (if the accounting advisor is a juridical person, a member who is in charge of the affairs), or company auditor of said Stock Company or its Subsidiary (excluding a person who has been an Executive Director, etc.) at the time within ten years prior to assuming his/her office, a person who has not been an Executive Director, etc. of said Stock Company or its Subsidiary for ten years prior to assuming his/her office as director, accounting advisor, or company auditor;
(c) a person who is not a Parent Company, etc. of such Stock Company (limited to a natural person) or director or executive officer, manager, or other employee of a Parent Company, etc.;
(d) a person who is not an Executive Director, etc. of a Subsidiary, etc. of the Parent Company, etc. of such Stock Company (excluding such Stock Company and its Subsidiary); and
(e) a person who is not a spouse or relative within the second degree of kinship of a director or executive officer, manager, or other important employee of such Stock Company, or its Parent Company, etc. (limited to a natural person).
(xvi) "Outside Company Auditor" means a company auditor of any Stock Company who satisfies all of the following requirements:
(a) a person who has not been a director, accounting advisor (if the accounting advisor is a juridical person, a member who is in charge of the affairs; the same shall apply in (b)), or executive officer, manager, or other employee of such Stock Company or its Subsidiary for ten years prior to assuming his/her office;
(b) in cases where a person who has been a company auditor of such Stock Company or its Subsidiary at the time within ten years prior to assuming his/her office, the person who has not been a director, accounting advisor, or executive officer, manager, or other employee of such Stock Company or its Subsidiary for ten years prior to assuming his/her office as company auditor;
(c) a person who is not a Parent Company, etc. of such Stock Company (limited to a natural person) or director or executive officer, manager, or other employee of a Parent Company, etc.;
(d) a person who is not an Executive Director, etc. of a Subsidiary, etc. of Parent Company, etc. of such Stock Company (excluding such Stock Company and its Subsidiary); and
(e) a person who is not a spouse or relative within the second degree of kinship of a director, manager, or other important employee of such Stock Company, or its Parent Company, etc. (limited to a natural person).
(xvii) "Shares with Restriction on Transfer" means the shares in cases where a Stock Company provides, as a feature of all or part of its shares, that the approval of the Stock Company is required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer;
(xviii) "Shares with Put Option" means the shares in cases where a Stock Company provides, as a feature of all or part of its shares, that a shareholder may demand the Stock Company to redeem such shares;
(xix) "Shares Subject to Call" means the shares in cases where a Stock Company provides, as a feature of all or part of its shares, that such Stock Company may redeem such shares upon the occurrence of specified event;
(xx) "Share Unit" means such certain number in cases where a Stock Company provides in its articles of incorporation that certain number of shares it issues constitute one unit of shares which entitles a shareholder to cast one vote in a shareholders meeting or General Meeting of Class Shareholders;
(xxi) "Share Option" means any right which entitles the holder to acquire shares in a Stock Company by exercising the right against such Stock Company;
(xxii) "Bond with Share Options" means any Bond with attached Share Options;
(xxiii) "Bond" means any monetary claim owed by a Company by allotment under the provisions of this Act and which will be redeemed in accordance with the provisions on the matters listed in the items of Article 676;
(xxiv) "Most Recent Business Year" means the latest of business years for which approval under Article 438(2) (or any approval under Article 436(3) in cases provided for in Article 439(1)) is obtained with respect to the financial statements provided in Article 435(2) relating to each business year;
(xxv) "Dividend Property" means the property to be distributed in cases where a Stock Company pays the Dividend of Surplus;
(xxvi) "Entity Conversion" means any change, through conversion, from a Company listed in (a) or (b) below, respectively, to another form of Company prescribed immediately thereafter in the said (a) or (b):
(a) from a Stock Company to a General Partnership Company, Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company;
(b) from a General Partnership Company, Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company to a Stock Company.
(xxvii) "Absorption-type Merger" means a merger that a Company effects with another Company which causes the Company surviving the merger to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of the Company that disappears in the merger;
(xxviii) "Consolidation-type Merger" means a merger effected by two or more Companies which causes the Company incorporated in the merger to succeed to all of the rights and obligations of the Companies that disappear in the merger;
(xxix) "Absorption-type Company Split" means the action of causing another Company to succeed to all or part of the rights and obligations that a Stock Company or Limited Liability Company holds in connection with its business undertakings;
(xxx) "Incorporation-type Company Split" means the action of causing the Company incorporated in a company split to succeed to all or part of the rights and obligations that one or multiple Stock Companies or Limited Liability Companies hold in connection with their business undertakings;
(xxxi) "Share Exchange" means any exchange of shares whereby Stock Company(s) cause all of its Issued Shares (hereinafter referring to the shares issued by a Stock Company) to be acquired by another Stock Company or Limited Liability Company;
(xxxii) "Share Transfer" means any transfer whereby Stock Company(s) cause all of its Issued Shares to be acquired by a newly incorporated Stock Company;
(xxxiii) "Method of Public Notice" means the method which a Company (including a Foreign Company) adopts to give public notice (excluding those which are required to be effected by publishing the notice in the Official Gazette pursuant to the provisions of this Act or any other acts);
(xxxiv) "Electronic Public Notice" means a Method of Public Notice prescribed by the applicable ordinance of the Ministry of Justice which enables the general public to access such public notice by electronic or magnetic means (meaning that it enables the general public to access that public notice through the use of an electronic data processing system or through any other application of information and communications technology which is specified by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice; hereinafter the same applies).

(Juridical Personality)
Article 3 A Company shall be a juridical person.

(Address)
Article 4 The address of a Company shall be the location of its head office.

(Commercial Transaction)
Article 5 Any act which a Company (hereinafter in this Article, in paragraph (1) of the following Article, in Article 8 and in Article 9, including a Foreign Company) carries out as its business and any act which it carries out for its business shall constitute a commercial transaction.

Chapter II Trade Name of Company

(Trade Name)
Article 6 (1) The name of a Company shall be its trade name.
(2) A Company shall use in its trade name the words "Kabushiki-Kaisha," "Gomei-Kaisha," "Goushi-Kaisha" or "Goudou-Kaisha" respectively for Stock Company, General Partnership Company, Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company.
(3) A Company may not use in its trade name any word which makes it likely that the Company may be mistaken for a different form of Company.

(No Use of Name, etc. which is Likely to be Mistaken for a Company)
Article 7 No person who is not a Company may use in its name or trade name any word which makes it likely that the person may be mistaken as a Company.
Article 8 (1) No person may use, with a wrongful purpose, any name or trade name which makes it likely that the person may be mistaken for the other Company.
(2) Any Company the enterprise interests of which have been, or are likely to be, infringed by the use of any name or trade name in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph may seek an injunction suspending or preventing the infringement against the person who infringes, or is likely to infringe, those enterprise interests.

(Liability of Company Permitting Others to Use Its Trade Name)
Article 9 Any Company who has permitted others to carry out a business or engage in any enterprise by using the Company's own trade name shall be jointly and severally liable together with such others, vis-a-vis any person who has transacted with such others based on misunderstanding that such Company carries out such business, for the performance of any obligations which may arise from such transaction.

Chapter III Employees of a Company
Section 1 Employees of a Company

(Manager)
Article 10 A Company (hereinafter in this Part including a Foreign Company) may appoint manager(s) and have him/her carry out its business at its head office or branch office.

(Manager's Authority of Representation)
Article 11 (1) A manager shall have authority to do any and all judicial and non-judicial acts on behalf of a Company in connection with its business.
(2) A manager may appoint or dismiss other employee(s).
(3) No limitation on a manager's authority of representation may be asserted against a third party in good faith.

(Non-Competition by Manager)
Article 12 (1) A manager may not commit any of the following acts without the permission of the Company:
(i) engage in his/her own enterprise;
(ii) carry out, for himself/herself or for a third party, any transaction which is in the line of business of the Company;
(iii) become an employee of any other Company or merchant (excluding any Company; the same shall apply in Article 24);
(iv) become a director, executive officer or any member who executes the operation of any other Company.
(2) If a manager commits any act listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph in violation of the provisions of that paragraph, the amount of the profit obtained by the manager or any third party as a result of such act shall be presumed to be amount of the damage suffered by the Company.

(Apparent Manager)
Article 13 Any employee with a title which holds him/her out as the chief of the business of the head office or any branch office of a Company shall be deemed to have the authority to do any and all non-judicial acts in connection with the business of such head office or branch office, provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where his/her counterparty acts with knowledge of his/her actual authority.

(Employees to Whom the Authority of a Certain Kind of Matter or A Specific Matter is Delegated)
Article 14 (1) Any employee to whom the authority of a certain kind of matter or a specific matter in connection with the business is delegated shall have the authority to do any and all non-judicial acts in connection with such matter.
(2) No limitation on the authority of representation of the employee provided in the preceding paragraph may be asserted against a third party in good faith.

(Employees of Stores for the Purpose of Selling Goods)
Article 15 Any employee of a store the purpose of which is the sale, etc. (hereinafter in this Article referring to sale, lease or any other act similar to the foregoing) of goods shall be deemed to have authority to conduct the sale, etc. of the goods located in such store, provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where his/her counterparty acts with knowledge of his/her actual authority.
Section 2 Commercial Agents of the Companies

(Duty to Give Notice)
Article 16 When any Commercial Agent (hereinafter in this Section referring to a person who acts on behalf of a Company as an agent or intermediary in any transaction in the ordinary line of business of the Company, and is not an employee of the Company) undertakes any transaction as an agent or intermediary, the Commercial Agent shall give notice of that fact to the Company without delay.

(Non-Competition by Commercial Agent)
Article 17 (1) A Commercial Agent may not carry out any of the following acts without the permission of the Company:
(i) carry out, for himself/herself or for a third party, any transaction which is in the line of business of the Company;
(ii) become a director, executive officer or any member who executes operation of any other Company which carries out the same kind of business as the Company.
(2) If a Commercial Agent commits any act listed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph in violation of provisions of that paragraph, the amount of the profit obtained by the Commercial Agent or any third party as a result of such act shall be presumed to be amount of the damage suffered by the Company.

(Authority to Receive Notice)
Article 18 A Commercial Agent to whom the authority of the sale of goods or the role of intermediary in the same is delegated shall have authority to receive the notice regarding the sale and purchase including, but not limited to, the notice under Article 526(2) of the Commercial Code (Act No. 48 of 1899).

(Cancellation of Commercial Agency Contract)
Article 19 (1) A Company or the Commercial Agent may, when they did not define the period of the commercial agency contract, cancel the contract by giving an advance notice more than two months in advance.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if there is any compelling reason, the Company or its Commercial Agent may cancel the commercial agency contract at any time.

(Right of Retention of Commercial Agent)
Article 20 If any claim arising from acting as an agent or intermediary in any transaction is due, the Commercial Agent can retain any property or negotiable instruments of value which it possesses on behalf of the Company until the satisfaction of such claim; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where the parties otherwise manifest their intention.

Chapter IV Non-Competition after Business Transfer

(Non-competition by Transferor Company)
Article 21 (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(1) of the Local Autonomy Act (Act No. 67 of 1947). The same shall apply hereinafter 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.
(2) In cases where the Transferor Company agreed to a special provision to the effect that it will not carry out the same line of the business, the effectiveness of the special provision shall be limited to the period of thirty years from the day of the transfer of the business.
(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.

(Liabilities of Transferee Company using the Trade Name of the Transferor Company)
Article 22 (1) In cases where 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 shall also be liable for the performance of any obligations having arisen from the business of the Transferor Company.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in cases where 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. In cases where 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 provisions of the immediately preceding sentence shall apply to the third party who receives such notice.
(3) In cases where 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 shall be extinguished upon lapse of two years after the day of the transfer of the business vis-a-vis any obligee who does not demand the performance, or does not give an advance notice of his/her demand, within that period.
(4) In cases provided for in paragraph (1), any performance made vis-a-vis the Transferee Company with respect to any claim arising from the business of the Transferor Company shall remain effective if the performing party has acted in good faith and without gross negligence.

(Assumption of Obligations by Transferee Company)
Article 23 (1) Even in cases where 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.
(2) In cases where 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 shall be extinguished upon lapse of two years after the day of the advertisement under that paragraph vis-a-vis any obligee who does not demand the performance, or does not give an advance notice of his/her demand, within that period.

(Request for Performance of Obligations from a Transferee Company related to Fraudulent Transfer of Business)
Article 23-2 (1) In cases where 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 shall be referred to as "Remaining Creditors" in this Article), the Remaining Creditors may demand from the Transferee Company the performance of obligations up to the value of the succeeding properties; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the Transferee Company has no knowledge of the fact that it harms Remaining Creditors when the business transfer becomes effective.
(2) In cases where a Transferor Company is liable to performance of obligations set forth in the preceding paragraph pursuant to that paragraph, such liability for a Remaining Creditor, who does not demand or give an advance notice of his/her demand within two years from when the Transferee Company transferred business with the knowledge that it harms the Remaining Creditors, shall extinguish when such period elapses. The same shall apply when twenty years have elapsed from the day when the business transfer comes into effect.
(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 shall not exercise his/her right to demand pursuant to the provision of paragraph (1) from the Transferee Company.

(Business Transfer to or from a Merchant)
Article 24 (1) In cases where a Company transfers its business to a merchant, such Company shall be deemed to be the transferee provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 16 of the Commercial Code, and the provisions of Articles 17 through 18-2 of the Code shall apply. In this case, "or an order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings" in paragraph (3) of said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "an order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings or order of commencement of reorganization proceedings."
(2) In cases where a Company accepts transfer of the enterprise of any merchant, such merchant shall be deemed to be the Transferor Company, and the provisions of the preceding three articles shall apply. In this case, ", order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings or order of commencement of reorganization proceedings" in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "or an order of commencement of rehabilitation proceedings."
Part II Stock Company

Chapter I Incorporation
Section 1 General Provisions
Article 25 (1) A Stock Company may be incorporated by either of the following methods:
(i) The method by which incorporator(s) subscribe(s) for all Shares Issued at Incorporation (meaning the shares which are issued at incorporation of a Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter) pursuant to the provisions of the next Section to Section 8 inclusive; or
(ii) The method by which, in addition to the subscription by incorporator(s) for the Shares Issued at Incorporation, person(s) who will subscribe for the Shares Issued at Incorporation is/are solicited pursuant to the provisions of the next Section, Section 3, Article 39 and Section 6 to Section 9 inclusive.
(2) Each incorporator shall subscribe for one or more Shares Issued at Incorporation in the incorporation of a Stock Company.
Section 2 Preparation of Articles of Incorporation

(Preparation of Articles of Incorporation)
Article 26 (1) In order to incorporate a Stock Company, incorporator(s) shall prepare articles of incorporation, and all incorporators shall sign or affix the name(s) and seal(s) to it.
(2) Articles of incorporation set forth in the preceding paragraph may be prepared in the form of an electronic or magnetic record (meaning a record that Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice prescribes as being used in computerized information processing and created in electronic form, magnetic form, or any other form that cannot be perceived by the human senses; the same applies hereinafter). In such cases, actions prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice shall be taken in lieu of the signing or the affixing of the names and seals, with respect to the data recorded in such an electronic or magnetic record.

(Matters Required to be Specified or Recorded in the Articles of Incorporation)
Article 27 Articles of incorporation of a Stock Company shall specify or record the following matters:
(i) Purpose(s);
(ii) Trade name;
(iii) Location of the head office;
(iv) Value of property to be contributed at the incorporation or the lower limit thereof;
(v) Name(s) and address(es) of the incorporator(s).
Article 28 In cases where a Stock Company is to be incorporated, the following matters shall not become effective unless they are specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation referred to in Article 26(1):
(i) Name(s) of person(s) who contribute(s) by any property other than money, the description of such property and the value thereof, and the number of the Shares Issued at Incorporation that are to be allotted to such person(s) (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, referring to the class(es) and the number of each class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation; the same shall apply in item (i) of Article 32(1));
(ii) Property that is agreed to be transferred to the Stock Company after the formation thereof, the value thereof, and the name of the transferor;
(iii) Compensation or other special benefit which the incorporator(s) is to obtain by the formation of the Stock Company, and the name(s) of such incorporator(s); and
(iv) Expenses regarding the incorporation that are borne by the Stock Company (excluding the fees for the certification of the articles of incorporation, and other expenses which are prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as expenses that are unlikely to cause harm to the Stock Company)
Article 29 In addition to the matters listed in each item of Article 27 and each item of the preceding Article, articles of incorporation of a Stock Company may specify or record the matters which, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, may not become effective unless provided for in the articles of incorporation, or other matters which do not violate any provision of this Act.

(Certification of Articles of Incorporation)
Article 30 (1) Articles of incorporation set forth in Article 26(1) shall not become effective unless they are certified by a notary public.
(2) Articles of incorporation that are certified by a notary public pursuant to the preceding paragraph may not be amended before the formation of the Stock Company except when they are amended under the provisions of Article 33(7) or (9), or Article 37(1) or (2).

(Keeping and Inspection of Articles of Incorporation)
Article 31 (1) The incorporator(s) (or the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company) shall keep articles of incorporation at the place designated by the incorporator(s) (or at the head office or branch office of the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company).
(2) The incorporator(s) (or, after the formation of such Stock Company, the shareholder(s) and creditor(s) of such Stock Company) may submit the following request at any time during the hours designated by the incorporator(s) (or, after the formation of such Stock Company, during the business hours of such Stock Company); provided, however, that the fees designated by the incorporator(s) (or, after the formation of such Stock Company, such Stock Company) are required to be paid in order to submit the requests listed in item (ii) or item (iv):
(i) If articles of incorporation are prepared in writing, a request to inspect it;
(ii) A request for a transcript or extract of the articles of incorporation referred to in the preceding item;
(iii) If articles of incorporation have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; or
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding item by an electronic or magnetic means that the incorporators have designated (or, after the formation of such Stock Company, such Stock Company), or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
(3) If, after the formation of a Stock Company, it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company (meaning the shareholders and other members of the Parent Companies. The same shall apply hereinafter.) of such Stock Company, such Member of the Parent Company may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the articles of incorporation of such Stock Company; provided, however, that, in order to make the requests listed in item (ii) or item (iv) of that paragraph, the fees designated by such Stock Company is required to be paid.
(4) In cases where articles of incorporation are prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, for the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) with respect to a Stock Company which adopts the measures prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the measures that enable its branch offices to respond to the request listed in item (iii) and item (iv) of paragraph (2), "head office and branch office" in that paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "head office."
Section 3 Contributions

(Determination of Matters regarding Shares Issued at Incorporation)
Article 32 (1) When incorporator(s) determine the following matters at the incorporation of the Stock Company (excluding matters provided for in the articles of incorporation), he/she shall obtain the consent of all incorporators:
(i) The number of the Shares Issued at Incorporation that is to be allotted to each incorporator;
(ii) The amount of money to be paid in exchange for the Shares Issued at Incorporation set forth in the preceding item; and
(iii) Matters regarding the amount of the stated capital and capital reserves of the Stock Company after the formation.
(2) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if the Shares Issued at Incorporation set forth in item (i) of the preceding paragraph are those which are provided for in the articles of incorporation under the provisions of the first sentence of Article 108(3), the incorporator(s) shall, with the consent of all incorporators, determine the features of such Shares Issued at Incorporation.

(Appointment of Inspector of Information Specified or Recorded in the Articles of Incorporation)
Article 33 (1) If articles of incorporation specify or record the matters listed in each item of Article 28, the incorporator(s) shall, without delay after the certification by the notary public under Article 30(1), file a petition for the appointment of an inspector with the court in order to have the inspector investigate such matters.
(2) In cases where the petition set forth in the preceding paragraph has been filed, the court shall appoint the inspector except in case it dismisses such petition as non-conforming.
(3) In cases where the court has appointed the inspector set forth in the preceding paragraph, it may fix the amount of the remuneration that the Stock Company after the formation pays to such inspector.
(4) The inspector set forth in paragraph (2) shall conduct the necessary investigation and submit a report to the court by providing it with a document detailing the results of the investigation or with an electronic or magnetic record (limited to one as prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice) in which these have been recorded.
(5) If the court finds it necessary for the purpose of clarification of the contents of the report set forth in the preceding paragraph or of confirmation of the grounds supporting such report, it may request the inspector set forth in paragraph (2) a further report set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(6) When the inspector set forth in paragraph (2) reports pursuant to paragraph (4), he/she shall deliver a copy of the document referred to in that paragraph to the incorporators or use a means prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to provide them with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in that paragraph.
(7) In cases where the court receives a report under paragraph (4), if it finds the provisions in articles of incorporation relating to matters listed in each item of Article 28 (excluding any matters not subjected to the investigation by the inspector under paragraph (2)) to be improper, it shall make a ruling amending the same.
(8) In cases where some or all of the provisions in articles of incorporation relating to matters listed in each item of Article 28 are amended by a ruling set forth in the preceding paragraph, the incorporator(s) may rescind his/her manifestation of intention relating to subscription for the relevant Shares Issued at Incorporation within one week from the finalization of such ruling.
(9) In the cases prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the incorporator(s) may, with the consent of all incorporators, amend articles of incorporation repealing the provisions which have been amended by such ruling, within one week from the finalization of the ruling set forth in paragraph (7).
(10) The provisions of the preceding nine paragraphs shall not apply to the matters prescribed in following items:
(i) In cases where the total value specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation with respect to the property under item (i) and item (ii) of Article 28 (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Properties Contributed in Kind") does not exceed 5,000,000 yen: Matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of such Article;
(ii) In cases where the value specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind that are Securities (meaning the securities provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 2 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (Act No. 25 of 1948), including rights deemed to be securities pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of such Article. The same shall apply hereinafter.) with a market price does not exceed the value calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of such Securities: Matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of Article 28 with respect to such Securities;
(iii) In cases where the verification of an attorney, a legal professional Company, a Certified Public Accountant (including a foreign certified public accountant as defined in Article 16-2(5) of the Certified Public Accountant Act (Act No. 103 of 1948). The same shall apply hereinafter.), an auditing firm, a tax accountant or a tax accountant corporation (in cases where the Properties Contributed in Kind consist of any real estate, referring to such verification and appraisal by a real property appraiser; hereinafter the same shall apply in this item) is obtained with respect to the reasonableness of the value specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind: Matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of Article 28 (limited to those relating to the Properties Contributed in Kind so verified).
(11) None of the following persons may provide the verification prescribed in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph:
(i) An incorporator;
(ii) A transferor of property under item (ii) of Article 28;
(iii) A Director at Incorporation (referring to a Director at Incorporation prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 38) or a Company Auditor at Incorporation (referring to a Company Auditor at Incorporation prescribed for in item (ii), paragraph (3) of such Article);
(iv) A person who is subject to the disciplinary action ordering a suspension of operations and for whom the period of such suspension has not yet elapsed; or
(v) A legal professional Company, an auditing Company or a tax accountant Company more than half of whose members are persons who fall under any of the item (i) to (iii) above inclusive.

(Performance of Contributions)
Article 34 (1) Incorporator(s) shall, without delay after subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation, pay in the entire sum of monies relating to his/her contribution, or deliver all properties other than monies relating to his/her contribution fully in money or in kind, with respect to the Shares Issued at Incorporation for which he/she has subscribed; provided, however, that, if the consent of all incorporator(s) is obtained, the foregoing provisions do not preclude him/her from performing registration, recording or other acts necessary to assert the creation or transfer of rights against third parties after the formation of the Stock Company.
(2) The contribution in money pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be paid at the Bank, Etc. (meaning a Bank (meaning a bank as defined in Article 2(1) of the Bank Act (Act No. 59 of 1981). The same shall apply in Article 703(1)), a Trust Company (meaning a trust company as defined in Article 2(2) of the Trust Business Act (Act No. 154 of 2004). The same shall apply hereinafter) and other entities prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as entities equivalent to the same. The same shall apply hereinafter.) designated for payment by the incorporator.

(Transfer of Right to Become a Shareholder of Shares Issued at Incorporation)
Article 35 The transfer of the right to become a shareholder of the Shares Issued at Incorporation by contribution pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Performance of Contributions") may not be asserted against the Stock Company after the formation.

(Forfeiture of Right to Become a Shareholder of Shares Issued at Incorporation)
Article 36 (1) In cases where not all of the incorporators fulfill the Performance of Contributions, the incorporators shall set a date and notify any incorporator who does not fulfill the Performance of Contributions that such incorporator shall fulfill the Performance of Contributions by such date.
(2) The notice set forth in the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be given no later than two weeks prior to the date provided for in such paragraph.
(3) Incorporator(s) who is notified pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall forfeit the right to become the shareholder of Shares Issued at Incorporation by fulfilling the Performance of Contributions if the same fail to fulfill the Performance of Contributions by the date provided for in such paragraph.

(Provisions on Total Number of Authorized Shares)
Article 37 (1) In cases where the total number of shares that may be issued by a Stock Company (hereinafter referred to as "Total Number of Authorized Shares") is not provided for in the articles of incorporation, the incorporators shall, with the consent of all incorporators, amend the articles of incorporation and create a provision on the Total Number of Authorized Shares prior to the formation of the Stock Company.
(2) In cases where the Total Number of Authorized Shares is provided for in the articles of incorporation, the incorporators may, with the consent of all incorporators, amend the articles of incorporation with respect to the Total Number of Authorized Shares at any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company.
(3) The total number of Shares Issued at Incorporation may not be less than one quarter of the Total Number of Authorized Shares; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is not a Public Company.
Section 4 Election and Dismissal of Officers, etc. at Incorporation

(Election of Officers, etc. at Incorporation)
Article 38 (1) The incorporator(s) shall elect the Director(s) at Incorporation (meaning person(s) who becomes director(s) at the incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter) without delay after the fulfillment of the Performance of Contributions.
(2) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, the election of Directors at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be implemented by distinguishing the election of a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation (meaning a person who becomes an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member (meaning an member of the Audit and Supervisory Committee; the same shall apply hereinafter) at incorporation of a Stock Company; the same shall apply hereinafter) from among other Directors at Incorporation.
(3) In the cases listed in the following items, the incorporator(s) shall elect the persons provided for respectively in those items without delay after the fulfillment of the Performance of Contributions:
(i) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Accounting Advisor(s): Accounting Advisor at Incorporation (meaning a person who becomes an accounting advisor at the incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter.)
(ii) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Company Auditor(s) (including any Stock Company the articles of incorporation of which provide that the scope of the audit by its company auditor(s) is limited to an audit related to accounting): Company Auditor at Incorporation (meaning a person who becomes a company auditor at the incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter.)
(iii) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Financial Auditor(s): Financial Auditor at Incorporation (meaning a person who becomes a financial auditor at the incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter.)
(4) Persons who are prescribed in articles of incorporation as Directors at Incorporation (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, Directors at Incorporation who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members at Incorporation or other Directors at Incorporation; the same shall apply in this paragraph hereinafter), Accounting Advisors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation, and Financial Auditors at Incorporation shall be deemed to be elected as Directors at Incorporation, Accounting Advisors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation, and Financial Auditors at Incorporation, respectively, upon the fulfillment of the Performance of Contributions.
Article 39 (1) In cases where a Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Board of Directors, there shall be three or more Directors at Incorporation.
(2) In cases where a Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Board of Company Auditors, there shall be three or more Company Auditors at Incorporation.
(3) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, Directors at Incorporation who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members at Incorporation shall be three persons or more.
(4) A person who may not be a director (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member or other director), accounting advisor, company auditor or financial auditor of a Stock Company after formation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 331 (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 335(1)), Article 333(1) or (3), or Article 337(1) or (3) may not become a Director at Incorporation (in cases where a Stock Company after incorporation is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation or other Director at Incorporation), an Accounting Advisor at Incorporation, a Company Auditor at Incorporation, or a Financial Auditor at Incorporation (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Officers, etc. at Incorporation"), respectively.

(Method of Election of Officers, etc. at Incorporation)
Article 40 (1) The election of the Officers, etc. at Incorporation shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the incorporators.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, an incorporator shall be entitled to one vote for each one Share Issued at Incorporation for which the Performance of Contributions has been fulfilled; provided, however, that, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, he/she shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if it issues Shares Issued at Incorporation of a class for which it is provided that the voting rights may not be exercised in connection with the election of some or all of the directors, with respect to such class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation, the incorporators may not exercise voting rights in connection with the election of the Directors at Incorporation who are to become such directors.
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provision of the preceding paragraph in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, ", director" in said paragraph shall be deem to be replaced with ", director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member or other director," and "such director" shall be deemed to be replaced with "these directors."
(5) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the election of Accounting Advisors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation and Financial Auditors at Incorporation.

(Special Provisions on the Method of Election of Officers, etc. at Incorporation)
Article 41 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, in cases where, at the incorporation of a Stock Company, it issues shares of a class for which the matters listed in item (ix) of Article 108(1) (limited to those relating to directors (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member or other director)) are provided, the election of the Directors at Incorporation (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation or other Director at Incorporation) shall be determined by a majority of the votes (limited to the votes with respect to such class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation) of the incorporators who subscribed for such class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation, consistently with the provisions of articles of incorporation with respect to the matters provided for in item (ix), paragraph (2) of such Article.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, an incorporator shall be entitled to one vote for each one Share Issued at Incorporation of such class for which the Performance of Contributions is fulfilled; provided, however, that, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, he/she shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class.
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where the shares of a class for which matters listed in item (ix), paragraph (1) of Article 108 (limited to those relating to company auditors) are provided are issued at incorporation of the Stock Company.

(Dismissal of Officers, etc. at Incorporation)
Article 42 The incorporators may dismiss the Officers, etc. at Incorporation elected by the incorporators (including those deemed to be elected as the Officers, etc. at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 38(4)) at any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company.

(Method of Dismissal of Officers, etc. at Incorporation)
Article 43 (1) Dismissal of the Officers, etc. at Incorporation shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the incorporators (or by a majority of two thirds or more in case of dismissal of a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation or a Company Auditor at Incorporation).
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, an incorporator shall be entitled to one vote for each one Share Issued at Incorporation for which the Performance of Contributions has been fulfilled; provided, however, that, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, he/she shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if it issues Shares Issued at Incorporation of a class for which it is provided that the voting rights may not be exercised in connection with the dismissal of some or all of the directors, with respect to such class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation, the incorporators may not exercise voting rights in connection with the dismissal of the Directors at Incorporation who are to become such directors.
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provision of the preceding paragraph in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, ", director" in said paragraph shall be deem to be replaced with ", director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member or other director," and "such director" shall be deemed to be replaced with "these directors."
(5) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the dismissal of Accounting Advisors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation and Financial Auditors at Incorporation.

(Special Provisions on Method of Dismissal of Directors at Incorporation)
Article 44 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the dismissal of Director(s) at Incorporation (excluding a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation; the same shall apply in the following paragraph and paragraph (4)) who is elected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 41 shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the incorporators relating to such election.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that a director (excluding a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member; the same shall apply in paragraph (4)) who is elected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 41, or is elected at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders (referring to Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders provided for in Article 84) or at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders may be dismissed by a resolution of the shareholders meeting, the dismissal of the Director at Incorporation who is elected pursuant to Article 41 (1) shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the incorporators.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, an incorporator shall be entitled to one vote for each one Share Issued at Incorporation of such class for which the Performance of Contributions is fulfilled; provided, however, that, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, he/she shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where a Director at Incorporation is to be dismissed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) above, if Shares Issued at Incorporation of a class for which it is provided that the voting rights may not be exercised in connection with the dismissal of some or all of the directors are to be issued, with respect to such class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation, the incorporators may not exercise voting rights in connection with the dismissal of the Directors at Incorporation who are to become such directors.
(5) The provisions of the preceding four paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to the dismissal of Directors at Incorporation who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members at Incorporation elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 41 (1) and Company Auditors at Incorporation who are elected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of that Article which shall be applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (3) of such Article. In such case, the term "majority" in paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) shall be deemed to be replaced with "majority of two thirds or more."

(Special Provisions on Effect of Election or Dismissal of Officers, etc. at Incorporation)
Article 45 (1) In cases where, at the incorporation of a Stock Company, it issues shares of a class for which the matters listed in item (viii) of Article 108(1) are provided, if there are provisions in the articles of incorporation to the effect that a resolution of the General Meeting of Class Shareholders is required with respect to the matters listed in the following items as the features of the shares of such class, the matters provided for in each of such items shall not become effective unless, in addition to the determination pursuant to the provisions of Article 40(1) or Article 43(1), there is a determination by a majority of the votes (limited to the votes with respect to the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class) of the incorporators who subscribe for the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class in accordance with the applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation:
(i) Election or dismissal of some or all of the directors (excluding director of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee): Election or dismissal of Directors at Incorporation who are to become such directors;
(ii) Election or dismissal of some or all of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors: Election or dismissal of Directors at Incorporation who are to become these directors;
(iii) Election or dismissal of some or all of the accounting advisors: Election or dismissal of Accounting Advisors at Incorporation who are to become such accounting advisors;
(iv) Election or dismissal of some or all of the company auditors: Election or dismissal of Company Auditors at Incorporation who are to become such company auditors; and
(v) Election or dismissal of some or all of the financial auditors: Election or dismissal of Financial Auditors at Incorporation who are to become such financial auditors.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, an incorporator shall be entitled to one vote for each one Share Issued at Incorporation of such class for which the Performance of Contributions is fulfilled; provided, however, that, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, he/she shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class.
Section 5 Investigation by Directors at Incorporation
Article 46 (1) The Directors at Incorporation (referring to the Directors at Incorporation and Company Auditor at Incorporation in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Company Auditor(s). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.) shall investigate the following matters without delay after their election:
(i) That, with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind in the cases listed in item (i) or item (ii) of Article 33(10) (if listed in such item, limited to the securities under such item), the value specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation is reasonable;
(ii) That the verification provided for in item (iii) of Article 33(10) is appropriate;
(iii) That the Performance of Contributions has been fulfilled; and
(iv) That, in addition to the matters listed in the preceding three items, the procedures for the incorporation of the Stock Company do not violate the applicable laws and regulations or articles of incorporation.
(2) If, as a result of the investigation pursuant to the preceding paragraph, the Directors at Incorporation find that there is any violation of the applicable laws and regulations or articles of incorporation or there is any inappropriate matter in a matter listed in any item of such paragraph, directors shall give notice to such effect to the incorporator;
(3) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., the Director at Incorporation shall give the Representative Executive Officer at Incorporation (referring to the Representative Executive Officer at Incorporation provided for in item (iii) of Article 48(1)) notice to the effect that the investigation under paragraph (1) has been completed, or, if the notice under the preceding paragraph has been given, notice that such notice was given and a description of the contents thereof.
Section 6 Appointment etc. of Representative Directors at Incorporation etc.

(Appointment etc. of Representative Directors at Incorporation)
Article 47 (1) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Board of Directors (excluding a Company with Nominating Committees, etc.), the Directors at Incorporation shall appoint among the Directors at Incorporation (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, excluding a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation) a person who shall be the Representative Director (meaning the director who represents the Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter.) as at incorporation of the Stock Company (hereinafter referred to as "Representative Director at Incorporation").
(2) The Directors at Incorporation may remove the Representative Director at Incorporation at any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company.
(3) The appointment and removal of the Representative Director at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall be determined by a majority of the Directors at Incorporation.

(Appointment of Committee Members at Incorporation)
Article 48 (1) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., the Director at Incorporation shall:
(i) appoint the following persons (in the next paragraph referred to as "Committee Members at Incorporation") among the Directors at Incorporation:
(a) Persons who shall be members of the nominating committee at incorporation of the Stock Company:
(b) Persons who shall be committee members of the audit committee at incorporation of the Stock Company:
(c) Persons who shall be committee members of the compensation committee at incorporation of the Stock Company:
(ii) elect persons who shall be the executive officers at incorporation of the Stock Company (hereinafter referred to as "Executive Officers at Incorporation"); and
(iii) appoint among the Executive Officers at Incorporation the persons who shall be the representative executive officers at incorporation of the Stock Company (hereinafter referred to as "Representative Executive Officers at Incorporation"); provided, however, that, if there is only one Executive Officer at Incorporation, such person shall be deemed to have been appointed as the Representative Executive Officer at Incorporation.
(2) At any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company, the Directors at Incorporation may remove the Committee Members at Incorporation or the Representative Executive Officers at Incorporation, or dismiss the Executive Officers at Incorporation.
(3) The decision pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall be made by a majority of the Directors at Incorporation.
Section 7 Formation of Stock Companies

(Formation of Stock Companies)
Article 49 A Stock Company shall be formed by the registration of the incorporation at the location of its head office.

(Right of Subscribers of Shares)
Article 50 (1) As at formation of a Stock Company, the incorporator shall be a shareholder for the Shares Issued at Incorporation for which the Performance of Contributions has been fulfilled.
(2) The transfer of the right to become a shareholder pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may not be asserted against the Stock Company after the formation.

(Restrictions on Invalidation or Rescission of Subscription)
Article 51 (1) The proviso to Article 93 and the provisions of Article 94(1) of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896) shall not apply to the manifestation of intention relating to the subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation.
(2) After the formation of the Stock Company, the incorporator(s) may not assert the invalidity of his/her subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation on the grounds of mistake, nor rescind his/her subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation on the grounds of fraud or duress.
Section 8 Liability of Incorporators

(Liability for Insufficiency of Value of Properties Contributed)
Article 52 (1) If the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind at formation of a Stock Company is substantially short of the value specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation with respect to such Properties Contributed in Kind (or if there is any amendment of the articles of incorporation, the value so amended), the incorporators and Directors at Incorporation shall be jointly and severally liable to such Stock Company for the payment of the amount of such shortfall.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the incorporators (in this paragraph and in item (ii) excluding those who contributed in kind under item (i) of Article 28 or the transferor of the property under item (ii) of the same Article) and Directors at Incorporation shall not be held liable in accordance with such paragraph with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind in the following cases:
(i) Where the investigation by the inspector under Article 33(2) has been carried out with respect to the matters listed in item (i) or item (ii) of Article 28; or
(ii) Where such incorporators or Directors at Incorporation prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(3) In the cases set forth in paragraph (1), the person who carried out the verification provided for in item (iii) of Article 33(10) (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Verifier") shall be jointly and severally liable with the person who assumes the liability under paragraph (1) for the payment of the amount of the shortfall under such paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such Verifier prove that he/she did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the carrying out such verification.

(Responsibility, etc. in Cases of Disguising Performance of Contributions)
Article 52-2 (1) In the cases listed in the following items, incorporators shall be liable to perform the act specified in said items for a Stock Company:
(i) In cases of disguising payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 34(1): Payment of all monies related to the contributions for which the payment is disguised; or
(ii) In cases of disguising the delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 34(1): Delivery of all properties other than monies related to the contributions for which the delivery is disguised (in cases where a Stock Company demands payment of monies equivalent to the value of said property in lieu of said payment, the payment of the entire amount of said monies).
(2) In the cases listed in items of the preceding paragraph, incorporators who are involved in disguising the performance of the contributions or persons who are prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a Director at Incorporation shall be liable to make the payments prescribed in said items to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the persons (excluding the person who disguised the performance of said contributions) prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(3) In cases where incorporators are liable to make the payments prescribed in the items of paragraph (1), when the persons prescribed in the preceding paragraph assume the obligation set forth in such paragraph, such persons shall be joint and several obligors.
(4) In the cases listed in each item of paragraph (1), incorporators may exercise the rights of Shareholders at Incorporation (meaning Shareholders at Incorporation as prescribed in Article 65 (1)) and Shareholders of the Shares Issued at Incorporation disguised the performance of contribution only after the payment or delivery specified in such items or the payment prescribed in paragraph (2) is made.
(5) A person who accepts transfer of Shares Issued at Incorporation as set forth in the preceding paragraph or a right to become their shareholders may exercise the right of Shareholders at Incorporation and shareholders pertaining to such Shares Issued at Incorporation; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the person was in bad faith or with gross negligence.

(Liability for Damages of Incorporators)
Article 53 (1) If an incorporator, Director at Incorporation or Company Auditor at Incorporation neglects his/her duties with respect to the incorporation of a Stock Company, he/she shall be liable to such Stock Company for damages arising as a result thereof.
(2) If an incorporator, Director at Incorporation or Company Auditor at Incorporation are in bad faith or with gross negligence in performing his/her duties, such incorporator, Director at Incorporation or Auditor at Incorporation shall be liable to a third party for damages arising as a result thereof.

(Joint and Several Liabilities of Incorporators)
Article 54 In cases where an incorporator, a Director at Incorporation or a Company Auditor at Incorporation is liable for damages arising in the Stock Company or a third party, if other incorporators, Directors at Incorporation or Company Auditors at Incorporation are also liable, such persons shall be joint and several obligors.

(Exemption from Liability)
Article 55 An exemption from the obligations assumed by an incorporator or Director at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 52(1), obligations assumed by an incorporator pursuant to the provisions of Article 52-2 (1), obligations assumed by an incorporator or Director at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of that Article, and the liability assumed by an incorporator, Director at Incorporation or Company Auditor at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 53(1) may not be given without the consent of all shareholders.

(Liability in cases of Failure to Form a Stock Company)
Article 56 If the formation of a Stock Company fails, the incorporator(s) shall be jointly and severally liable for any act committed in connection with the incorporation of the Stock Company, and shall bear the costs expended in connection with the incorporation of the Stock Company.
Section 9 Incorporation by Solicitation
Subsection 1 Solicitation of Persons who Subscribe for Shares Issued at Incorporation

(Solicitation of Persons who Subscribe for Shares Issued at Incorporation)
Article 57 (1) Pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection, the incorporators may provide to the effect that subscribers be solicited for the Shares Issued at Incorporation.
(2) Incorporators intending to provide to the effect that the solicitation under the preceding paragraph be carried out shall obtain the consent of all incorporators.

(Provision for Matters regarding Shares Solicited at Incorporation)
Article 58 (1) Whenever the incorporator intends to carry out the solicitation under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, he/she shall decide the following matters with respect to the Shares Solicited at Incorporation (meaning the Shares Issued at Incorporation that are allotted to the persons who accept the solicitation under such paragraph and apply to subscribe for the Shares Issued at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section.):
(i) The number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, referring to the class(es) and the number of each class of Shares Solicited at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection.);
(ii) The Amount to be Paid In for Shares Issued at Incorporation (meaning the amount of money which is to be paid in in exchange for one Share Solicited at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection.);
(iii) The date by or period during which payment is to be made of the money to be paid in in exchange for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation;
(iv) If there is any arrangement that subscriptions for Shares Solicited at Incorporation may be rescinded in cases where the registration of incorporation is not effected by a certain date, a statement of such arrangement and such date.
(2) If the incorporator intends to determine the matters listed in any item of the preceding paragraph, he/she shall obtain the consent of all incorporators.
(3) The conditions for the solicitation under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, such as the Amount to be Paid In for Shares Solicited at Incorporation, shall be decided uniformly for each such solicitation (or, in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, for each such class and solicitation).

(Subscription for Shares Solicited at Incorporation)
Article 59 (1) The incorporator shall notify the person who, in response to the solicitation under paragraph (1) of Article 57, intends to apply to subscribe for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation of the following matters:
(i) The date of the certification of the articles of incorporation and the name of the notary public who effected such certification;
(ii) The matters listed in each item of Article 27, each item of Article 28, each item of Article 32(1) and each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article;
(iii) The value of the property contributed by the incorporator(s);
(iv) The place designated for payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 63(1);
(v) In addition to the foregoing, any other matters provided by applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) In cases where not all of the incorporators fulfill the Performance of Contributions, the incorporators may not give the notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph until after the date provided for in Article 36(1).
(3) A person who intends to apply to subscribe for Shares Solicited at Incorporation in response to a solicitation under Article 57(1) shall deliver a document giving the following information to the incorporators:
(i) The name and address of the person who intends to apply; and
(ii) The number of Shares Solicited at Incorporation that he/she intends to subscribe for.
(4) A person who submits the application referred to in the preceding paragraph may, in lieu of delivering a document as referred to in that paragraph, provide the information that is required to be detailed in the document referred to in that paragraph by electronic or magnetic means, with the approval of the incorporators and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, the person who submitted the application shall be deemed to have given a document under such paragraph.
(5) If there are changes in the matters listed in any item of paragraph (1), the incorporators shall immediately notify persons who submitted applications under paragraph (3) (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Applicants") thereof and of the matters so changed.
(6) It would be sufficient for a notice or demand to an Applicant by the incorporators to be sent to the address under item (i) of paragraph (3) (or, in cases where such Applicant notifies the incorporators of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demand, to such place or contact address).
(7) The notice or demand referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.

(Allotment of Shares Solicited at Incorporation)
Article 60 (1) The incorporators shall specify from among the Applicants the persons to whom the Shares Solicited at Incorporation are allotted, and specify the number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation that are allotted to such persons. In such cases, the incorporators may reduce the number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation to be allotted to such Applicants to less than the number referred to in item (ii), paragraph (3) of the preceding Article.
(2) The incorporator shall notify the Applicant, no later than the day immediately preceding the date referred to in item (iii) of Article 58(1) (or, in case a period is specified under that item, no later than the day immediately preceding the first day of that period), of the number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation that are allotted to such Applicant.

(Special Provisions on the Subscription for and Allotment of Shares Solicited at Incorporation)
Article 61 The provisions of the preceding two Articles shall not apply in cases where persons who intend to subscribe for Shares Solicited at Incorporation execute contracts for subscriptions for the total number of those shares.

(Subscriptions for Shares Solicited at Incorporation)
Article 62 The persons listed in the following items shall be the subscribers for the number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation provided for in each such item with respect to the Shares Solicited at Incorporation:
(i) Applicants: The number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation as allotted by the incorporators; or
(ii) Persons who subscribed for the total number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation under the contracts referred to in the preceding Article: The number of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation for which such persons have subscribed.

(Payment of Amount to be Paid In for Shares Solicited at Incorporation)
Article 63 (1) The subscribers for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation shall pay fully the Amount to be Paid In for Shares Solicited at Incorporation for which the subscribers subscribed, at the Bank, Etc. designated for payment by the incorporator(s), no later than the date set forth in item (iii) of Article 58(1) or within the period under that item.
(2) Transfer of the right to become a shareholder of the Shares Issued at Incorporation by effecting payment pursuant to the preceding paragraph may not be asserted against the Stock Company after formation.
(3) If a subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation fails to make payment pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the subscriber shall forfeit the right to become the shareholder of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation by making such payment.

(Certificate of Deposit of Paid Money)
Article 64 (1) In cases where solicitation under Article 57(1) has been carried out, the incorporators may request the Bank, Etc. that handled the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 34(1) and paragraph (1) of the preceding Article to issue a certificate of deposit of a money amount paid in pursuant to such provisions.
(2) The Bank, Etc. that issued the certificate referred to in the preceding paragraph may not assert against the Stock Company after formation any misstatement in such certificate or the existence of restrictions regarding the return of money paid in pursuant to the provisions of Article 34(1) or paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
Subsection 2 Organizational Meeting

(Calling of Organizational Meetings)
Article 65 (1) In cases where solicitation under Article 57(1) is to be carried out, the incorporator shall call a meeting of the Shareholders at Incorporation (meaning shareholders who shall be the shareholders of the Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 50(1) or Article 102(2). The same shall apply hereinafter.) without delay on and after either the date under item (iii), of Article 58(1) or the last day of the period under such item, whichever comes later. (Such meeting is referred to as "Organizational Meeting" hereinafter.)
(2) In the cases referred to in the preceding paragraph, the incorporators may call an Organizational Meeting at any time when the incorporators find it necessary.

(Authority of Organizational Meetings)
Article 66 An Organizational Meeting may resolve only the matters provided for in this Section, the discontinuation of the incorporation of a Stock Company, the conclusion of an Organizational Meeting and other matters regarding the incorporation of a Stock Company.

(Determinations to Call Organizational Meetings)
Article 67 (1) The incorporators shall decide the following matters in cases where the incorporators call an Organizational Meeting:
(i) The date, time and place of the Organizational Meeting;
(ii) The purpose(s) of the Organizational Meeting;
(iii) That Shareholders at Incorporation who do not attend the Organizational Meeting may exercise their votes in writing, if so arranged;
(iv) That Shareholders at Incorporation who do not attend the Organizational Meeting may exercise their votes by electronic or magnetic means, if so arranged;
(v) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding items, any matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) In cases where the number of the Shareholders at Incorporation (excluding Shareholders at Incorporation who may not exercise votes on all matters which may be resolved at Organizational Meetings. The same shall apply in the next Article through Article 71.) is one thousand or more, the incorporators shall decide the matters listed in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph.

(Notices of Calling of Organizational Meetings)
Article 68 (1) In order to call an Organizational Meeting, incorporators shall dispatch notice thereof to the Shareholders at Incorporation no later than two weeks (or one week if the Stock Company to be incorporated is not a Public Company, except in cases where the matters listed in item (iii) or item (iv) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are decided (or if a shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Stock Company other than a Company with Board of Directors, such shorter period of time)) prior to the day of the Organizational Meeting.
(2) The notice referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be in writing in the following cases:
(i) Where the matters listed in item (iii) or item (iv) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are decided; or
(ii) Where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Board of Directors.
(3) In lieu of the dispatch of the written notice referred to in the preceding paragraph, the incorporators may dispatch the notice by electronic or magnetic means, with the consent of the Shareholders at Incorporation, in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Cabinet Order. In such cases, such incorporators shall be deemed to have dispatched the written notice under such paragraph.
(4) The notice under the preceding two paragraphs shall specify or record the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(5) It would be sufficient for a notice or demand to a Shareholder at Incorporation by the incorporators to be sent to the address under item (v) of Article 27, or item (i) of Article 59(3) (or, in cases where such Shareholder at Incorporation notifies the incorporator of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or letters of demand, to such place or contact address).
(6) The notice or demand referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.
(7) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a writing is given to the Shareholders at Incorporation when giving the notice referred to in paragraph (1), or to cases where the information to be detailed in such writing is provided by electronic or magnetic means. In such case, the term "to have arrived" in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "to have been given in such writing or to have been provided by electronic or magnetic means with such information."

(Omission of Calling Procedures)
Article 69 Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, Organizational Meetings may be held without the procedures of calling if the consent of all Shareholders at Incorporation is obtained; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the matters listed in item (iii) or item (iv) of Article 67(1) are decided.

(Giving of Reference Documents for Organizational Meeting and Voting Card)
Article 70 (1) In cases where the matters listed in item (iii) of Article 67(1) are decided, the incorporators shall, when dispatching a notice under Article 68(1), give the Shareholders at Incorporation documents stating matters of reference for the exercise of votes (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as " Reference Documents for Organizational Meeting") and documents to be used by the Shareholders at Incorporation to exercise votes (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Voting Card"), as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) If the incorporators dispatch notices by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 68(3) to Shareholders at Incorporation who have given consent under the same paragraph, the incorporators may provide, in lieu of the giving of Reference Documents for Organizational Meeting and Voting Card pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the information to be detailed in such documents by electronic or magnetic means; provided, however, that, if requested by any Shareholder at Incorporation, the incorporators shall give these documents to such Shareholder at Incorporation.
Article 71 (1) In cases where the matters listed in item (iv) of Article 67(1) are decided, the incorporators shall, when dispatching notice under Article 68(1), give the Shareholders at Incorporation the Reference Documents for Organizational Meeting as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) If the incorporators dispatch notices by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 68(3) to Shareholders at Incorporation who have given consent under the same paragraph, the incorporators may provide, in lieu of the giving of Reference Documents for Organizational Meeting pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the information to be detailed in such documents by electronic or magnetic means; provided, however, that, if requested by any Shareholder at Incorporation, the incorporators shall give the Reference Documents for Organizational Meeting to such Shareholders at Incorporation.
(3) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1), when using electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 68(3) to notify Shareholders at Incorporation that have given the consent referred to in that paragraph, the incorporators must use those electronic or magnetic means to provide the Shareholders at Incorporation with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card, as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1), if any Shareholder at Incorporation who has not given consent under Article 68(3) requests, no later than one week prior to the day of the Organizational Meeting, to be provided with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card by electronic or magnetic means, the incorporators shall use electronic or magnetic means to immediately provide the Shareholder at Incorporation with that information, as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Number of Votes)
Article 72 (1) Shareholders at Incorporation (excluding Shareholders at Incorporation prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as entities in a relationship that may allow the Stock Company after the formation to have substantial control of such entity through the holding of one quarter or more of the votes of all shareholders of such entity or other reasons) shall be entitled to one vote for each one Share Issued at Incorporation for which they subscribed at Organizational Meetings; provided, however, that, in cases where a Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, he/she shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation.
(2) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if it issues Shares Issued at Incorporation of a class that has restrictions on matters for which votes may be exercised at the shareholders meeting, the Shareholders at Incorporation may exercise, at the Organizational Meeting, votes with respect to such Shares Issued at Incorporation only in relation to matters that are equivalent to the matters for which they may exercise the votes at the shareholders meeting.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, Shareholders at Incorporation may exercise votes with respect to the Shares Issued at Incorporation for which they subscribed in relation to the discontinuation of the incorporation of the Stock Company.

(Resolutions of Organizational Meetings)
Article 73 (1) Resolutions of an Organizational Meeting shall be made by a majority of the votes of the Shareholders at Incorporation entitled to exercise their votes at such Organizational Meeting, being a majority of two thirds or more of the votes of such Shareholders at Incorporation who are present at the meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where the articles of incorporation are amended creating a provision to the effect that, as a feature of all shares issued by a Stock Company, the approval of such Stock Company is required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer (excluding cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares), the resolution of the Organizational Meeting with respect to such amendment in the articles of incorporation shall be made by a majority of the Shareholders at Incorporation entitled to exercise their votes at such Organizational Meeting, being a majority of two thirds or more of the votes of such Shareholders at Incorporation.
(3) In cases where it is intended to create, as a feature of all shares issued by a Stock Company, any provision in articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in item (iii) Article 107(1) by amending the articles of incorporation, or to effect any amendment (excluding that which repeals provisions of the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters) in the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters (excluding cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares), the consent of all Shareholders at Incorporation shall be obtained.
(4) An Organizational Meeting may not resolve matters other than the matters listed in item (ii) of Article 67(1); provided, however, that this shall not apply to amendment in the articles of incorporation or discontinuation of the incorporation of a Stock Company.

(Proxy Voting)
Article 74 (1) Shareholders at Incorporation may exercise their votes by proxy. In such cases, such Shareholders at Incorporation or proxies shall submit to the incorporators a document evidencing the authority of proxy.
(2) The grant of the authority of proxy under the preceding paragraph shall be made for each Organizational Meeting.
(3) The Shareholders at Incorporation or proxies referred to in paragraph (1) may, in lieu of submitting a document evidencing the authority of proxy, use electronic or magnetic means to provide the incorporators with the information that is required to be detailed in such a document, with the approval of the incorporators and pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Cabinet Order. In such cases, such Shareholders at Incorporation or proxies shall be deemed to have submitted such document.
(4) In cases where the Shareholders at Incorporation are persons who gave consent under Article 68(3), the incorporators may not refuse to grant the approval under the preceding paragraph without justifiable reasons.
(5) The incorporators may restrict the number of proxies who may attend the Organizational Meeting.
(6) The incorporators (or the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (3) of the following Article and Article 76(4)) shall keep the documents evidencing the authority of proxy and any electronic or magnetic record in which the information with which it has been provided by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in paragraph (3) has been recorded at a place designated by the incorporators (or at the head office of the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (3) of the following Article and Article 76(4)) for the period of three months from the day of the Organizational Meeting.
(7) The Shareholders at Incorporation (or the shareholders of the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (4) of the following Article and Article 76(5).) may submit the following request at any time during the hours designated by the incorporators (or during the business hours of the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (4) of the following Article and Article 76(5).):
(i) Requests for the inspection or copying of the documents evidencing the authority of proxy; and
(ii) Requests to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Voting in Writing)
Article 75 (1) The exercise of voting rights in writing shall be effected by entering the Voting Card with the necessary matters and submitting it to the incorporators no later than the time prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) The number of the votes exercised in writing pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be included in the number of the votes of the Shareholders at Incorporation who are present at the meeting.
(3) The incorporators shall keep the Voting Cards submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) at a place designated by the incorporators for the period of three months from the day of the Organizational Meeting.
(4) The Shareholders at Incorporation may make requests for the inspection or copying of the Voting Cards submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) at any time during the hours designated by the incorporators.

(Voting by Electronic or Magnetic Means)
Article 76 (1) The exercise of voting rights by electronic or magnetic means shall be effected by using electronic or magnetic means to provide the incorporators with the information that is required to be entered in the Voting Card no later than the time prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, with the approval of the incorporators and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(2) In cases where the Shareholders at Incorporation are persons who have given consent under Article 68(3), the incorporators may not refuse to give the approval under the preceding paragraph without justifiable reasons.
(3) The number of the votes exercised by electronic or magnetic means pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be included in the number of the votes of the Shareholders at Incorporation who are present at the meeting.
(4) The incorporators shall keep any electronic or magnetic record in which the information with which they have been provided pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is recorded at a place designated by the incorporators for the period of three months from the day of the Organizational Meeting.
(5) The Shareholders at Incorporation may, at any time during the hours designated by the incorporators, request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the data recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Diverse Exercise of Votes)
Article 77 (1) Shareholders at Incorporation may diversely exercise the votes they hold. In such cases, the shareholders shall notify the incorporators to such effect and of the reasons for the same no later than three days prior to the day of the Organizational Meeting.
(2) If the Shareholders at Incorporation referred to in the preceding paragraph are not persons who subscribed for the Shares Issued at Incorporation on behalf of others, the incorporators may refuse the diverse exercise of the votes held by such Shareholders at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Accountability of Incorporators)
Article 78 In cases where incorporators are requested by the Shareholders at Incorporation to provide explanations on certain matters at an Organizational Meeting, the incorporators shall provide necessary explanations with respect to such matters; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such matters are not relevant to the matters that are the purpose of the Organizational Meeting, or in cases where such explanations are to the serious detriment of the common interest of the Shareholders at Incorporation, or in other cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where there are justifiable grounds.

(Authority of Chairperson)
Article 79 (1) The chairperson of an Organizational Meeting shall maintain the order of such Organizational Meeting and organize the business of the meeting.
(2) The chairperson of an Organizational Meeting may require anyone who does not comply with his/her orders or who otherwise disturbs the order of such Organizational Meeting to leave the room.

(Resolution for Postponement or Adjournment)
Article 80 In cases where there is a resolution for the postponement or adjournment of an Organizational Meeting, the provisions of Article 67 and Article 68 shall not apply.

(Minutes)
Article 81 (1) Minutes shall be prepared with respect to the business of Organizational Meetings pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) The incorporators (or the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (2) of the following Article.) shall keep the minutes referred to in the preceding paragraph at a place designated by the incorporators (or at the head office of the Stock Company if after the incorporation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (2) of the following Article.) for the period of ten years from the day of the Organizational Meeting.
(3) The Shareholders at Incorporation (or the shareholders and creditors of the Stock Company after the formation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (3) of the following Article.) may submit the following requests at any time during the hours designated by the incorporators (or during the business hours of such Stock Company if after the incorporation of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in such paragraph.):
(i) If the minutes under paragraph (1) are prepared in writing, requests for inspection or copying of such documents; and
(ii) If the minutes under paragraph (1) have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(4) If, after the formation of a Stock Company, it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of such Stock Company, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the minutes referred to in paragraph (1).

(Omission of Resolutions of Organizational Meetings)
Article 82 (1) In cases where incorporators submit a proposal with respect to any matter that is the purpose of an Organizational Meeting, if all Shareholders at Incorporation (limited to those who may exercise their votes with respect to such matter) manifest their intention to agree to such proposal in writing or using an electronic or magnetic record, it shall be deemed that a resolution to approve such proposal at an Organizational Meeting has been made.
(2) The incorporators shall keep the documents or an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the provisions of the preceding paragraph at a place designated by the incorporators for the period of ten years from the day when the resolution of the Organizational Meeting is deemed to have been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(3) The Shareholders at Incorporation may submit the following requests at any time during the hours designated by the incorporators:
(i) Requests for inspection or copying of the documents under the preceding paragraph; and
(ii) Requests to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(4) If, after the formation of a Stock Company, it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of such Stock Company, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the documents or an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in paragraph (2).

(Omission of Reports to Organizational Meetings)
Article 83 In cases where the incorporators notify all Shareholders at Incorporation of any matter that is to be reported to an Organizational Meeting, if all Shareholders at Incorporation manifest in writing or using an electronic or magnetic record their intention to agree that it is not necessary to report such matter to the Organizational Meeting, it shall be deemed that such matter has been reported to the Organizational Meeting.

(Cases of Provision Requiring Resolution of General Meeting of Class Shareholders)
Article 84 In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if there is a provision, as a feature of a certain class of shares to be issued as at the incorporation, to the effect that, with respect to the matter that is subject to the resolution of a shareholders meeting, in addition to such resolution, the resolution of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class of shares is required, such matter shall not become effective unless the resolution is made at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders (meaning a meeting of Class Shareholders at Incorporation (as defined below) of a certain class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter.) constituted by the Class Shareholders at Incorporation (meaning the Shareholders at Incorporation of a certain class of Shares Issued at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section.) of the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class in addition to the resolution of the Organizational Meeting, consistently with the provisions of articles of incorporation; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the case where there exists no Class Shareholder at Incorporation who may exercise the votes at such Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders.

(Calling and Resolutions of Organizational Meetings of Class Shareholders)
Article 85 (1) In cases where a resolution of an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders is to be made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, Article 90(1) (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of the same Article), Article 92(1) (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of the same Article), Article 100(1) or Article 101(1), the incorporators shall call an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders.
(2) Resolutions of an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders shall be made by a majority of the votes of the Class Shareholders at Incorporation who are entitled to exercise their votes at such Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders, being a majority of two thirds or more of the votes of such Class Shareholders at Incorporation who are present at the meeting.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, resolutions under Article 100(1) shall be made by a majority of the Class Shareholders at Incorporation who are entitled to exercise their votes at such Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders, being a majority of two thirds or more of the votes of such Class Shareholders at Incorporation.

(Mutatis Mutandis Application of Provisions regarding Organizational Meetings)
Article 86 The provisions of Article 67 through Article 71, Article 72(1), and Article 74 through Article 82 shall apply mutatis mutandis to Organizational Meetings of Class Shareholders. In such cases, the term "Shareholders at Incorporation" in item (iii) and item (iv) of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 67, paragraph (1) and paragraph (3) of Article 68, Article 69 through Article 71, paragraph (1) of Article 72, paragraph (1), paragraph (3) and paragraph (4) of Article 74, paragraph (2) of Article 75, paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) of Article 76, Article 77, the main clause of Article 78 and paragraph (1) of Article 82 shall be deemed to be replaced with as "Class Shareholders at Incorporation (meaning Shareholders at Incorporation for a certain class of Shares Issued at Incorporation)."
Subsection 3 Reporting of Matters regarding Incorporation
Article 87 (1) The incorporators shall report matters regarding the incorporation of a Stock Company to an Organizational Meeting.
(2) In the cases listed in the following items, the incorporators shall submit or provide to an Organizational Meeting a document or an electronic or magnetic record in which the information provided for in such items has been detailed or recorded:
(i) In cases where articles of incorporation provide for the matters listed in each item of Article 28 (excluding the matters provided for in each item of Article 33(10) in cases listed in such items): The content of the report referred to of Article 33(4) of the inspector under paragraph (2) thereof; and
(ii) In the case listed in item (iii) of Article 33(10): The content of the verification provided in such item.
Subsection 4 Election and Dismissal of Director at Incorporation

(Election of Directors at Incorporation)
Article 88 (1) In cases where the solicitation under Article 57(1) is carried out, the election of the Directors at Incorporation, Accounting Advisors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation and Financial Auditors at Incorporation shall be made by the resolution of an Organizational Meeting.
(2) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, election of a Director at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be implemented by distinguishing a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation and other directors.

(Election of Directors at Incorporation by Cumulative Vote)
Article 89 (1) In cases where the purpose of an Organizational Meeting is the election of two or more Directors at Incorporation (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation or other Director at Incorporation; the same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), the Shareholders at Incorporation (limited to the Shareholders at Incorporation entitled to exercise their votes with respect to the election of the Directors at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) may request the incorporators that the Directors at Incorporation be elected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) through paragraph (5), except as otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.
(2) The request under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made no later than five days prior to the day of the Organizational Meeting referred to in the same paragraph.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 72(1), in cases where a request is made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), a Shareholder at Incorporation shall be entitled to such number of votes as is equal to the number of the Directors at Incorporation to be elected in such Organizational Meeting, for each one Share Issued at Incorporation for which he/she subscribed (or, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, for each one unit of the Shares Issued at Incorporation for which he/she subscribed) with respect to the resolution of the election of the Directors at Incorporation. In such cases, the Shareholder at Incorporation may exercise his/her votes by casting votes for only one candidate or for two or more candidates.
(4) In the cases set forth in the preceding paragraph, the Directors at Incorporation shall be elected in the order of the votes obtained by respective candidates.
(5) In addition to the matters provided for in the preceding two paragraphs, necessary matters regarding the election of Directors at Incorporation in cases where a request has been made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Election of Directors at Incorporation by Resolutions of Organizational Meetings of Class Shareholders)
Article 90 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 88, in cases where, at incorporation of the Stock Company, it issues shares of a class for which the matters listed in item (ix) of Article 108(1) (limited to those relating to directors (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors)) are provided, the Directors at Incorporation (in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, Directors at Incorporation who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members at Incorporation or other Directors at Incorporation) shall be elected by a resolution of an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders at Incorporation of such class of Shares Issued at Incorporation, consistently with the provisions of articles of incorporation with respect to the matters provided for in item (ix), paragraph (2) of such Article.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where the shares of a class for which matters listed in item (ix), Article 108(1) (limited to those relating to company auditors) are provided are issued at incorporation of the Stock Company.

(Dismissal of Directors at Incorporation)
Article 91 Directors at Incorporation, Accounting Advisors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation or Financial Auditors at Incorporation who are elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 88 may be dismissed by resolution of an Organizational Meeting at any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company.
Article 92 (1) Directors at Incorporation who are elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 90(1) may be dismissed by a resolution of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders at Incorporation of such class of Shares Issued at Incorporation relating to such election at any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where there is a provision in articles of incorporation to the effect that a director who is elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 41(1), or at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders or at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders may be dismissed by a resolution of the shareholders meeting, a Director at Incorporation who is elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 90(1) may be dismissed by a resolution of an Organizational Meeting at any time prior to the formation of the Stock Company.
(3) When applying provisions of the preceding paragraph in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "a director" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member or other directors," and "a Director at Incorporation" shall be deemed to be replaced with "a Director at Incorporation who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member at Incorporation or other Directors at Incorporation" respectively
(3) The provisions of of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Company Auditor at Incorporation who is elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 90(1) applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of such Article.
Subsection 5 Investigation by Directors at Incorporation

(Investigation by Directors at Incorporation)
Article 93 (1) The Directors at Incorporation (referring to the Directors at Incorporation and Company Auditors at Incorporation in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Company Auditor(s). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.) shall investigate the following matters without delay after their election:
(i) That, with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind in the cases listed in item (i) or item (ii) of Article 33(10) (if listed in such item, limited to the securities under such item), the value specified or recorded in the articles of incorporation is reasonable;
(ii) That the verification provided for in item (iii) of Article 33(10) is appropriate;
(iii) That the Performance of Contributions by the incorporators and the payments pursuant to the provisions of Article 63(1) have been fulfilled; and
(iv) That, in addition to the matters listed in the preceding three items, the procedures for the incorporation of the Stock Company do not violate applicable laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation.
(2) The Directors at Incorporation shall report the outcome of the investigations pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph to an Organizational Meeting.
(3) In cases where incorporators are asked by the Shareholders at Incorporation to provide explanations on the matters regarding the investigation pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph (1) at an Organizational Meeting, the incorporators shall provide necessary explanations with respect to such matters.

(Special Provisions in Case Directors at Incorporation are Incorporators)
Article 94 (1) In cases where some or all of the Directors at Incorporation (or the Directors at Incorporation and Company Auditors at Incorporation in cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Company Auditor(s)) are incorporators, an Organizational Meeting may make a resolution to elect a person to investigate the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(2) A person who is elected pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall conduct the necessary investigation and report the outcome of such investigation to an Organizational Meeting.
Subsection 6 Amendment in Articles of Incorporation

(No Amendment in Articles of Incorporation by Incorporators)
Article 95 In cases where the solicitation under Article 57(1) is carried out, the incorporators may not effect any amendment in the articles of incorporation on and after either the date referred to in item (iii) of Article 58(1) or the first day of the period referred to in the same item, whichever comes earlier, the provisions of Article 33(9) and Article 37(1) and (2) notwithstanding.

(Amendment in Articles of Incorporation at Organizational Meetings)
Article 96 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 30(2), articles of incorporation may be amended by resolution of an Organizational Meeting.

(Rescission of Subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation)
Article 97 In cases where it is resolved at the Organizational Meeting to effect an amendment in the articles of incorporation to change the matters listed in each item of Article 28, the Shareholders at Incorporation who dissented from such amendment at such Organizational Meeting may rescind the manifestation of their intention relating to the subscription for such Shares Issued at Incorporation only within two weeks after such resolution.

(Provision for Total Number of Authorized Shares by Resolutions of Organizational Meetings)
Article 98 If, in cases where the solicitation under Article 57(1) is carried out, the Total Number of Authorized Shares is not provided for in the articles of incorporation, the provision on the Total Number of Authorized Shares shall be created by amending the articles of incorporation prior to the formation of the Stock Company by resolution of an Organizational Meeting.

(Special Provisions on Procedures for Amendment in Articles of Incorporation)
Article 99 In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Classes Shares, if the cases listed in any of the following items apply, the consent of all Class Shareholders at Incorporation of such classes of the Shares Issued at Incorporation in each of such items shall be obtained:
(i) If it is intended to create, as a feature of a certain class of shares, any provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in item (vi) of Article 108(1), or to effect any amendment in the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters (excluding any amendment which repeals the provisions of the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters);
(ii) If it is intended to create any provision in the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 322(2) with respect to a certain class of shares.
Article 100 (1) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if it is intended to create, as a feature of a certain class of shares, any provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in item (iv) or item (vii) of Article 108(1) by amending the articles of incorporation, such amendment in the articles of incorporation shall not become effective unless a resolution is made at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the following Class Shareholders at Incorporation (in cases where there are two or more classes of Shares Issued at Incorporation relating to such Class Shareholders at Incorporation, referring to the respective Organizational Meetings of Class Shareholders constituted by Class Shareholders at Incorporation categorized by the class of such two or more classes of Shares Issued at Incorporation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.); provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where there is no Class Shareholder at Incorporation who may exercise his/her votes at such Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders:
(i) The Class Shareholders at Incorporation of such class of Shares Issued at Incorporation;
(ii) The Class Shareholders at Incorporation of Shares with Put Option for which there is a provision that the "other share" referred to in item (v)(b) of Article 108(2) shall be such class of share; or
(iii) The Class Shareholders at Incorporation of Shares Subject to Call Option for which there is a provision that the "other shares" referred to in item (vi)(b) of Article 108(2) shall be such class of shares;
(2) The Class Shareholders at Incorporation who, at the Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders referred to in the preceding paragraph, dissented from such amendment in the articles of incorporation may rescind the manifestation of their intention relating to the subscription for such Shares Issued at Incorporation only within two weeks after the resolution made by such Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders.
Article 101 (1) In cases where the Stock Company to be incorporated is a Company with Class Shares, if effecting any amendment in articles of incorporation with respect to any of the following matters is likely to cause detriment to the Class Shareholders at Incorporation of any class of Shares Issued at Incorporation, such amendment in the articles of incorporation shall not become effective unless a resolution is made at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders at Incorporation of the Shares Issued at Incorporation of such class (in cases where there are two or more classes of Shares Issued at Incorporation relating to such Class Shareholders at Incorporation, referring to the respective Class Organizational Meetings of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders at Incorporation categorized by the class of such two or more classes of Shares Issued at Incorporation); provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where there is no Class Shareholder at Incorporation who may exercise his/her votes at such Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders:
(i) Creation of a new class of shares;
(ii) Changes in the features of shares;
(iii) Increase of the Total Number of Authorized Shares, or the Total Number of Authorized Shares in a Class (meaning the total number of shares in one class that the Stock Company is authorized to issue. The same shall apply hereinafter.).
(2) In cases where any amendment in the articles of incorporation with respect to the Share Unit is to be effected and there is a provision in the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 322(2) with respect to such amendment in the articles of incorporation, the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to the Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders at Incorporation of such class of the Shares Issued at Incorporation.
Subsection 7 Special Provisions on Incorporation Procedures

(Special Provisions on Incorporation Procedures)
Article 102 (1) A subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation may submit the requests listed in each item of Article 31(2) at any time during the hours designated by the incorporators; provided, however, that, the fees designated by the incorporators are required to be paid in order to submit the requests listed in item (ii) or item (iv) of such paragraph.
(2) As at formation of a Stock Company, the subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation shall become a shareholder of the Shares Issued at Incorporation for which he/she have made payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 63(1).
(3) In cases where a subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation disguised the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 63 (1), he/she may exercise the right of Shareholders at Incorporation and shareholders pertaining to Shares Issued at Incorporation for which the payment is disguised, only after the payment pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article or Article 103 (2) is made.
(4) A person who accepts transfer of Shares Issued at Incorporation as set forth in the preceding paragraph or the right to become their shareholder may exercise the right of Shareholders at Incorporation and shareholders pertaining to such Shares Issued at Incorporation; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the person was in bad faith or with gross negligence.
(5) The proviso to Article 93 and the provisions of Article 94(1) of the Civil Code shall apply to neither offer of subscription for nor allotment of the Shares Solicited at Incorporation, nor to manifestation of intention relating to contracts under Article 61.
(6) The subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation may neither assert the invalidity of the his/her subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation on the ground of mistake, nor rescind his/her subscription for Shares Issued at Incorporation on the ground of fraud or duress after the formation of a Stock Company, or after exercising his/her votes at an Organizational Meeting or Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders.

(Responsibilities of Subscribers for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation for which Payment is Disguised)
Article 102-2 (1) In the case prescribed in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, a subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation shall be liable to pay the entire amount of payment for which the payment was disguised, to the Stock Company.
(2) The obligation assumed by a subscriber for the Shares Solicited at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not be exempted without the consent of all shareholders.

(Liabilities of Incorporators)
Article 103 (1) In cases where the solicitation under of Article 57(1) is carried out, for the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 52(2), "in the following cases" in such paragraph shall be read as "in the cases of item (i)."
(2) In the case prescribed in Article 102 (3), a person prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as an incorporator or Director at Incorporation involved in disguising payment shall be jointly and severally liable with subscribers set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article to make payment prescribed in that paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the person (excluding those persons who disguised said payment) proves that he/she did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of his/her duties.
(3) The obligations assumed by an incorporator or Director at Incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not be exempted without the consent of all shareholders.
(4) In cases where the solicitation under Article 57(1) is carried out, any person (excluding the incorporators) who consents to specifying or recording his/her name and a statement to the effect that he/she supports the incorporation of the Stock Company in a document or an electronic or magnetic record regarding such solicitation, including an advertisement for such solicitation, shall be deemed to be an incorporator and the provisions of the preceding Section and the preceding three paragraphs shall apply.

Chapter II Share
Section 1 General Provisions

(Shareholders' Liabilities)
Article 104 A shareholder's liability shall be limited to the amount of the subscription price of the shares he/she holds.

(Rights of Shareholders)
Article 105 (1) A shareholder shall have the following rights and other rights recognized pursuant to the provisions of this Act with respect to the shares he/she holds:
(i) The right to receive dividends of surplus;
(ii) The right to receive distribution of residual assets;
(iii) The right to cast a vote at shareholders meeting.
(2) Provisions of articles of incorporation that do not give the entirety of the rights listed in item (i) and item (ii) of the preceding paragraph to shareholders shall not be effective.

(Exercise of Rights by Co-owners)
Article 106 If any share is co-owned by two or more persons, the co-owners may not exercise their rights in relation to such share unless they specify one person who exercises the rights in relation to such share, and notify the Stock Company of the name of that person; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Stock Company agrees to the exercise of such rights.

(Special Provision on Features of Shares)
Article 107 (1) A Stock Company may determine the matters listed in the following items as the features of all shares it issues:
(i) That the approval of such Stock Company shall be required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer;
(ii) That shareholders may demand, that such Stock Company acquire such shares held by such shareholders;
(iii) That such Stock Company may acquire such shares on condition of certain grounds arising.
(2) If a Stock Company determines the matters listed in the following items as the features of all shares it issues, it shall provide for the matters prescribed in each such item in the articles of incorporation:
(i) Regarding the fact that the approval of such Stock Company shall be required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer: The matters listed below:
(a) A statement to the effect that the acquisition of such shares by transfer shall require the approval of such Stock Company;
(b) If the Stock Company is deemed to have effected the approval under Article 136 or Article 137 (1) under certain circumstances, a statement to such effect and a description of such circumstances.
(ii) Regarding the fact that shareholders may demand that such Stock Company acquire such shares held by such shareholders: The matters listed below:
(a) A statement to the effect that shareholders may demand that such Stock Company acquire the shares held by such shareholders;
(b) If Bonds of such Stock Company (other than those in relation to Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the description of the classes of such Bonds (referring to the classes defined in Article 681 (i). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Part.) and the total amount for each class of Bonds, or the method for calculating such total amount;
(c) If Share Options of such Stock Company (other than those attached to Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the features and number of such Share Options, or the method for calculating such number;
(d) If Bonds with Share Option of such Stock Company are delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the matters prescribed in (b) with respect to such Bonds with Share Option, and the matters prescribed in (c) with respect to the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option;
(e) If any property other than shares, etc. (referring to shares, Bonds and Share Options. This shall apply hereinafter.) of such Stock Company is delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the description of the features and number or amount of such property, or the method for calculating such number or amount;

(f) The period during which the shareholders may demand that such Stock Company acquire such shares held by such shareholders.
(iii) Regarding the fact that such Stock Company may acquire such shares on condition of certain grounds arising: The matters listed below:
(a) A statement to the effect that such Stock Company will acquire its shares on the day when certain grounds arise, and of such grounds;
(b) If the grounds referred to in (a) will arise with the arrival of a day to be separately specified by such Stock Company, a statement to that effect;
(c) If a portion of the shares referred to in (a) will be acquired on the day the grounds referred to in (a) arise, a statement to that effect and of the method for determining the portion of shares to be acquired;
(d) If Bonds of such Stock Company (other than those of Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the classes of such Bonds and the total amount for each class of Bonds, or the method for calculating such total amounts;
(e) If Share Options of such Stock Company (other than those attached to Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the features and number of such Share Options, or the method for calculating such number;
(f) If Bonds with Share Option of such Stock Company are delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one share of the shares referred to in (a), the matters prescribed in (d) with respect to such Bonds with Share Option, and the matters prescribed in (e) with respect to the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option;
(g) If any property other than shares, etc. of such Stock Company is delivered to such shareholders in exchange for the acquisition of one of the shares referred to in (a), the features and number or amount of such property, or the method for calculating such number or amount.

(Shares of Different Classes)
Article 108 (1) A Stock Company may issue two or more classes of shares with different features which have different provisions on the following matters; provided, however, that a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. and a Public Company may not issue shares of a class that has provisions in relation to the matters listed in item (ix):
(i) Dividends of surplus;
(ii) Distribution of residual assets;
(iii) Capacity to exercise the right to vote at a shareholders meeting;
(iv) That the approval of such Stock Company shall be required for the acquisition of such class shares by transfer;
(v) That shareholders may demand that such Stock Company acquire such class shares held by such shareholders;
(vi) That such Stock Company may acquire such class shares on condition of certain grounds arising;
(vii) That such Stock Company shall acquire all of such class shares by resolution of the shareholders meeting;
(viii) Such of the matters to be resolved at a shareholders meeting (or at a shareholders meeting or board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors, or at a shareholders meeting or board of liquidators meeting for a Company with Board of Liquidators (referring to the Company with Board of Liquidators as provided for Article 478(8). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.)), that require, in addition to such resolution, a resolution of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class shares.
(ix) That directors (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member or other directors; the same shall apply in item (ix) of the following paragraph and Article 112 (1)) or company auditors shall be elected at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class shares.
(2) In cases where a Stock Company issues two or more classes of shares with different features that have different provisions on the following matters, it shall provide for the matters prescribed in each of such items and the Total Number of Authorized Shares in a Class in the articles of incorporation:
(i) Regarding dividends of surplus: The method for determining the Dividend Property to be delivered to the shareholders of such classes, the conditions for dividends of surplus, and other features relating to dividends of surplus;
(ii) Regarding the distribution of residual assets: The method for determining the value of the residual assets to be delivered to the shareholders of such classes, the kinds of such residual assets, and other features of treatment relating to the distribution of residual assets;
(iii) Regarding the matter of capacity to exercise the right to vote at shareholders meetings: The following matters:
(a) The matters in relation to which the voting right may be exercised at a shareholders meeting; and
(b) If any condition on the exercise of the voting right is to be prescribed for such class shares, such condition.
(iv) Regarding the fact that the approval of such Stock Company shall be required for the acquisition of such class shares by transfer: The matters prescribed in item (i), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article with respect to such class shares;
(v) Regarding the fact that shareholders may demand that such Stock Company acquire such class shares held by such shareholders: The following matters:
(a) The matters prescribed in item (ii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article with respect to such class shares;
(b) If, in exchange for the acquisition of one share of such class shares, other shares of such Stock Company are delivered to such shareholders, the class of such other shares and the total number of each class, or the method for calculating such number;
(vi) Regarding the fact that such Stock Company may acquire such class shares on condition of certain grounds arising: The following matters:
(a) The matters prescribed in item (iii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article with respect to such class shares;
(b) If, in exchange for the acquisition of one share of such class shares, other shares of such Stock Company are delivered to such shareholders, the class of such other shares and the total number of each class, or the method for calculating such number;
(vii) Regarding the fact that such Stock Company shall acquire all of such class of shares by resolution of a shareholders meeting: The following matters:
(a) The method for determining the value of the acquisition price prescribed in Article 171(1)(i);
(b) If any condition is to be prescribed on whether or not the resolution of such shareholders meeting may be effected, such condition.
(viii) Regarding such of the matters to be resolved at a shareholders meeting (or at a shareholders meeting or board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors, or at a shareholders meeting or board of liquidators meeting for a Company with Board of Liquidators), that require, in addition to such resolution, a resolution of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class shares: The following matters:
(a) The matters for which the resolution of such General Meeting of Class Shareholders is required; and
(b) If any condition for which the resolution of such General Meeting of Class Shareholders is required is to be prescribed, such condition.
(ix) Regarding the fact that directors or company auditors shall be elected at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class shares: The following matters:
(a) The election of directors or company auditors at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by such Class Shareholders and the number of directors or company auditors to be elected;
(b) If some or all of the directors or company auditors who may be elected pursuant to the provisions of (a) shall be elected jointly with other Class Shareholders, the class of the shares held by such other Class Shareholders, and the number of directors or company auditors to be elected jointly;
(c) If there is any condition that alters the matters listed in (a) or (b), such condition, and the matters listed in (a) or (b) after such alternation in cases where such condition is fulfilled; and
(d) In addition to the matters listed in (a) to (c) inclusive, any matter prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, with respect to some or all of the matters prescribed in each item of the same paragraph (limited to the amount of dividends which may be received by Class Shareholders of classes with different features with respect to dividends of surplus, and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice), it may be provided in the articles of incorporation to the effect that such matters shall be determined by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or at a shareholders meeting or board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors, or at a shareholders meeting or board of liquidators meeting for a Company with Board of Liquidators) by the time of the first issue of such class shares. In such cases, an outline of the features thereof shall be provided for in the articles of incorporation.

(Equality of Shareholders)
Article 109 (1) A Stock Company shall treat its shareholders equally in accordance with the features and number of the shares they hold.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company that is not a Public Company may provide in its articles of incorporation to the effect that each shareholder shall be treated differently with respect to the matters regarding the rights listed in each item of Article 105 (1).
(3) In cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation that is provided for in the preceding paragraph, the shares held by the shareholders under that paragraph shall be deemed to be class shares with different features with respect to the matters regarding the rights under that paragraph, and the provisions of this Part and Part V shall apply.

(Special Provisions on Procedures for Amendments in Articles of Incorporation)
Article 110 In cases where it is intended to create, as a feature of all shares to be issued by a Stock Company, a provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in Article 107(1)(iii) by amending the articles of incorporation, or to effect any amendment (excluding that which abolishes the provisions of the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters) in the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters (excluding the case where the Stock Company is a Company with Class Shares), the consent of all shareholders shall be obtained.
Article 111 (1) If a Company with Class Shares intends, after it has issued a certain class of shares, to create, as a feature of such class shares, a provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in Article 108(1)(vi) by amending the articles of incorporation, or to effect any amendment to the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters (excluding any amendment which abolishes the provisions of the articles of incorporation with respect to such matters), the consent of all Class Shareholders who hold such class shares shall be obtained.
(2) In cases where a Company with Class Shares intends to create, as a feature of a certain class of shares, a provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in Article 108(1)(iv) or (vii), such amendment to the articles of incorporation shall not become effective unless a resolution is passed at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the following Class Shareholders (in cases where there are two or more classes of shares relating to such Class Shareholders, referring to the respective General Meetings of Class Shareholders constituted by Class Shareholders categorized by the class of such two or more classes of shares. This shall apply hereinafter in this Article.); provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where there is no Class Shareholder who can exercise his/her voting right at such General Meeting of Class Shareholder:
(i) The Class Shareholders of shares of such class;
(ii) The Class Shareholders of Shares with Put Option for which there is a provision that the "other shares" referred to in Article 108(2)(v)(b) shall be the shares of such class; or
(iii) The Class Shareholders of Shares subject to Call for which there is a provision that the "other shares" referred to in Article 108(2)(vi)(b) shall be the shares of such class.

(Special Provisions on Abolition of Provisions in Articles of Incorporation on Class Shares in relation to Election of Directors)
Article 112 (1) The provisions in the articles of incorporation on the matters listed in Article 108(2)(ix) (limited to those on directors) shall be deemed to have been abolished if, in cases where the number of directors is less than the number prescribed in this Act or the articles of incorporation, hence it is not possible to elect directors in a number sufficient to satisfy such requirement.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the provisions of the articles of incorporation on the matters listed in Article 108(2)(ix) (limited to those on company auditors).

(Total Number of Authorized Shares)
Article 113 (1) A Stock Company may not abolish the provisions on the Total Number of Authorized Shares by amending its articles of incorporation.
(2) If it is intended to reduce the Total Number of Authorized Shares by amending the articles of incorporation, the Total Number of Authorized Shares after the amendment may not be less than the total number of the Issued Shares at the time when such amendment to the articles of incorporation becomes effective.
(3) In the following cases, the Total Number of Authorized Shares after such amendment in the articles of incorporations may not exceed the number four times the total number of the Issued Shares at the time when such amendment to the articles of incorporation becomes effective:
(i) In cases where a Public Company amends the articles of incorporation and increases the Total Number of Authorized Shares; or
(ii) In cases where a Stock Company that is not a Public Company amends the articles of incorporation and becomes a Public Company.
(4) The number of the shares which share option holder of Share Options (excluding Share Options for which the first day of the period prescribed in Article 236(1)(iv) has not yet arrived) acquire pursuant to the provisions of Article 282(1) may not exceed the number obtained by subtracting the total number of the Issued Shares (excluding Treasury Shares (meaning shares in a Stock Company owned by that Stock Company itself. The same shall apply hereinafter.)) from the Total Number of Authorized Shares.

(Total Number of Authorized Share in a Class)
Article 114 (1) If it is intended to reduce the Total Number of Authorized Shares in a Class of a certain class of shares by amending the articles of incorporation, the Total Number of Authorized Shares in a Class of such class of shares after the amendment may not be less than the total number of the Issued Shares of such class at the time when such amendment to the articles of incorporation becomes effective.
(2) The total sum of the numbers set forth below for a certain class of shares may not exceed the number obtained by subtracting the total number of the Issued Shares of such class (excluding Treasury Shares) from the Total Number of Authorized Shares in a Class of such class of shares.
(i) The number of "other shares" prescribed in Article 167(2)(iv) which is to be acquired pursuant to the provisions of Article 167(2) by the shareholders (excluding the relevant Stock Company) of Shares with Put Option (excluding those for which the first day of the period prescribed in Article 107(2)(ii)(f) has not yet arrived);
(ii) The number of "other shares" prescribed in Article 170(2)(iv) which is to be acquired pursuant to the provisions of Article 170(2) by the shareholders (excluding the relevant Stock Company) of Shares subject to Call; and
(iii) The number of the shares which share option holders of Share Options (excluding those for which the first day of the period prescribed in Article 236(1)(iv) has not yet arrived) acquire pursuant to the provisions of Article 282(1).

(Number of Issued Shares with Restricted Voting Right)
Article 115 In cases where a Company with Class Shares is a Public Company, if the number of the shares of a certain class with restriction in relation to matters on which voting right can be exercised at a shareholders meeting (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Shares with Restricted Voting Right") has exceeded one half of the total number of the Issued Shares, the Stock Company shall immediately take measures necessary to reduce the number of the Shares with Restricted Voting Right below one half of the total number of the Issued Shares.

(Dissenting Shareholders' Appraisal Rights)
Article 116 (1) In the cases listed in the following items, dissenting shareholders may demand that the Stock Company purchase, at a fair price, the shares prescribed in such items that they hold:
(i) In cases where it is intended to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation to create a provision on matters listed in Article 107(1)(i) as a feature of all shares issued by a Stock Company: All shares;
(ii) In cases where it is intended to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation to create a provision on matters listed in Article 108(1)(iv) or (vii) as the feature of a certain class of shares: The shares prescribed in each item of Article 111(2);
(iii) In cases where any act listed below is to be performed, if any detriment is likely to be suffered by Class Shareholders who hold a certain class of shares (limited to those provided for in the articles of incorporation under the provisions of Article 322(2)): The shares of such class:
(a) Consolidation of shares or splitting of shares;
(b) Allotment of Shares without Contribution provided for in Article 185;
(c) Amendment to the articles of incorporation on the Share Unit;
(d) Solicitation of persons to subscribe for the shares of such Stock Company (limited to solicitation for which the Stock Company provides for the matters listed in each item of Article 202(1));
(e) Solicitation of persons to subscribe for the Share Options of such Stock Company (limited to solicitation for which the Stock Company provides for the matters listed in each item of Article 241(1));

(f) Allotment of Share Options without Contribution provided for in Article 277.
(2) The "dissenting shareholders" provided for in the preceding paragraph shall mean the shareholders provided for in the following items in the cases listed in the same items:
(i) In cases where a resolution of a shareholders meeting (including a General Meeting of Class Shareholders) is required to perform an act in any item of the preceding paragraph: The following shareholders:
(a) Shareholders who gave notice to such Stock Company to the effect that they dissented from such act prior to such shareholders meeting and who dissented from such act at such shareholders meeting (limited to those who can exercise voting right at such shareholders meetings);
(b) Shareholders who cannot exercise voting right at such shareholders meetings.
(ii) In cases other than those prescribed in the preceding item: All shareholders.
(3) A Stock Company that intends to perform an act in any item of paragraph (1) shall give notice to the shareholders of the shares provided for in each item of that paragraph to the effect that it intends to perform such act, no later than twenty days prior to the day when such act becomes effective (hereinafter in this Article and in the next Article referred to as "Effective Day").
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(5) To make a demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) (hereinafter in this Section referred to as the "Exercise of Appraisal Rights"), a dissenting shareholder must indicate the number of shares with regard to which the shareholder is Exercising Appraisal Rights (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class), between twenty days prior to the Effective Day and the day immediately preceding the Effective Day.
(6) When intending to Exercise Appraisal Rights pertaining to shares for which share certificates have been issued, a shareholder of such shares shall submit the share certificates representing those shares to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a person who makes a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 223 pertaining to such shares.
(7) Shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights may withdraw their demands for appraisal only with the approval of the Stock Company.
(8) The demands of the shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights lose effect if the Stock Company cancels the action referred to in the items of paragraph (1).
(9) The provisions of Article 133 shall not apply to shares pertaining to the Exercise of Appraisal Rights.

(Determination of the Price of Shares)
Article 117 (1) If a shareholder Exercises Appraisal Rights and an agreement determining the price of the shares is reached between the shareholder and the Stock Company, the Stock Company must pay that price within sixty days from the Effective Day.
(2) If no agreement is reached within thirty days from the Effective Day on the determination of the price of the shares, the shareholders or the Stock Company may file a petition for the court to determine the price within thirty days after the expiration of that period.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (7) of the preceding Article, in the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the petition under that paragraph is not made within sixty days after the Effective Day, shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights may withdraw their demands for appraisal at any time after the expiration of such period.
(4) The Stock Company shall also pay interest on the price determined by the court which shall be calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the day of the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (1).
(5) A Stock Company may pay the amount that said Stock Company considers to be a fair price to shareholders until the determination of the price of shares.
(6) A share purchase connected with the Exercise of Appraisal Rights becomes effective on the Effective Day.
(7) If a shareholder Exercises Appraisal Rights with respect to shares for which share certificates are issued, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company (meaning a Stock Company the articles of incorporation of which have provisions to the effect that share certificate representing its shares (or, in case of a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes) shall be issued) shall pay the price of the shares relating to the Exercise of the Appraisal Rights in exchange for the share certificates.

(Exercise of Appraisal Rights on Share Options)
Article 118 (1) In cases where it is intended to effect any amendment to articles of incorporation listed in the following items, the holders of Share Options provided for in any such item may demand that the Stock Company purchase, at a fair price, the Share Options that they hold:
(i) In cases where it is intended to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation to create a provision on matters listed in Article 107(1)(i) as a feature of all shares issued by a Stock Company: All Share Options;
(ii) In cases where it is intended to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation to create a provision on matters listed in Article 108(1)(iv) or (vii) as a feature of a certain class of shares: The Share Options for which shares of such class are the underlying shares;
(2) If holders of the Share Options attached to Bonds with Share Option intend to make the demand under the preceding paragraph (hereinafter in this Section referred to as the "Exercise of Appraisal Rights on Share Options"), they shall also demand that the Stock Company purchase the Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for with respect to the Share Options attached to Bonds with Share Option.
(3) A Stock Company which intends to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation listed in each item of paragraph (1) shall give notice to the holders of Share Options provided for in each item of that paragraph, no later than twenty days prior to the day when such amendment to the articles of incorporation becomes effective (hereinafter in this Article and in the following Article referred to as "Day of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation"), to the effect that such amendment to the articles of incorporation is to be effected.
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(5) To Exercise Appraisal Rights on Share Options, the share options holder must indicate the features and number of the Share Options with regard to which the holder is Exercising the Appraisal Rights, between twenty days prior to the Day of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation and the day immediately preceding the Day of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.
(6) When intending to Exercise Appraisal Rights on Share Options for which share option certificates are issued, the holder of those Share Options shall submit the share option certificates to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a person who files a petition for public notification as prescribed in Article 114 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedure Act (Act No. 51 of 2011).
(7) When intending to Exercise Appraisal Rights on Share Options in respect of a Share Option that is attached to any Bond with Share Options for which a bond certificate has been issued (meaning a bond certificate representing the Bond with Share Options as prescribed in Article 249 (ii); the same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph and paragraph (8) of the following Article), the holder of the Share Options shall submit the bond certificate representing the Bond with those Share Options to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a person who files a petition for public notification as prescribed in Article 114 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedure Act.
(8) Share option holders Exercising Appraisal Rights on Share Options may withdraw their demands for appraisal of the Share Options only with the approval of the Stock Company.
(9) The demands of the share option holders Exercising Appraisal Rights on Share Options lose effect if the Stock Company cancels the amendment to articles of incorporation provided for in the items of paragraph (1).
(10) The provisions of Article 260 shall not apply to share options pertaining to the Exercise of Appraisal Rights on Share Options.

(Determination of the Price of Share Options)
Article 119 (1) In cases where a share option holder Exercises Appraisal Rights on the Share Options, if an agreement on the determination of the price of the Share Options is reached between the share option holder (in cases where such Share Options are attached to Bonds with Share Option, if a holder thereof demands that the Stock Company purchase the Bonds constituting those Bonds with Share Options, including such Bonds; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article) and the Stock Company, the Stock Company shall make payment within sixty days from the Day of the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation.
(2) If no agreement on the determination of the price of the Share Options is reached within thirty days from the Day of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, the share option holders or the Stock Company may file a petition for the court to determine the price within thirty days after the expiration of that period.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (8) of the preceding Article, in the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the petition under that paragraph is not filed within sixty days after the Day of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation, share option holders Exercising Appraisal Rights on the Share Options may withdraw their demands for appraisal of the Share Options at any time after the expiration of such period.
(4) The Stock Company shall also pay interest on the price determined by the court which is calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the day of the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (1).
(5) A Stock Company may pay the amount that such Stock Company considers to be a fair price to a share option holder until the determination of the price of share options.
(6) The purchase relating to the Exercise of Appraisal Rights on Share Options shall become effective on the Day of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation.
(7) If a share option holder Exercises Appraisal Rights on Share Options with respect to Share Options for which share option certificates are issued, the Stock Company shall pay the price of the Share Options relating to the Exercise of Appraisal Rights on the Share Options in exchange for the share option certificates.
(8) If a share option holder Exercises Appraisal Rights on Share Options in respect of a Share Option attached to any Bond with Share Options for which a bond certificate has been issued, the Stock Company shall pay the price of the Share Options in respect of which the holder is Exercising Appraisal Rights in exchange for the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options.

(Giving Benefits on Exercise of Rights of Shareholders, etc.)
Article 120 (1) A Stock Company may not give property benefits (limited to benefits given for the accounts of such Stock Company or its Subsidiary; the same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) to any person in connection with the person's exercise of shareholders' rights, rights as Qualified Former Shareholders (meaning Qualified Former Shareholders as prescribed in Article 847-2, paragraph (9)), or rights as shareholders in the Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. of said Stock Company (meaning an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. prescribed in Article 847-3, paragraph (1)).
(2) If a Stock Company gives property benefits to a specific shareholder without charge, it shall be presumed that such Stock Company has given property benefits regarding the exercise of shareholders' rights. The same shall apply in cases where a Stock Company gives property benefits to a specific shareholder for value if the benefit received by such Stock Company or its Subsidiary is insignificant in comparison to such property benefits.
(3) If a Stock Company gives property benefits in violation of the provisions of paragraph (1), the recipient of such benefit shall return the same to such Stock Company or its Subsidiary. In such cases, if the recipient has tendered anything to such Stock Company or its Subsidiary in exchange for such benefit, that person may receive the return of the same.
(4) If a Stock Company gives property benefits in violation of the provisions of paragraph (1), persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as directors (including executive officers for Companies with Nominating Committee, etc. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph.) who are involved in giving such benefits shall be jointly and severally liable to such Stock Company for payment of an amount equivalent to the value of the benefit so given; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such persons (excluding the directors who gave such benefit) prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(5) Exemptions from the obligations set forth in the preceding paragraph may not be given without the consent of all shareholders.
Section 2 Shareholder Register

(Shareholder Register)
Article 121 A Stock Company shall prepare a shareholder register and enter or record the following information (hereinafter referred to as "Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register") in the same:
(i) The names and addresses of shareholders;
(ii) The number of shares held by the shareholders referred to in the preceding item (or the classes of shares and number for each class for a Company with Class Shares);
(iii) The days when the shareholders referred to in item (i) acquired the shares; and
(iv) In cases where the Stock Company is a Share Certificate-Issuing Company, the serial numbers of share certificates representing the shares (limited to those for which share certificates are issued) under item (ii).

(Delivery of Documents Showing Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register)
Article 122 (1) A shareholder as referred to in item (i) of the preceding Article may file a request with the Stock Company to be issued a document showing the Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register which has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register with respect to that shareholder, or to be provided with the electronic or magnetic record in which the Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register has been recorded.
(2) The documents referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be affixed with the signature, or name and seal, of the Representative Director of the Stock Company (referring to the representative executive officer for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. The same shall apply in the following paragraph.).
(3) With respect to an electronic or magnetic record referred to in paragraph (1), the Representative Director of the Stock Company shall implement measures in lieu of the affixing of the signature, or name and seal that is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to a Share Certificate-Issuing Company.

(Shareholder Register Administrator)
Article 123 A Stock Company, in its articles of incorporation, may provide for the hiring of a shareholder register administrator (meaning a person to prepare, keep, and otherwise administer the shareholder register on behalf of the Stock Company; the same applies hereinafter), and may entrust that administrator with administering the same.

(Record Date)
Article 124 (1) A Stock Company may, by prescribing a certain date (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as a "Record Date"), prescribe the shareholders that have been entered or recorded in the shareholder register as of the Record Date (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Shareholders as of the Record Date") as the persons that may exercise their rights.
(2) In cases where a Record Date is to be established, the Stock Company shall prescribe the content of the rights which the Shareholders on the Record Date may exercise (limited to those which are exercised within three months from the Record Date).
(3) If a Stock Company has prescribed a Record Date, it shall give public notice of such Record Date and the matters prescribed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph no later than two weeks prior to such Record Date; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the articles of incorporation provide for such Record Date and such matters.
(4) In cases where the rights that the Shareholders on the Record Date may exercise are voting right at a shareholders meeting or General Meeting of Class Shareholders, the Stock Company may prescribe some or all persons who acquire shares on or after such Record Date as persons who may exercise such right; provided, however, that this provision may not prejudice the rights of the Shareholders on the Record Date of such shares.
(5) The provisions of paragraph (1) to paragraph (3) inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Registered Pledgees of Shares provided for in Article 149 (1).

(Keeping and Making Available for Inspection of Shareholder Register)
Article 125 (1) A Stock Company shall keep the shareholder register at its head office (or, if it has a shareholder register administrator, at its business office).
(2) Shareholders and creditors may make the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company. In such cases, the reasons for such requests shall be disclosed.
(i) If the shareholder register is prepared in writing, a request for the inspection or copying of such document;
(ii) If the shareholder register has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) If a request in the preceding paragraph is made, a Stock Company may not refuse such request, except cases it falls under any of the following:
(i) The shareholder or creditor who made such request (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the "Requestor") made the request for a purpose other than for research on securing or exercising his/her rights;
(ii) The Requestor made the request with the purpose of interfering with the execution of the operations of such Stock Company or prejudicing the common benefit of the shareholders;
(iii) The Requestor made the request in order to report facts to third parties for profit, knowledge of which may be acquired by inspecting or copying the shareholder register; or
(iv) The Requestor is a person who has reported facts, knowledge of which was acquired by inspecting or copying the shareholder register, to third parties for profit in the immediately preceding two years.
(4) If it is necessary for a Member of the Parent Company of a Stock Company to exercise his/her rights, such member of the Parent Company may, with the permission of the court, make the requests in each item of paragraph (2) with respect to the shareholder register of such Stock Company. In such cases, the reasons for such requests shall be disclosed.
(5) The court may not grant the permission in the preceding paragraph if grounds provided for in any item of paragraph (3) apply to the Member of the Parent Company in the preceding paragraph.

(Notice to Shareholders)
Article 126 (1) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to shareholders to be sent by a Stock Company to the addresses of such shareholders stated or recorded in the shareholder register (or, in cases where such shareholders notify such Stock Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(2) The notices or demand in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.
(3) If a share is co-owned by two or more persons, the co-owners shall specify one person to receive the notices or demand sent by the Stock Company to shareholders and notify such Stock Company of the name of that person. In such cases, that person shall be deemed to be the shareholder and the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply.
(4) In cases where there is no notice by co-owners under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall be sufficient for a notice or demand sent by a Stock Company to the co-owners of the shareholders if it is sent to one of them.
(5) The provisions of each of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where, when the notice referred to in Article 299 (1) (including the case where it is applied mutatis mutandis in Article 325) is given, a document is delivered to shareholders or matters to be stated in such document are provided to shareholders by electronic or magnetic means. In such cases, the words "to have arrived" in paragraph (2) shall be read as "to have been effected by delivery of such documents or provision of such matters by electronic or magnetic means."
Section 3 Transfer of Share
Subsection 1 Transfer of Share

(Transfer of Share)
Article 127 Shareholders may transfer the shares held by the same.

(Transfer of Shares in a Share Certificate-Issuing Company)
Article 128 (1) Transfer of shares in a Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall not become effective unless the share certificates representing those shares are delivered; provided, however, that this shall not apply to transfer of shares that arise out of the disposition of Treasury Shares.
(2) Transfer effected prior to the issuance of the share certificate shall not be effective vis-a-vis the Share Certificate-Issuing Company.

(Special Provisions on Disposition of Treasury Shares)
Article 129 (1) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall deliver the share certificates to persons who acquire Treasury Shares without delay after the day of the disposition of such Treasury Shares.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Share Certificate-Issuing Company that is not a Public Company may choose to not deliver the share certificates under that paragraph until the persons under that paragraph so request.

(Perfection of Transfer of Shares)
Article 130 (1) Transfer of shares shall not be perfected against the Stock Company and other third parties unless the name and address of the person who acquires those shares is stated or recorded in the shareholder register.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph with respect to a Share Certificate-Issuing Company, "the Stock Company and other third parties" in that paragraph shall be read as "the Stock Company."

(Presumption of Rights)
Article 131 (1) A possessor of share certificates shall be presumed to be the lawful owner of the rights in relation to the shares representing such share certificates.
(2) A person who receives delivery of the share certificates shall acquire the rights in relation to the shares represented by such share certificates; provided, however, that this shall not apply if that person is in bad faith or with gross negligence as to the fact of defective title of the transferor.

(Entry or Recording of Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register Not Requested by Shareholders)
Article 132 (1) In a case as set forth in one the following items, a Stock Company must enter or record in the shareholder register the Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register in respect of any shareholder holding shares as referred to in that item:
(i) In cases where it has Issued Shares;
(ii) In cases where it has acquired shares in such Stock Company;
(iii) In cases where it has disposed of Treasury Shares.
(2) In cases of consolidating shares, a Stock Company shall state or record the matters to be specified in the shareholder register pertaining to the shareholders of such shares on the shareholder register, with regard to the consolidated shares.
(3) If a Stock Company splits its shares, it must enter or record in the shareholder register the Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register in respect of any shareholder holding a share that has been split.

(Entering or Recording Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register at the Request of Shareholders)
Article 133 (1) A person acquiring shares (other than the Stock Company itself, hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Acquirer of Shares") from any person other than the Stock Company that issued those shares may request the Stock Company to enter or record in the shareholder register the Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register in connection with those shares.
(2) Except for the cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases of no likelihood of detriment to interested parties, requests pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made jointly with the person stated or recorded in the shareholder register as the shareholder of the shares so acquired, or his/her general successors including his/her heirs.
Article 134 The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in cases where the shares acquired by the Acquirer of Shares are Shares with Restriction on Transfer; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it falls under any of the following:
(i) Such Acquirer of Shares has obtained approval under Article 136 as to an intended acquisition of such Shares with Restriction on Transfer;
(ii) Such Acquirer of Shares has obtained approval under Article 137 (1) as to a completed acquisition of such Shares with Restriction on Transfer;
(iii) Such Acquirer of Shares is a Designated Purchaser provided for in Article 140 (4);
(iv) Such Acquirer of Shares is a person who has acquired the Shares with Restriction on Transfer by general succession including inheritance.

(Acquisition of Shares of Parent Companies Prohibited)
Article 135 (1) A Subsidiary may not acquire the shares of a Stock Company that is its Parent Company (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Parent Company's Shares").
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to the following cases:
(i) Cases where the Subsidiary accepts the transfer of the Parent Company's Shares held by another Company in cases where the Subsidiary accepts the transfer of the entire business of such other Company (including Foreign Companies);
(ii) Cases where the Subsidiary succeeds to the Parent Company's Shares from a Company disappearing due to merger;
(iii) Cases where the Subsidiary succeeds to the Parent Company's Shares from another Company by Absorption-type Company Split;
(iv) Cases where the Subsidiary succeeds to the Parent Company's Shares from another Company by Incorporation-type Company Split; or
(v) In addition to the cases provided for in the preceding items, cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) The Subsidiary shall dispose of the Parent Company's Shares held by the same at an appropriate time.
Subsection 2 Approval Procedures relating to Transfer of Shares

(Requests for Approval by Shareholders)
Article 136 If shareholders of Shares with Restriction on Transfer intend to transfer the Shares with Restriction on Transfer held by the same to others (excluding the Stock Company which issued such Shares with Restriction on Transfer), they may request that such Stock Company make a determination as to whether or not to approve the acquisition by such others of such Shares with Restriction on Transfer.

(Request for Approval by Acquirers of Shares)
Article 137 (1) Acquirers of Shares who have acquired Shares with Restriction on Transfer may request that the Stock Company make a determination as to whether or not to approve the acquisition of such Shares with Restriction on Transfer.
(2) Except for the cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases of no likelihood of detriment to interested parties, requests pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made jointly with the person stated or recorded in the shareholder register as the shareholder of the shares so acquired, or his/her general successors including his/her heirs.

(Method for Requests for Approval of Transfer)
Article 138 The requests listed in the following items (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Requests for Approval of Transfer") shall be made by disclosing the matters provided for in such items:
(i) Requests pursuant to the provisions of Article 136: The following matters:
(a) The number of Shares with Restriction on Transfer that the shareholders making such request intend to transfer to others (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class);
(b) The name of the person accepting the transfer of the Shares with Restriction on Transfer referred to in (a);
(c) In cases where a Stock Company determines not to give approval under Article 136, if it is requested that such Stock Company or Designated Purchaser provided for in Article 140 (4) purchase the Shares with Restriction on Transfer referred to in (a), the statement to such effect.
(ii) The request pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following matters:
(a) The number of Shares with Restriction on Transfer which the Acquirer of Shares making such request has acquired (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class);
(b) The name of the Acquirer of Shares referred to in (a);
(c) In cases where a Stock Company determines not to effect the approval under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if it is requested that such Stock Company or the Designated Purchaser provided for in Article 140 (4) purchase the Shares with Restriction on Transfer referred to in (a), a statement to such effect.

(Determination of Approval of Transfer)
Article 139 (1) The determination by a Stock Company as to whether or not to grant approval under Article 136 or Article 137 (1) shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(2) If a Stock Company has made a determination under the preceding paragraph, it shall notify the person who made the Requests for Approval of Transfer (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Requester for Approval of Transfer") of the content of such determination.

(Purchase by Stock Company or Designated Purchaser)
Article 140 (1) In cases where a Stock Company receives a request under Article 138 (i)(c) or (ii)(c), if it makes a determination to not give approval under Article 136 or Article 137 (1), it shall purchase the Shares with Restriction on Transfer relating to such Requests for Approval of Transfer (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Subject Shares"). In such cases, the following matters shall be prescribed:
(i) A statement to the effect that the Stock Company will purchase the Subject Shares;
(ii) The number of the Subject Shares that will be purchased by the Stock Company (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the Subject Shares and the number of shares for each class).
(2) The determination of the matters listed in the items of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(3) Requesters for Approval of Transfer may not exercise voting right at the shareholders meeting referred to in the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where all shareholders other than such Requesters for Approval of Transfer may not exercise voting right at the shareholders meeting referred to in that paragraph.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), in the cases provided for in that paragraph, a Stock Company may designate a person to purchase some or all of the Subject Shares (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Designated Purchaser").
(5) The designation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of the shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.

(Notice of Purchases by Stock Company)
Article 141 (1) If a Stock Company has determined the matters listed in any item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, it shall notify the Requester for Approval of Transfer of such matters.
(2) If a Stock Company intends to give notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall deposit the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the net assets per share (referring to the amount prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of net assets per share. The same shall apply hereinafter.) by the number of the Subject Shares under item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, with a depository located in the area where its head office is located, and deliver a document certifying such deposit to the Requester for Approval of Transfer.
(3) In cases where the Subject Shares are the shares of a Share Certificate-Issuing Company, the Requester for Approval of Transfer who received delivery of the document referred to in the preceding paragraph shall deposit the share certificates representing the Subject Shares referred to in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article with a depository located in the area where the head office of such Share Certificate-Issuing Company is located within one week from the day of receipt of such delivery. In such cases, such Requester for Approval of Transfer shall give notice of such deposit to such Share Certificate-Issuing Company without delay.
(4) If the Requester for Approval of Transfer under the preceding paragraph does not effect the deposit pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph within the period under that paragraph, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company may cancel the contract for the sale and purchase of the Subject Shares provided for in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(Designated Purchaser's Notice to Purchase)
Article 142 (1) If a Designated Purchaser is designated pursuant to the provisions of Article 140(4), he/she shall notify the Requester for Approval of Transfer of the following matters:
(i) A statement to the effect that he/she has been designated as a Designated Purchaser; and
(ii) The number of the Subject Shares that the Designated Purchaser will purchase (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the Subject Shares and the number of shares for each class).
(2) If a Designated Purchaser intends to give notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Designated Purchaser shall deposit the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the net assets per share by the number of the Subject Shares under item (ii) of that paragraph with a depository located in the area where the head office of the Stock Company is located, and deliver a document certifying such deposit to the Requester for Approval of Transfer.
(3) In cases where the Subject Shares are the shares of a Share Certificate-Issuing Company, the Requester for Approval of Transfers who received delivery of the document referred to in the preceding paragraph shall deposit the share certificates representing the Subject Shares referred to in item (ii) of paragraph (1) with a depository located in the area where the head office of such Share Certificate-Issuing Company is located within one week from the day of receipt of such delivery. In such cases, such Requester for Approval of Transfer shall give notice of such deposit to the Designated Purchaser without delay.
(4) If the Requester for Approval of Transfer under the preceding paragraph does not effect the deposit pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph within the period under that paragraph, the Designated Purchaser may cancel the contract for the sale and purchase of the Subject Shares provided for in item (ii) of paragraph (1).

(Withdrawal of Requests for Approval of Transfer)
Article 143 (1) A Requester for Approval of Transfer who made a request under Article 138(i)(c) or (ii)(c) may, after he/she has received notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 141(1), withdraw his/her request only in cases where he/she obtains the approval of the Stock Company.
(2) A Requester of Approval of Transfer who made a request under Article 138(i)(c) or (ii)(c) may, after he/she has received notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, withdraw his/her request only in cases where he/she obtains the approval of the Designated Purchaser.

(Determination of Sale Price)
Article 144 (1) In cases where notice is given pursuant to the provisions of Article 141(1), the sale price of the Subject Shares under Article 140(1)(ii) shall be prescribed through discussion between the Stock Company and the Requester for Approval of Transfer.
(2) The Stock Company or Requester for Approval of Transfers may file a petition for the court to determine the sale price within twenty days from the day when notice is given pursuant to the provisions of Article 141(1).
(3) In order to make the determination under the preceding paragraph, the court shall consider the financial conditions of the Stock Company at the time of the Requests for Approval of Transfer and all other circumstances.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), if a petition under paragraph (2) is made within the period provided for in that paragraph, the amount determined by the court in response to such petition shall be the sale price of the Subject Shares under Article 140(1)(ii).
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), if no petition under paragraph (2) is made within the period provided for in that paragraph (except in cases where the discussions under paragraph (1) are successfully concluded within such period), the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the net assets per share by the number of the Subject Shares under Article 140(1)(ii) shall be the sale price of the Subject Shares.
(6) In cases where a deposit is effected pursuant to the provisions of Article 141(2), if the sale price of the Subject Shares under Article 140(1)(ii) has been finalized, the Stock Company shall be deemed to have paid the sale price, in whole or in part, up to an amount equivalent to the value of the money so deposited.
(7) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis in cases where notice is given pursuant to the provisions of Article 142(1). In such cases, in paragraph (1), the term "Article 140(1)(ii)" shall be read as "Article 142(1)(ii)" and the term "Stock Company" shall be read as "Designated Purchaser"; in paragraph (2), the term "Stock Company" shall be read as "Designated Purchaser"; in paragraph (4) and paragraph (5), the term "Article 140(1)(ii)" shall be read as "Article 142(1)(ii)"; and in the preceding paragraph, the term "Article 141(2)" shall be read as "Article 142(2)," the term "Article 140(1)(ii)" shall be read as "item (ii), paragraph (1) of that Article," and the term "Stock Company" shall be read as "Designated Purchaser."

(Cases where Stock Company is Deemed to have Approved)
Article 145 In the cases listed below, the Stock Company shall be deemed to have given the approval under Article 136 or Article 137(1); provided, however, that this shall not apply if otherwise provided for by the agreement between the Stock Company and the Requester for Approval of Transfer:
(i) In cases where the Stock Company has failed to give notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 139(2) within two weeks (or if any shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such shorter period of time) from the day of the request pursuant to the provisions of Article 136 or Article 137(1);
(ii) In cases where the Stock Company has failed to give notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 141(1) within forty days (or if any shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such shorter period of time) from the day of the notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 139(2) (except the cases where the Designated Purchaser gives notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 142(1) within ten days (or if any shorter period of time is provided in the articles of incorporation, such shorter period of time) from the day of the notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 139(2)).
(iii) In addition to the cases provided for in the preceding two items, the cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
Subsection 3 Pledging Shares

(Pledge of Shares)
Article 146 (1) Shareholders may pledge the shares held by the same.
(2) A pledge of shares in a Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall not become effective unless the share certificates representing those shares are delivered.

(Perfection of Pledges of Shares)
Article 147 (1) Pledges of shares shall not be perfected against the Stock Company and other third parties unless the names and addresses of the pledgees are stated or recorded in the shareholder register.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a pledgee of shares in a Share Certificate-Issuing Company may not assert his/her pledge against the Stock Company and other third parties unless he/she is in continuous possession of the share certificates representing those shares.
(3) The provisions of Article 364 of the Civil Code shall not apply to shares.

(Entries in Shareholder Register)
Article 148 A person who pledges shares may request that the Stock Company enter or record the following matters in the shareholder register:
(i) The name and address of the pledgee;
(ii) The shares underlying the pledge.

(Delivery of Documents Showing the Information Entered in the Shareholder Register)
Article 149 (1) A pledgee whose information as set forth in the items of the preceding Article has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register (hereinafter referred to as a "Registered Pledgee of Shares") may file a request with the Stock Company to be issued a document showing the information set forth in the items of that Article which has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register with respect to that Registered Pledgee of Shares, or to be provided with the electronic or magnetic record in which that information has been recorded.
(2) The documents in the preceding paragraph shall be affixed with the signature, or name and seal, of the Representative Director of the Stock Company (the representative executive officer for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. The same shall apply in the following paragraph.).
(3) With respect to an electronic or magnetic record referred to in paragraph (1), the Representative Director of the Stock Company shall implement measures in lieu of the affixation of signature, or name and seal prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to a Share Certificate-Issuing Company.

(Notices to Registered Pledgees of Shares)
Article 150 (1) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to a Registered Pledgee of Shares to be sent by a Stock Company to the addresses of such Registered Pledgee of Shares which have been entered or recorded in the shareholder register (or, in cases where such Registered Pledgee of Shares notifies the Stock Company of any different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(2) The notices or demands referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.

(Effect of Pledge of Shares)
Article 151 (1) In cases where a Stock Company carries out any of the acts listed below, the pledge for shares shall be effective with respect to the Monies, etc. (meaning monies and other properties. The same shall apply hereinafter.) which the shareholders of such shares are entitled to receive as a result of such act:
(i) The acquisition of Shares with Put Option pursuant to the provisions Article 167(1);
(ii) The acquisition of Shares subject to Call pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 170(1);
(iii) The acquisition of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call provided for in Article 171(1) pursuant to the provisions of Article 173(1);
(iv) Consolidation of shares;
(v) Share Split;
(vi) Allotment of Shares without Contribution provided for in Article 185;
(vii) Allotment of Share Options without Contribution provided for in Article 277;
(viii) Dividends of surplus;
(ix) Distribution of residual assets;
(x) Entity Conversion;
(xi) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger);
(xii) Share Exchange;
(xiii) Share Transfer; or
(xiv) Acquisition of shares (excluding the acts listed in item (i) to item (iii) inclusive).
(2) In cases where a Special Controlling Shareholder (meaning a Special Controlling Shareholder as prescribed in Article 179 (1); the same shall apply in Article 154(3)) acquires Shares Subject to Cash-Out (meaning Shares Subject to Cash-Out prescribed in Article 179-2 (1) (ii); the same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) by Demand for Cash-Out (meaning Demand for Cash-Out as prescribed in Article 179 (2)), the pledge for Shares Subject to Cash-Out shall be effective for monies that shareholders of such Shares Subject to the Cash-Out can receive by such acquisition.
Article 152 (1) In cases where a Stock Company (excluding a Share Certificate-Issuing Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.) carries out the acts listed in paragraph (1), item (i) to item (iii) inclusive of the preceding Article (limited to the cases where such Stock Company delivers the shares when carrying out such acts), or carries out the act listed in item (vi) of that paragraph, if the pledgees of the pledges under that paragraph are Registered Pledgees of Shares (excluding those for whom the information set forth in each item of Article 148 has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register because of a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 218(5). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection.), the names and addresses of such pledgees shall be entered or recorded in the shareholder register with respect to the shares under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article that the shareholders are entitled to receive.
(2) In cases where the consolidation of shares has been effected, if the pledgees of the pledge under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are Registered Pledgees of Shares, the Stock Company shall state or record the names and addresses of such pledgees with respect to the shares that have been consolidated.
(3) In cases where the Share Split has been effected, if the pledgees of the pledge under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are Registered Pledgees of Shares, the Stock Company shall state or record the names and addresses of such pledgees with respect to the shares that have been split.
Article 153 (1) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall deliver the share certificates representing the shares that the shareholders under Article 151 (1) receive to the Registered Pledgees of Shares.
(2) In the cases provided for in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall deliver the share certificates representing the shares that have been consolidated to the Registered Pledgees of Shares.
(3) In the cases provided for in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall deliver the share certificates that will be newly issued with respect to the shares that have been split to the Registered Pledgees of Shares.
Article 154 (1) Registered Pledgees of Shares may receive the Monies, etc. (limited to monies) under Article 151(1), or monies under paragraph (2) of that Article, and appropriate them as payment to satisfy their own claims in priority to other creditors.
(2) In cases where a Stock Company performs the acts listed in the following items, if the claims under the preceding paragraph have not yet become due and payable, the Registered Pledgees of Shares may have the person specified in said items deposit an amount equivalent to the value of the Monies, etc. provided for in that paragraph. In such cases, the pledge shall be effective with respect to the monies so deposited.
(i) Acts listed in Article 151(1) items (i) through (vi), item (viii), item (ix), or item (xiv): said Stock Company;
(ii) Entity Conversion: Membership Company after Entity Conversion as prescribed in Article 744(1)(i);
(iii) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): The Company Surviving the Absorption-type Merger as prescribed in Article 749(1) or the Company Incorporated in the Consolidation-type Merger as prescribed in Article 753(1);
(iv) Share Exchange: The Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange prescribed in Article 767; or
(v) Share Transfer: The Wholly Owning Parent Company Incorporated in the Share Transfer as prescribed in Article 773 (1)(i).
(3) In the case prescribed in Article 151(2), if the claim under paragraph (1) has not yet come due and payable, a Registered Pledgee of Shares may have the Special Controlling Shareholders deposit an amount equivalent to the value of the monies under paragraph (2) of that Article. In this case, the pledge shall be effective with respect to the monies so deposited
Subsection 4 Perfection, etc. of Shares that Belong to the Trust Property
Article 154-2 (1) With regard to shares, it may not be perfected that such shares belong to the trust property against the Stock Company and other third parties unless the fact that such shares belong to the trust property is entered or recorded in the shareholder register
(2) When shares held by shareholders under Article 121 (i) belong to the trust property, it may request the Stock Company to enter or record to that effect in the shareholder register.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 122 (1) and Article 132 in cases where the entry or record is made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph in the shareholder register, "Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register which has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register with respect to that shareholder" in Article 122 (1) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register which has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register with respect to that shareholder (including the fact that shares held by that shareholder belong to the trust property)" and "Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register in respect of any shareholder holding shares as referred to in that item" in Article 132 shall be deemed to be replaced with "Information Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register in respect of any shareholder holding shares as referred to in that item (including the fact that shares held by that shareholder belongs to the trust property)".
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to a Share Certificate-Issuing Company.
Section 4 Acquisition of Own Shares by Stock Company
Subsection 1 General Provisions
Article 155 A Stock Company may acquire shares issued by such Stock Company only in the following cases:
(i) Where the grounds under Article 107(2)(iii)(a) have arisen;
(ii) Where a request has been made under Article 138(i)(c) or (ii)(c);
(iii) Where a resolution has been made under paragraph (1) of the following Article;
(iv) Where a request has been made pursuant to the provisions of Article 166(1);
(v) Where a resolution has been made under Article 176(1);
(vi) Where the Stock Company has made a request under the provisions of Article 176(1);
(vii) Where a request has been made pursuant to the provisions of Article 192(1);
(viii) Where the Stock Company has prescribed the matters listed in each item of Article 197(3);
(ix) Where the Stock Company has prescribed the matters listed in each item of Article 234(4) (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2));
(x) Where the Stock Company accepts the transfer of the entire business of another Company (including Foreign Companies) in cases where such Stock Company accepts the transfer of own shares held by such other Company;
(xi) Where the Stock Company succeeds to its own shares from a Company disappearing due to merger;
(xii) Where the Stock Company succeeds to own shares held by a Company that is effecting an Absorption-type Company Split; or
(xiii) In addition to the cases listed in the preceding items, in any case prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
Subsection 2 Acquisition by Agreement with Shareholders
Division 1 General Provisions

(Determination of Matters regarding Acquisition of Shares)
Article 156 (1) A Stock Company shall prescribe the following matters by resolution of a shareholders meeting in advance in order to acquire for value own shares by agreement with its shareholders; provided, however, that the period under item (iii) cannot exceed one year:
(i) The number of shares to be acquired (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class); and
(ii) The description and total amount of the Monies, etc. (excluding the shares, etc. of such Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection.) that will be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of the shares; and
(iii) The period during which the shares can be acquired.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to the cases listed in item (i) and item (ii), and in item (iv) to item (xiii) inclusive of the preceding Article.

(Determination of Acquisition Price)
Article 157 (1) Whenever a Stock Company intends to acquire its shares in accordance with a determination pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, it shall prescribe the following matters:
(i) The number of shares to be acquired (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the class of the shares and the number of the shares);
(ii) The description, and the number or amount, or the method for the calculation thereof, of the Monies, etc. that will be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of one share;
(iii) The total amount of the Monies, etc. that will be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of the shares; and
(iv) The date on which the offer to transfer the shares will be made.
(2) A Company with Board of Directors shall determine the matters listed in each item of the preceding paragraph by resolution of the board of directors.
(3) The conditions prescribed for the acquisition of shares under paragraph (1) shall be uniform for each determination made under the provisions of that paragraph.

(Notice to Shareholders)
Article 158 (1) A Stock Company shall notify its shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the Class Shareholders of the classes of the shares it intends to acquire) of the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(2) A Public Company may substitute a public notice for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Offers to Transfer)
Article 159 (1) If a shareholder who receives a notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article intends to make an offer to transfer the shares he/she holds, he/she shall disclose to the Stock Company the number of shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of the shares for each class) relating to such offer.
(2) A Stock Company shall be deemed to have accepted, on the date provided for in Article 157(1)(iv), the transfer of shares that the shareholders under the preceding paragraph offered; provided, however, that if the total number of shares that the shareholders under that paragraph offered (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Total Number of Shares Offered") exceed the number provided for in item (i), paragraph (1) of that Article (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Total Number of Shares to be Acquired"), it shall be deemed that the Stock Company has accepted the transfer of the shares in the number obtained by first dividing the Total Number of Shares to be Acquired by the Total Number of Shares Offered, and then multiplying such product by the number of the shares offered by the shareholders under the preceding paragraph (in cases where the number so obtained includes a fraction of less than one, such fraction shall be rounded off).
Division 2 Acquisition from Specific Shareholders

(Acquisition from Specific Shareholders)
Article 160 (1) In conjunction with the determination of the matters listed in each item of Article 156(1), a Stock Company may, by resolution of a shareholders meeting under that paragraph, make a determination to the effect that notice under the provisions of Article 158(1) shall be given to specific shareholders.
(2) If a Stock Company intends to make a determination under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall give notice to the shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the Class Shareholders of the classes of the shares to be acquired), by the time prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, to the effect that the shareholders may make the requests under the provisions of the following paragraph.
(3) The shareholders under the preceding paragraph may, by the time prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, request that they be added to the specific shareholders provided for in paragraph (1) for the proposal for the shareholders meeting under that paragraph.
(4) The specific shareholders under paragraph (1) may not exercise voting right at the shareholders meeting provided for in Article 156(1); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where all shareholders other than the specific shareholders under paragraph (1) may not exercise the voting right at such shareholders meeting.
(5) In cases where specific shareholders are prescribed under paragraph (1), for the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 158(1), "shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the Class Shareholder of the classes of the shares it intends to acquire)" in such paragraph shall be read as "specific shareholders under Article 160(1)."

(Special Provision on Acquisition of Shares with Market Price)
Article 161 The provisions of paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) of the preceding Article shall not apply if, in cases where the shares to be acquired are shares with a market price, the amount of the Monies, etc. to be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of one such share does not exceed the amount of the market price of one such share calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Special Provision on Acquisition from Heirs)
Article 162 The provisions of Article 160(2) and (3) shall not apply in cases where a Stock Company acquires, from general successors of the shareholders, including their heirs, the shares of such Stock Company that the same acquired by general succession including inheritance; provided, however, that this shall not apply if it falls under any of the following:
(i) The Stock Company is a Public Company; or
(ii) Such general successors, including heirs exercised the voting right on such shares at a shareholders meeting or General Meeting of Class Shareholders.

(Acquisition of Shares from Subsidiaries)
Article 163 In cases where a Stock Company acquires shares in such Stock Company that are held by its Subsidiary, for the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 156(1), "shareholders meeting" in such paragraph shall be read as "shareholders meeting (or board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors)." In such cases, the provisions of Article 157 to Article 160 inclusive shall not apply.

(Provisions of Articles of Incorporation regarding Acquisition from Specific Shareholders)
Article 164 (1) If a Stock Company intends to make a determination under the provisions of Article 160(1) with respect to the acquisition of shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of a certain class. The same shall apply in the following paragraph.), it may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that the provisions of paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) of that Article shall not apply.
(2) If, after the shares are issued, it is intended to create a provision in the articles of incorporation under the provisions of the preceding paragraph with respect to such shares by amending the articles of incorporation, or to effect any amendment (excluding that which abolishes the provisions of the articles of incorporation under that paragraph) in the articles of incorporation with respect to such provisions, the consent of all shareholders who hold such shares shall be obtained.
Division 3 Acquisition of Shares by Market Transactions
Article 165 (1) The provisions of Article 157 to Article 160 inclusive shall not apply in cases where a Stock Company acquires shares in such Stock Company through transactions undertaken by that Stock Company in the market or through a takeover bid provided for in Article 27-2(6) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Market Transactions").
(2) A Company with Board of Directors may provide in its articles of incorporation to the effect that the acquisition of own shares by Market Transactions may be prescribed by resolution of a board of directors meeting.
(3) In cases where the provision of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of the preceding paragraph is created, for the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 156(1), "shareholders meeting" in such paragraph shall be read as "shareholders meeting (or shareholders meeting or board of director's meeting in the cases provided for in Article 165(1))."
Subsection 3 Acquisition of Shares with Put Option and Shares subject to Call
Division 1 Demand for Acquisition of Shares with Put Option

(Demand for Acquisition)
Article 166 (1) Shareholders of Shares with Put Option may demand that the Stock Company acquire the Shares with Put Option held by such shareholders; provided, however, that this shall not apply if, in cases where the properties provided for in item (ii)(b) to item (ii)(e) inclusive of Article 107(2) is delivered in exchange for the acquisition of such Shares with Put Option, the book value of such properties exceeds the Distributable Amount under Article 461(2) on the day when such demand is made.
(2) The demand pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be submitted by disclosing the number of Shares with Put Option relating to such demand (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the Shares with Put Option and the number of shares for each class).
(3) If shareholders of a Share Certificate-Issuing Company intend to submit demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) with respect to the Shares with Put Option held by the same, they shall submit the share certificates representing the Shares with Put Option to the Share Certificate-Issuing Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where no share certificate representing such Shares with Put Option is issued.

(Effectuation)
Article 167 (1) A Stock Company shall acquire the Shares with Put Option relating to a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article on the day of such demand.
(2) In the cases listed in the following items, a shareholders who submits a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article shall become a shareholder provided for in each of such items in accordance with the provisions with respect to the matters provided for in Article 107(2)(ii) (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Article 108(2)(v)) on the day of the demand:
(i) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 107(2)(ii)(b): Bondholders of the Bonds under that item (ii)(b);
(ii) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 107(2)(ii)(c): Share option holders under that item (ii)(c);
(iii) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 107(2)(ii)(d): Bondholders of the Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option under that item (ii)(d), and share option holders attached to such Bonds with Share Option;
(iv) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 108(2)(v)(b): Shareholders of "other shares" under that item (v)(b);
(3) In the cases provided for in item (iv) of the preceding paragraph, if the number of the "other shares" provided for in such item includes a fraction of less than one share, it shall be rounded off. In such cases, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, the Stock Company shall, in accordance with the categories of the cases listed in the following items, deliver to the shareholders who submitted demands pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article the monies in the amount equivalent to the amount obtained by multiplying the amount provided for in each of such items by such fraction:
(i) In cases where such shares are shares with a market price: The amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the market price of one such share;
(ii) In cases other than the cases listed in the preceding item: The amount of net assets per share.
(4) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where there is a fraction with respect to the Bonds and Share Options of such Stock Company. In such cases, the term "amount of net assets per share" in item (ii) of that paragraph shall be read as "the amount prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice."
Division 2 Acquisitions of Shares subject to Call

(Determination of Day of Acquisition)
Article 168 (1) In cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in Article 107(2)(iii)(b), the Stock Company shall prescribe the day under that item (iii)(b) by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(2) If a Stock Company prescribes the day under Article 107(2)(iii)(b), the Stock Company shall notify the shareholders of the Shares subject to Call (or, in cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in item (iii)(c) of that paragraph, the shareholders of Shares subject to Call who are determined under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article) and the Registered Pledgees of Shares thereof of such date no later than two weeks prior to such day.
(3) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Determination of Shares to be Acquired)
Article 169 (1) In cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in Article 107(2)(iii)(c), if a Stock Company intends to acquire Shares subject to Call, it shall determine the Shares subject to Call that it intends to acquire.
(2) The Shares subject to Call under the preceding paragraph shall be determined by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(3) If a Stock Company makes the determination pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the Stock Company shall immediately notify the shareholders of the Shares subject to Call who are identified pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph and the Registered Pledgees of Shares thereof to the effect that the Stock Company will acquire such Shares subject to Call.
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Effectuation)
Article 170 (1) A Stock Company shall acquire, on the day when the grounds under Article 107(2)(iii)(a) have arisen (or, in cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in item (iii)(c) thereof, on the day listed in item (i) or the day listed in item (ii) below, whichever comes later. The same shall apply in the following paragraph and paragraph (5).), the Shares subject to Call (or, in cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in item (iii)(c), paragraph (2) of that Article, those determined pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. The same shall apply in the following paragraph.):
(i) The day when grounds under Article 107(2)(iii)(a) have arisen; or
(ii) The day of notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, or the day when two weeks have lapsed from the day of the public notice under paragraph (4) of that Article.
(2) In the cases listed in the following items, the shareholders of the Shares subject to Call (excluding the relevant Stock Company) shall become the status provided for in each of such items in accordance with the provisions with respect to the matters provided for in such item (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Article 108(2)(vi)) on the day when the grounds under Article 107(2)(iii)(a) have arisen:
(i) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 107(2)(iii)(d): Bondholders of the Bonds under that item (iii)(d);
(ii) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 107(2)(iii)(e): Share option holder under that item (iii)(e);
(iii) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 107(2)(iii)(f): Bondholders of the Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option under that item (ii)(d), and share option holders attached to such Bonds with Share Option;
(iv) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 108(2)(vi)(b): Shareholders of "other shares" under that item (vi)(b);
(3) A Stock Company shall notify the shareholders of Shares subject to Call and Registered Pledgees of Shares thereof without delay after grounds have arisen under Article 107(2)(iii)(a) (in cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in that item (iii)(c), the shareholders of Shares subject to Call determined pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, and Registered Pledgees of Shares thereof) to the effect that such grounds have arisen; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Stock Company has given notice under the provisions of Article 168(2) or has given public notice under the provisions of paragraph (3) of that Article.
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(5) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not apply if, in cases where the properties provided for in item (iii)(d) to item (iii)(g) inclusive of Article 107(2) is delivered in exchange for the acquisition of the Shares subject to Call, the book value of such properties exceeds the Distributable Amount under Article 461(2) on the day when the grounds under Article 107(2)(iii)(a) arose.
Subsection 4 Acquisition of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call

(Determinations regarding Acquisition of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call)
Article 171 (1) A Company with Class Shares which has issued Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call (meaning the Class Shares that have provisions with respect to the matters listed in Article 108(1)(vii) hereof. The same shall apply in this Subsection.) may acquire all of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call by resolution of a shareholders meeting. In such cases, the following matters shall be prescribed by resolution of such shareholders meeting:
(i) If Monies, etc. will be delivered in exchange for the acquisition of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call, the following matters with respect to such Monies, etc. (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Consideration for Acquisition"):
(a) If such Consideration for Acquisition consists of the shares in the Stock Company, the classes of such shares and the number of shares for each class, or the method for calculating such numbers;
(b) If such Consideration for Acquisition consists of the Bonds of the Stock Company (excluding those with respect to the Bonds with Share Option), the classes of such Bonds and the total amount of Bonds for each class, or the method for calculating such total amounts;
(c) If such Consideration for Acquisition consists of the Share Options of the Stock Company (excluding those attached to Bonds with Share Option), the features and number of such Share Options, or the method for calculating such number;
(d) If such Consideration for Acquisition consists of the Bonds with Share Option of the Stock Company, the matters prescribed in (b) above with respect to such Bonds with Share Option, and the matters prescribed in (c) above with respect to the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option; and
(e) If such Consideration for Acquisition consists of properties other than the shares, etc. of the Stock Company, the description and number or value of such properties, or the method for calculating such number or value.
(ii) In the cases provided for in the preceding item, the matters regarding the allotment of the Consideration for Acquisition to the shareholders of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call.
(iii) The day on which the Stock Company will acquire the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Acquisition Day").
(2) The provisions regarding the matters listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph shall stipulate that the Consideration for Acquisition will be allotted in proportion to the number of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call held by the shareholders (excluding the relevant Stock Company).
(3) The directors, at the shareholders meeting under paragraph (1) above, shall explain the reasons for the need to acquire all of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call.

(Keeping and Inspection, etc. of Documents, etc. related to Consideration for Acquisition etc. of Share Subject to Class-Wide Call)
Article 171-2 (1) A Stock Company acquiring Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call shall keep documents detailing the information set forth in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or other information prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and electronic or magnetic records in which such information has been recorded, at its head office for the period from the earliest of the following days until the day when six months elapse after the Acquisition Day:
(i) The day two weeks before the day of the shareholders meeting under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (in the case under Article 319 (1), the day the proposal under that paragraph is made); or
(ii) The day of notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 172(2) or the day of the public notice under paragraph (3) of that Article, whichever comes first.
(2) Shareholders of a Stock Company acquiring Share Subject to Class-Wide Call may make the following request to such Stock Company at any time during the business hours; provided, however, that the shareholders shall pay the cost specified by such Stock Company in order to make a request listed in items (ii) or (iv):
(i) a request to inspect documents under the preceding paragraph;
(ii) a request for a transcript or extract of documents under the preceding paragraph;
(iii) a request to inspect anything that is used in the manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph; and
(iv) a request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph by an electronic or magnetic means that the Stock Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.

(Request to Cease Acquisition of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call)
Article 171-3 In cases where acquisition of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call pursuant to the provisions of Article 171(1) violates the applicable laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, when shareholders are likely to suffer a disadvantage, shareholders may request to cease the acquisition of said Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call from the Stock Company.

(Petition for the Court to Determine the Price)
Article 172 (1) In cases where the matters listed in each item of Article 171(1) are prescribed, the following shareholders may file a petition for the court to determine the price of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call for the acquisition by the Stock Company, between twenty days prior the Acquisition Day and the day immediately preceding the Acquisition Day.
(i) Shareholders who give notice to such Stock Company to the effect that they dissent from the acquisition by the Stock Company of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call act prior to such shareholders meeting and do dissent from such acquisition at such shareholders meeting (limited to those who can exercise voting right at such shareholders meeting);
(ii) Shareholders who cannot exercise voting right at such shareholders meeting.
(2) A Stock Company shall notify shareholders of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call that the Stock Company acquires all of said Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call by twenty days before the Acquisition Day.
(3) The notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be substituted with a public notice.
(4) The Stock Company shall also pay the interest on the price determined by the court which shall be calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the Acquisition Day.
(5) A Stock Company may pay to shareholders the amount that such Stock Company considers to be a fair price until the determination of the price of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call for acquisition.

(Effectuation)
Article 173 (1) A Stock Company shall acquire Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call on the Acquisition Day.
(2) In the cases listed in the following items, shareholders of the Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call other than the Stock Company (excluding shareholders who file a petition under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article) shall become the person provided for in each of such items in accordance with provisions made by resolution of the shareholders meeting under Article 171(1) on the Acquisition Day:
(i) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 171(1)(i)(a): Shareholders of shares under that item (i)(a);
(ii) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 171(1)(i)(b): Bondholders of Bonds under that item (i)(b);
(iii) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 171(1)(i)(c): Share option holders under that item (i)(c);
(iv) In cases where there is a provision on the matters listed in Article 171(1)(i)(d): Bondholders of the Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option under that item (i)(d), and share option holders attached to such Bonds with Share Option;

(Keeping and Inspection, etc. of Documents, etc. related to Acquisition etc. of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call)
Article 173-2 (1) A Stock Company shall prepare a document or electronic or magnetic record in which it details or records the number of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call that the Stock Company acquired and other information prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as information related to the acquisition of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call, after the Acquisition Day without delay.
(2) A Stock Company shall keep the document or electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph at its head office for six months from the Acquisition Day.
(3) Shareholders of a Stock Company that acquired Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call or persons who were shareholders of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call on the Acquisition Day may make the following requests of said Stock Company at any time during its business hours; provided, however, that the cost specified by such Stock Company shall be paid in order to make a request listed in items (ii) or (iv):
(i) A request to inspect documents under the preceding paragraph;
(ii) A request for a transcript or extract of documents under the preceding paragraph;
(iii) A request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph; and
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph by an electronic or magnetic means that the Stock Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
Subsection 5 Demand for Sale to Heirs

(Provisions of Articles of Incorporation regarding Demand for Sale to Heirs)
Article 174 A Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that it may demand that a person who has acquired shares (limited to Shares with Restriction on Transfer) in such Stock Company by general succession, including inheritance, sell such shares to such Stock Company.

(Determinations regarding Demand for Sale)
Article 175 (1) In cases where there is a provision of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of the preceding Article, whenever a Stock Company intends to effect a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article, it shall prescribe the following matters by resolution of a shareholders meeting:
(i) The number of shares for which the Stock Company intends to effect the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class); and
(ii) The names of the persons who hold the shares under the preceding item.
(2) The persons under item (ii) of the preceding paragraph may not exercise voting right at the shareholders meeting under that paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where all shareholders other than the persons under that paragraph may not exercise the voting right at such shareholders meeting.

(Demand for Sale)
Article 176 (1) If a Stock Company determines the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, it may demand that the persons under item (ii) of that paragraph sell the shares under item (i) of that paragraph to such Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply when one year has lapsed from the day when such Stock Company acquires knowledge of the general succession, including inheritances.
(2) Demands pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be made by disclosing the number of shares relating to such demand (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class).
(3) A Stock Company may withdraw a demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) at any time.

(Determination of Sale Price)
Article 177 (1) In cases where notice is given under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the sale price of the shares under Article 175(1)(i) shall be prescribed through discussion between the Stock Company and the persons under item (ii) of that paragraph.
(2) The Stock Company or persons under Article 175(1)(ii) may file a petition for the court to determine the sale price within twenty days from the day when a demand is made under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(3) In order to make the determination under the preceding paragraph, the court shall consider the financial conditions of the Stock Company at the time of the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article and all other circumstances.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), if a petition is made under paragraph (2) within the period provided for in that paragraph, the amount determined by the court in response to such petition shall be the sale price of the shares under Article 175(1)(i).
(5) If no petition is made under paragraph (2) within the period provided for in that paragraph (except in cases where the discussions under paragraph (1) are successfully concluded within such period), a demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article shall become ineffective.
Subsection 6 Cancellation of Shares
Article 178 (1) A Stock Company may cancel its Treasury Shares. In such cases, the Stock Company shall determine the number of the Treasury Shares it intends to cancel (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of Treasury Shares for each class).
(2) For a Company with Board of Directors, the determination under the provisions of the second sentence of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a board of directors meeting.
Section 4-2 Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out of Special Controlling Shareholders

(Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out)
Article 179 (1) Special Controlling Shareholders of a Stock Company (in cases where a person in cases where not less than nine-tenths (9/10) of the votes of all shareholders of the Stock Company (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation of such Stock Company, such proportion) are held by such person other than such Stock Company and in cases where a juridical person prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a Stock Company all of the Issued Shares of which are held by such person or one equivalent thereto (hereinafter referred to as "Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder" in this Article and paragraph (1) of the following Article), meaning such person; the same shall apply hereinafter) may demand from all shareholders of such Stock Company (excluding such Stock Company and said Special Controlling Shareholders) to sell all of the shares of such Stock Company that they hold to such Special Controlling Shareholder; provided, however, that such Special Controlling Shareholders may choose not to make a demand to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder.
(2) When making a demand pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "Demand for Cash-Out" in this Chapter and Article 846-2, paragraph (2), item (i)), a Special Controlling Shareholders may also request from all of the share option holders (excluding Subject Company and said Special Controlling Shareholders) of a Stock Company issuing shares pertaining to the Demand for Cash-Out (hereinafter referred to as "Subject Company") to sell all of the Share Options of the Subject Company that they have to such Special Controlling Shareholders; provided, however, that such Special Controlling Shareholders may choose not to make a demand to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder.
(3) When making a demand pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph with regard to Share Options (hereinafter referred to as "Demand for Share Option Cash-Out") attached to Bonds with Share Option, Special Controlling Shareholders must also demand to sell all bonds pertaining to Bonds with Share Option to said Special Controlling Shareholders; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where it is otherwise provided for with respect to the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option.

(Method of Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out)
Article 179-2 (1) The Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out shall be made by specifying the matters listed below:
(i) When choosing not to make a Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder, to that effect and the name of such Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder;
(ii) The amount of money to be delivered to shareholders who sell shares of the Subject Company that they hold by Demand for Cash-Out (hereinafter the shareholders shall be referred to as "Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out") as the value for such shares (hereinafter referred to as "Shares Subject to the Cash-Out" in this Chapter) or the calculation method;
(iii) Matters related to allotment of money under the preceding item to Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out;
(iv) When making a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out (including the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article in cases where Share Options related to the Demand for Share Option Cash-Out is attached to Bonds with Share Option; the same shall apply hereinafter) along with the Demand for Cash-Out, to that effect and the following matters:
(a) When choosing not to make a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder, to that effect and the name of such Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Special Controlling Shareholder;
(b) The amount of money to be delivered to a share option holder who sells Share Options of the Subject Company that he/she holds by the Demand for Share Option Cash-Out (hereinafter the person shall be referred to as "Share Option Holder Subject to the Cash-Out") as the value of said Share Options (in cases where such Share Option is the one attached to Bonds with Share Option, when making a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, including bonds for such Bonds with Share Option; hereinafter referred to as "Share Options Subject to the Cash-Out" in this Part) or the calculation method; and
(c) Matters related to the allotment of money under (b) to a Share Option Holder Subject to the Cash-Out.
(v) The day when a Special Controlling Shareholder acquires Shares Subject to the Cash-Out (in cases where making a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out along with the Demand for Cash-Out, Shares Subject to the Cash-Out and Share Options Subject to the Cash-Out; hereinafter referred to as "Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out") (hereinafter such day shall be referred to as "Acquisition Day" in this Part); and
(vi) Matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice in addition to those listed in preceding items.
(2) In cases where a Subject Company is a Company with Class Shares, a Special Controlling Shareholder may stipulate that the allotment of money under item (ii) of the preceding paragraph will be treated differently for each class of Shares Subject to the Cash-Out as matters listed in item (iii) of that paragraph depending on the content of Class of Shares issued by the Subject Company, and the content of such different treatment.
(3) The provisions on matters listed in paragraph (1) (iii) shall stipulate that money is delivered depending on the number of Shares Subject to the Cash-Out (in cases where there are provisions prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the number of Shares Subject to the Cash-Out in each class) held by Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out.

(Approval of Subject Company)
Article 179-3 (1) When a Special Controlling Shareholder intends to make a Demand for Cash-Out (in cases of making a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out along with the Demand for Cash-Out, the Demand for Cash-Out and Demand for Share Option Cash-Out; hereinafter collectively referred to as "Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out"), he/she shall notify the Subject Company to that effect and matters listed in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, and shall obtain its approval.
(2) When a Special Controlling Shareholder intends to make a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out along with the Demand for Cash-Out, the Subject Company may not approve only the Demand for Share Option Cash-Out.
(3) A Company with Board of Directors shall make a determination as to whether or not to approve by resolution of the board of directors.
(4) When a Subject Company makes a determination as to whether or not to approve under paragraph (1), it shall notify the Special Controlling Shareholder of the content of such determination.

(Notice to Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out)
Article 179-4 (1) When a Subject Company approves under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, it shall notify the persons listed in the following items of the matters specified in such items by twenty days before the Acquisition Day:
(i) Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out (in cases where a Special Controlling Shareholder makes a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out along with the Demand for Cash-Out, Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out and Share Option Holders Subject to the Cash-Out; hereinafter collectively referred to as "Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out" in this Section): the fact that said approval is granted, name and address of the Special Controlling Shareholder, matters listed in Article 179-2(1)(i) through (v), and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice; and
(ii) Registered Pledgee of Shares Subject to the Cash-Out (in cases where a Special Controlling Shareholder makes a Demand for Share Option Cash-Out along with the Demand for Cash-Out, Registered Pledgees of Shares of Shares Subject to the Cash-Out and Registered Pledgees of Share Options of Share Option Subject to the Cash-Out (such Registered Pledgee of Share Options means a Registered Pledgee of Share Options prescribed in Article 270 (1))): the fact that such approval is granted.
(2) Notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph (excluding those for Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out) may be substituted with a public notice.
(3) When a Subject Company makes notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or public notice under the preceding paragraph, it shall be deemed that a Special Controlling Shareholder has made a Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out to Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out.
(4) The cost for notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or public notice under paragraph (2) shall be paid by the Special Controlling Shareholder.

(Keeping and Inspection, etc. of Documents, etc. related to the Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out)
Article 179-5 (1) A Subject Company shall keep documents detailing the following information, and electronic or magnetic records in which such information has been recorded, at its head office for the period from the day of notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1)(i) of the preceding Article or the day of public notice under paragraph (2) of said Article, whichever comes first, until the day when six months elapse after the Acquisition Day (in cases where the Subject Company is not a Public Company, one year after the Acquisition Day):
(i) Name and address of the Special Controlling Shareholder;
(ii) Matters listed in the items of Article 179-2(1);
(iii) The fact that approval under Article 179-3(1) is granted; and
(iv) In addition to those listed in the preceding three items, matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out may make the following requests to the Subject Company at any time during its business hours; provided, however, that the cost specified by such Subject Company shall be paid for making a request listed in items (ii) or (iv):
(i) A request to inspect documents under the preceding paragraph;
(ii) A request for a transcript or extract of documents under the preceding paragraph;
(iii) A request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph; and
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph by an electronic or magnetic means that the Subject Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.

(Withdrawal of Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out)
Article 179-6 (1) After obtaining the approval under Article 179-3 (1), a Special Controlling Shareholder may withdraw the Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out for all Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out only in cases where the approval of the Subject Company is obtained by the day before the Acquisition Day.
(2) A Company with Board of Directors shall make a determination as to whether or not to approve under the preceding paragraph by resolution of the board of directors.
(3) When a Subject Company makes a determination as to whether or not to approve under paragraph (1), it shall notify the Special Controlling Shareholder content of such determination.
(4) When the Subject Company grants approval under paragraph (1), it shall notify Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out of the fact that such approval is granted without delay.
(5) The notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be substituted by a public notice.
(6) When a Subject Company makes a notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) or a notice under the preceding paragraph, the Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out is deemed to be withdrawn for all of Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out.
(7) The cost of the notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) or the public notice under paragraph (5) shall be paid by the Special Controlling Shareholder.
(8) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases of withdrawing only the Demand for Share Option Cash-Out. In this case, "Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out" in paragraph (4) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Share Option Holder Subject to the Cash-Out."

(Demand to Cease Acquisition of Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out)
Article 179-7 (1) In the following cases, if a Shareholder Subject to the Cash-Out is likely to suffer any disadvantages, the Shareholder Subject to the Cash-Out may demand to a Special Controlling Shareholder to cease acquisition of all Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out pertaining to the Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out:
(i) In cases where the Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out violates the laws and regulations;
(ii) In cases where a Subject Company violates the provisions of Article 179-4 (1)(i) (limited to the part pertaining to the notice to Shareholders Subject to the Cash-Out) or Article 179-5; and
(iii) In cases where the matters listed in Article 179-2(1) (ii) or (iii) are extremely unfair according to financial status of the Subject Company or other circumstances.
(2) In the following cases, if a Share Option Holder Subject to the Cash-Out is likely to suffer any disadvantages, the Share Option Holder Subject to the Cash-Out may demand that the Special Controlling Shareholder cease acquisition of all of Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out pertaining to the Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out:
(i) In cases where the Demand for Share Option Cash-Out violates the laws and regulations;
(ii) In cases where a Subject Company violates the provisions of Article 179-4(1)(i) (limited to the part pertaining to the notice to Share Option Holder Subject to the Cash-Out) or Article 179-5; and
(iii) In cases where the matters listed in Article 179-2 (1)(iv)(b) or (c) are extremely unfair according to the financial status of the Subject Company or other circumstances.

(Petition to Determine the Sale Price)
Article 179-8 (1) If a Demand for Shares, etc. Cash-Out is made, Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out may file a petition for the court to determine the sale price of their Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out, between twenty days prior to the Acquisition Day and the day immediately preceding the Acquisition Day.
(2) A Special Controlling Shareholder shall also pay interest on the sale price determined by the court which shall be calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the Acquisition Day.
(3) A Special Controlling Shareholder may pay to Shareholders, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out the amount that such Special Controlling Shareholder considers to be a fair sale price until the determination of the sale price of the Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out is made.

(Acquisition of Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out)
Article 179-9 (1) A Special Controlling Shareholder who has made a Demand for Share, etc. Cash-Out shall acquire all of the Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out on the Acquisition Day.
(2) If Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out that a Special Controlling Shareholder acquired pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph are Shares with Restriction on Transfer or Share Options with Restriction on Transfer (meaning the Share Options with Restriction on Transfer prescribed in Article 243(2)(ii)), it is deemed that the Subject Company determined to grant an approval under Article 137(1) or Article 263(1) with respect to the fact that said Special Controlling Shareholder acquires said Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out.

(Keeping and Inspection, etc. of Documents, etc. related to Acquisition of Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out)
Article 179-10 (1) A Subject Company shall prepare a document or an electronic or magnetic record in which it details or records the number of Shares, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out that a Special Controlling Shareholder acquired by the Demand for Shares, etc. Cash-Out and other information prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as information related to the acquisition of Shares, etc. Subject to Cash Out pertaining to the Demand for Shares, etc. Cash-Out, after the Acquisition Day without delay.
(2) A Subject Company shall keep the document or electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph at its head office for six months from the Acquisition Day (in cases where the Subject Company is not a Public Company, one year after the Acquisition Day).
(3) A person who is a Shareholder, etc. Subject to the Cash-Out on the Acquisition Day may make the following requests to a Subject Company at any time during its business hours; provided, however, that the cost specified by said Subject Company shall be paid for making a request listed in items (ii) or (iv):
(i) A request to inspect documents under the preceding paragraph;
(ii) A request for a transcript or extract of documents under the preceding paragraph;
(iii) A request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph; and
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph by an electronic or magnetic means that the Subject Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
Section 5 Consolidation of Shares
Subsection 1 Consolidation of Shares

(Consolidation of Shares)
Article 180 (1) A Stock Company may consolidate its shares.
(2) Whenever a Stock Company intends to consolidate its shares, it shall determine the following matters by resolution of a shareholders meeting:
(i) The ratio of the consolidation;
(ii) The day when the consolidation of shares will become effective (hereinafter referred to as "Effective Day" in this Subsection);
(iii) In cases where the Stock Company is a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares it will consolidate; and
(iv) The Total Number of Authorized Shares on the Effective Day.
(3) The Total Number of Authorized Shares under item (iv) of the preceding paragraph shall not exceed the number four times the number of total Issued Shares on the Effective Day; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Stock Company is not a Public Company.
(4) The directors shall, at the shareholders meeting referred to in paragraph (2), explain the reasons for the need to consolidate the shares.

(Notices to Shareholders)
Article 181 (1) No later than two weeks prior to the Effective Day, the Stock Company shall notify the shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, referring to the Class Shareholders of the classes of shares under paragraph (2), item (iii) of the preceding Article. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection.) and the Registered Pledgees of the Shares thereof of the matters listed in each item of that paragraph.
(2) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Effectuation)
Article 182 (1) On the Effective Day, the shareholders shall become shareholders of shares in the number obtained by multiplying the number of shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of the classes provided for in Article 180(2)(iii). The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph.) they held on the day immediately preceding that day, by the ratio provided for in paragraph (2) item (i) of that Article.
(2) A Stock Company consolidating shares shall be deemed to have changed the articles of incorporation pertaining to said matters on the Effective Day in accordance with provisions on the matters listed in Article 180 (2)(iv).

(Keeping and Inspection, etc. of Documents, etc. related to the Consolidation of Shares)
Article 182-2 (1) A Stock Company consolidating shares (in cases where share units (in cases of a Company with Class Shares, share units of shares of classes under Article 180 (2)(iii); the same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) is stipulated in the articles of incorporation, limited to those generating fractions less than one with the number obtained by multiplying the rate under paragraph (2), item (i) of said Article; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Subsection) shall keep documents detailing the information set forth in the items of said paragraph and other information prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and electronic or magnetic records in which such information has been recorded, at its head office for the period from the earliest of the following days until the day when six months elapse after the Effective Day:
(i) The day two weeks before the day of the shareholders meeting under Article 180 (2) (in cases where a resolution of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders is required for consolidation of shares, including said General Meeting of Class Shareholders; the same shall apply in Article 182-4(2)) (in cases under Article 319(1), the day when the proposal under said paragraph is made); or
(ii) The day of notice made to shareholders pursuant to the provisions of Article 181(1) as applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 182-4(3), or the day of public notice under Article 181 (2), whichever comes first.
(2) Shareholders of Stock Company consolidating shares may make the following request to said Stock Company at any time during its business hours; provided, however, the cost specified by said Stock Company shall be paid for making a request listed in items (ii) or (iv):
(i) a request to inspect documents under the preceding paragraph;
(ii) a request for a transcript or extract of documents under the preceding paragraph;
(iii) a request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph; and
(iv) a request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph by an electronic or magnetic means that the Stock Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.

(Request to Cease Consolidation of Shares)
Article 182-3 In cases where the consolidation of shares violates the applicable laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, when shareholders are likely to suffer disadvantage, shareholders may request to cease said consolidation of shares from the Stock Company.

(Dissenting Shareholders Appraisal Rights)
Article 182-4 (1) In cases where fractions less than one share are included in the number of shares when a Stock Company consolidates shares, Dissenting Shareholders may demand that the Stock Company purchase, at a fair price, all of the fractions of less than one share from among shares that they hold.
(2) "Dissenting Shareholders" prescribed in the preceding paragraph shall mean the following shareholders:
(i) A shareholder who gives notice to said Stock Company that he/she is against said consolidation of shares prior to the shareholders meeting under Article 180 (2) and is against said consolidation of shares at said shareholders meeting (limited to persons who can exercise voting rights at said shareholders meeting); and
(ii) A shareholder who cannot exercise voting rights at said shareholders meeting.
(3) When applying the provisions of Article 181(1) to the notice to shareholders in cases where a Stock Company consolidates shares, "two weeks" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "twenty days."
(4) To make a demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) (hereinafter in this Section referred to as the "Exercise of Appraisal Rights"), a dissenting shareholder must indicate the number of shares with regard to which the shareholder is Exercising Appraisal Rights (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class), between twenty days prior to the Effective Day and the day immediately preceding the Effective Day.
(5) When intending to Exercise Appraisal Rights for shares for which share certificates have been issued, shareholders of said shares shall submit to the Stock Company the share certificates representing those shares; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a person who made a request under the provisions of Article 223 with respect to said shares.
(6) Shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights may withdraw their demands for appraisal only with the approval of the Stock Company.
(7) The provisions of Article 133 shall not apply to shares pertaining to the Exercise of Appraisal Rights.

(Determination of the Price of Shares)
Article 182-5 (1) If a shareholder Exercises Appraisal Rights and an agreement determining the price of the shares is reached between the shareholder and the Stock Company, the Stock Company must pay that price within sixty days from the Effective Day.
(2) If no agreement deciding the price of shares is reached within thirty days from the Effective Day, the shareholders or the Stock Company may file a petition for the court to determine the price within thirty days after the expiration of that period.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (6) of the preceding Article, in the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the petition under said paragraph is not made within sixty days after the Effective Day, shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights may withdraw their demands for appraisal at any time after the expiration of said period.
(4) The Stock Company shall also pay interest on the price determined by the court which shall be calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the day of the expiration of the period set forth in paragraph (1).
(5) The Stock Company may pay to shareholders the amount said Stock Company considers as a fair price until the determination of the price of shares.
(6) A share purchase connected with the Exercise of Appraisal Rights becomes effective on the Effective Day.
(7) If a shareholder Exercises Appraisal Rights with respect to shares for which share certificates are issued, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall pay the price of the shares relating to the Exercise of the Appraisal Rights in exchange for the share certificates.

(Keeping and Inspection, etc. of Documents, etc. related to Consolidation of Shares)
Article 182-6 (1) A Stock Company having consolidated shares shall prepare a document or an electronic or magnetic record in which it details or records the total number of Issued Shares at the time when consolidation of shares comes into effect (in cases of a Company with Class Shares, total number of the Issued Shares of class under Article 180(2)(iii)) and other information prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as related to the consolidation of shares after the Effective Day without delay.
(2) A Stock Company shall keep the document or electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph at its head office for six months from the Effective Day.
(3) Shareholders of a Stock Company that consolidated shares or persons who were shareholders of said Stock Company on the Effective Day may make the following requests from said Stock Company at any time during its business hours; provided, however, that the cost specified by said Stock Company shall be paid for making a request listed in items (ii) or (iv):
(i) A request to inspect documents under the preceding paragraph;
(ii) A request for a transcript or extract of documents under the preceding paragraph;
(iii) A request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph; and
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph by an electronic or magnetic means that the Stock Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
Subsection 2 Share Split

(Share Split)
Article 183 (1) A Stock Company may split its shares.
(2) Whenever a Stock Company intends to split its shares, it shall prescribe the following matters by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors):
(i) The ratio of the total number of shares after the increase as a result of the Share Split to the total number of Issued Shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Issued Shares of the classes under item (iii)) immediately before the Share Split, and the Record Date relating to such Share Split;
(ii) The day when the Share Split will become effective;
(iii) In cases where the Stock Company is a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares it splits.

(Effectuation)
Article 184 (1) Shareholders that have been entered or recorded in the shareholder register on the Record Date (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Class Shareholders of the classes provided for in item (iii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article that have been entered or recorded in the shareholder register on the Record Date) shall acquire, on the day provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph, shares in the number obtained by multiplying the number of shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of the classes provided for in item (iii) of that paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph.) they hold on the Record Date, by the ratio provided for in item (i), paragraph (2) of that Article.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 466, a Stock Company (excluding a Stock Company that in fact issues two or more classes of shares) may, without a resolution of a shareholders meeting, effect an amendment to the articles of incorporation that is intended to increase the Total Number of Authorized Shares on the day provided for in item (ii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article to the extent of the number obtained by multiplying the Total Number of Authorized Shares as of the day immediately preceding such day, by the ratio provided for in item (i) of that paragraph.
Subsection 3 Allotment of Shares without Contribution

(Allotment of Shares without Contribution)
Article 185 A Stock Company may allot the shares of such Stock Company to shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shareholders of certain classes) without requiring them to make additional contribution (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Allotment of Shares without Contribution").

(Determination of Matters concerning Allotment of Shares without Contribution)
Article 186 (1) Whenever a Stock Company intends to effect the Allotment of Shares without Contribution, it shall prescribe the following matters:
(i) The number of shares the Stock Company will allot to shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of shares and the number of shares for each class), or the method for calculating such number;
(ii) The day when such Allotment of Shares without Contribution becomes effective; and
(iii) In cases where the Stock Company is a Company with Class Shares, the classes of shares held by the shareholders entitled to such Allotment of Shares without Contribution.
(2) The provisions regarding the matters listed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph shall stipulate that the shares under item (i) of that paragraph will be allotted in proportion to the number of shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of the classes under item (iii) of that paragraph) held by shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Class Shareholders of shares of the classes under item (iii) of that paragraph) other than such Stock Company.
(3) The determination of the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.

(Effectuation of Allotment of Shares without Contribution)
Article 187 (1) Shareholders to whom the shares under item (i), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article have been allotted shall become shareholders of the shares provided for in item (i) of that paragraph on the day provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph.
(2) Without delay after the day provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph, a Stock Company shall notify shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Class Shareholders of the classes under item (iii) of that paragraph) and the Registered Pledgees of the Shares thereof of the number of the shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class) that have been allotted to such shareholders.
Section 6 Share Units
Subsection 1 General Provisions

(Share Unit)
Article 188 (1) A Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation, with respect to the shares it issues, to the effect that a fixed number of shares shall constitute one unit of shares, which entitles a shareholder to cast one vote at a shareholders meeting or General Meeting of Class Shareholders.
(2) The fixed number in the preceding paragraph may not exceed the number prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) A Company with Class Shares shall provide for the Share Unit for each class of its shares.

(Restriction on Rights in relation to Shareholdings less than One Unit)
Article 189 (1) Shareholders who hold shares in a number less than one Share Unit (hereinafter referred to respectively as "Holder of Shares Less than One Unit" and "Shares Less than One Unit") may not exercise voting right at a shareholders meeting or General Meeting of Class Shareholders with respect to their Shares Less than One Unit.
(2) A Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that Holders of Shares Less than One Unit may not exercise some or all rights, other than the following rights, with respect to the relevant Shares Less than One Unit:
(i) The right to take delivery of the Consideration for Acquisition provided for in Article 171(1)(i);
(ii) The right to take delivery of Monies, etc. in exchange for the acquisition by the Stock Company of Shares subject to Call;
(iii) The right to receive the Allotment of Shares without Contribution provided for in Article 185;
(iv) The right to demand the purchase of the Shares Less than One Unit pursuant to the provisions of Article 192(1);
(v) The right to receive the distribution of residual assets;
(vi) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding items, any matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that it may elect to not issue share certificates representing Shares Less than One Unit.

(Disclosure of Reasons)
Article 190 In cases where the Share Unit is to be prescribed, the directors shall explain the reasons for the need to prescribe such Share Unit at the shareholders meeting at which it is intended to amend the articles of incorporation to prescribe such Share Unit.

(Special Provisions on Procedures)
Article 191 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 466, a Stock Company may effect an amendment to the articles of incorporation that will increase the size of the Share Unit (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the size of the Share Unit for the shares of each class. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.) or create a provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the Share Unit without a resolution of a shareholders meeting, in cases that fall under both of the following items:
(i) That the amendment will increase the size of the Share Unit simultaneously with a Share Split, or create a provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the Share Unit; and
(ii) That the number provided for in (a) below is not less than the number provided for in (b) below:
(a) The number obtained by dividing the number of the shares held by each shareholder after such amendment to the articles of incorporation by the Share Unit;
(b) The number of the shares held by each shareholder before such amendment to the articles of incorporation (or, in cases where the Share Unit is prescribed, the number obtained by dividing the number of such shares by the Share Unit).
Subsection 2 Demand for Purchase from Holder of Shares Less than One Unit

(Demand for Purchase of Holder of Shares Less than One Unit)
Article 192 (1) Holders of Shares Less than One Unit may demand that the Stock Company purchase the Shares Less than One Unit that they hold.
(2) A demand under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made by disclosing the number of the Shares Less than One Unit relating to that demand (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the Shares Less than One Unit and the number of shares for each class).
(3) A Holder of Shares Less than One Unit who makes a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) may withdraw such demand only if the approval of the Stock Company is obtained.

(Determination of Price of Shares Less than One Unit)
Article 193 (1) In cases where the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is made, the amount provided for in each of the following items in accordance with the categories of the cases listed in such items, shall be the price of the Shares Less than One Unit relating to such demand:
(i) In cases where the Shares Less than One Unit are shares with a market price, the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of such Shares Less than One Unit;
(ii) In cases other than the cases listed in the preceding item, the amount prescribed through discussions between the Stock Company and the Holder of Shares Less than One Unit who made the demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(2) In the cases listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, the Holder of Shares Less than One Unit who made the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, or the Stock Company, may file a petition for the court to determine the price within twenty days from the day when such demand is made.
(3) In order to make the determination under the preceding paragraph, the court shall consider the financial condition of the Stock Company at the time of the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article and all other circumstances.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), if petition is filed under paragraph (2) within the period provided for in that paragraph, the amount determined by the court in response to such petition shall be the price of such Shares Less than One Unit.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), in the cases listed in item (ii) of that paragraph, if no petition is filed under paragraph (2) within the period provided for in that paragraph (except in cases where the discussions under item (ii) of paragraph (1) are successfully concluded within such period), the sale price of the Shares Less than One Unit shall be the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the net assets per share by the number of the Shares Less than One Unit related to the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(6) The purchase of the shares related to the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article shall become effective as at payment for such shares.
(7) If a Holder of Shares Less than One Unit makes a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article with respect to shares for which share certificates are issued, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall pay the price of the shares related to the demand in exchange for the share certificates.
Subsection 3 Demand for Sale to Holder of Shares Less than One Unit
Article 194 (1) A Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that a Holder of Shares Less than One Unit may submit to such Stock Company a Demand for the Sale of Shares Less than One Unit (referring to a demand that the Stock Company sell to a Holder of Shares Less than One Unit such number of shares which, together with the number of Shares Less than One Unit held by such Holder of Shares Less than One Unit, will constitute one Share Unit. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.).
(2) Demand for the Sale of Shares Less than One Unit shall be made by disclosing the number of the Shares Less than One Unit to be sold to such Holder of Shares Less than One Unit (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the Shares Less than One Unit and the number of shares for each class).
(3) A Stock Company that is subject to a Demand for the Sale of Shares Less than One Unit shall sell its Treasury Shares to such Holders of Shares Less than One Unit, unless the Stock Company does not hold, at the time of reception of such Demand for the Sale of Shares Less than One Unit, Treasury Shares in a number corresponding to the number of the Shares Less than One Unit provided for in the preceding paragraph.
(4) The provisions of Article 192(3), and paragraph (1) to paragraph (6) inclusive of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to Demand for the Sale of Shares Less than One Unit.
Subsection 4 Changes in Share Unit
Article 195 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 466, a Stock Company may decrease the size of the Share Unit or abolish the provision of the articles of incorporation with respect to the Share Unit by effecting an amendment to the articles of incorporation by decision of the directors (or resolution of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors).
(2) In cases where an amendment is made in the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Stock Company shall, without delay after the day of the effectuation of such amendment to the articles of incorporation, notify its shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, its Class Shareholders of the classes for which the Share Unit has been changed pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph) to the effect that such amendment to the articles of incorporation has been made.
(3) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
Section 7 Omission of Notices to Shareholders

(Omission of Notices to Shareholders)
Article 196 (1) In cases where notices or demands from a Stock Company do not reach a shareholder for five consecutive years or more, the Stock Company shall no longer be required to give notices or issue demands to such shareholder.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the address of the Stock Company shall be the place where the obligation of the Stock Company with regard to the shareholder under that paragraph is performed.
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to Registered Pledgees of Shares.

(Auction of Shares)
Article 197 (1) A Stock Company may sell shares that fall under both of the following items by auction and tender the proceeds thereof to the shareholders of such shares:
(i) That there is no requirement to give notice or issue a demand to the shareholder of such shares pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, or Article 294(2); and
(ii) That the shareholders of such shares have not received dividends of surplus for consecutive five years.
(2) In lieu of sale by auction under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company may sell shares under that paragraph with a market price in an amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price thereof, and shares under that paragraph without a market price using a method other than auction with the permission of the court. In such cases, if there are two or more directors, the petition for such permission shall be filed with the consent of all directors.
(3) The Stock Company may purchase some or all of the shares sold under the provisions of the preceding paragraph. In such cases, the Stock Company shall prescribe the following matters:
(i) The number of shares to be purchased (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of shares and the number of shares for each class);
(ii) The total amount of the monies to be delivered in exchange for the purchase of the shares in the preceding item.
(4) A Company with Board of Directors shall determine the matters listed in each item of the preceding paragraph by resolution of a board of directors meeting.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2), in cases where there are Registered Pledgees of Shares, the Stock Company may effect the auction under the provisions of paragraph (1), or the sale pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2), only if such Registered Pledgees of Shares are the persons who fall under both of the following items:
(i) That there is no requirement to give notice or issue a demand to such persons under the provisions of Article 196(1) applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (3) of that paragraph; and
(ii) That the persons have not received the dividends of surplus to which they are entitled under the provisions of Article 154(1) for consecutive five years.

(Objections of Interested Parties)
Article 198 (1) In cases where a Stock Company effects an auction under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, or a sale under the provisions of paragraph (2) of that Article, the Stock Company shall give public notice to the effect that interested parties, including the shareholders of the shares provided for in paragraph (1) of that Article, may state their objections during a certain period of time, and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and shall issue separate demands seeking such objections, if any, to each shareholder of such shares and each Registered Pledgee of Shares thereof; provided, however, that such period cannot be less than three months.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 126(1) and Article 150(1), the demands under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be sent to the addresses of such shareholders and Registered Pledgees of Shares which have been entered or recorded in the shareholder register (or, in cases where such shareholders or Registered Pledgees of Shares notify such Stock Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 126(3) and (4), if a share is co-owned by two or more persons, the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be sent to the address of the co-owners which has been entered or recorded in the shareholder register (or, in cases where such co-owners notify such Stock Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(4) The provisions of Article 196(1) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (3) of that paragraph) shall not apply to demands under the provisions of paragraph (1).
(5) In cases where public notice is given under the provisions of paragraph (1) (limited to cases where share certificates representing the shares under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article have been issued), if no interested party raises any objection within the period under paragraph (1), the share certificates representing those shares shall become invalid on the last day of such period.
Section 8 Issue of Shares for Subscription
Subsection 1 Determination of Subscription Requirements

(Determination of Subscription Requirements)
Article 199 (1) Whenever a Stock Company intends to solicit persons to subscribe for shares it issues or for Treasury Shares it disposes of, the Stock Company shall prescribe the following matters with respect to the Shares for Subscription (meaning shares the Stock Company allots to persons who subscribed for those shares in response to such solicitation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section.):
(i) The number of Shares for Subscription (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes and the number of the Shares for Subscription. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section.);
(ii) The Amount To Be Paid In (meaning the amount of the monies to be paid in in exchange for one of the Shares for Subscription, or the amount of any property other than monies to be contributed. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section.) for the Shares for Subscription or the method for calculating such amount;
(iii) If property other than monies will be the subject of the contribution, a statement to such effect and the description and value of such property;
(iv) The day or period for the payment of the monies in exchange for the Shares for Subscription, or the contribution of the property under the preceding item;
(v) If shares are issued, matters regarding the capital and capital reserves that is to be increased.
(2) The determination of the matters listed in each item of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Subscription Requirements") shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(3) In cases where the Amount To Be Paid In under item (ii) of paragraph (1) is particularly favorable to subscribers for the Shares for Subscription, the directors shall, at the shareholders meeting under the preceding paragraph, explain the reasons for the need to solicit such persons with such an offer of the Amount To Be Paid In.
(4) For a Company with Class Shares, if the class of the Shares for Subscription under item (i) of paragraph (1) is that of Shares with Restriction on Transfer, the determination of the Subscription Requirements regarding such class of shares shall not become effective without a resolution of the relevant General Meeting of Class Shareholders, except in cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that, with respect to the solicitation of subscribers for such class shares, a resolution of the General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class shares is not required; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where there is no Class Shareholder who can exercise his/her voting right at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders.
(5) The Subscription Requirements shall be uniform for each solicitation under paragraph (1).

(Delegation of Determination of Subscription Requirements)
Article 200 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (4) of the preceding Article, a shareholders meeting may, by means of a resolution, delegate the determination of the Subscription Requirements to the directors (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, the board of directors). In such cases, the shareholders meeting shall prescribe the maximum number of the Shares for Subscription for which the Subscription Requirements may be determined under such delegation, and the minimum Amount To Be Paid In.
(2) In cases where the minimum Amount To Be Paid In in the preceding paragraph is particularly favorable to subscribers for the Shares for Subscription, the directors shall, at the shareholders meeting under that paragraph, explain the reason for the need to solicit such persons with such an offer of the Amount To Be Paid In.
(3) The resolution under paragraph (1) shall be effective with respect only to solicitations under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article under which the date in item (iv) of that paragraph (in cases where a period is determined under that item, the last day of such period) falls within one year from the day of such resolution.
(4) For a Company with Class Shares, if the class of the Shares for Subscription under paragraph (1) is that of Shares with Restriction on Transfer, the delegation of the determination of the Subscription Requirements regarding such class shares shall not become effective without a resolution of the General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class shares, except in cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation under paragraph (4) of the preceding Article with respect to such class shares; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where there is no Class Shareholder who can exercise his/her voting right at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders.

(Special Provisions on Determination of Subscription Requirements for Public Company)
Article 201 (1) Except for cases provided for in Article 199(3), for the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) of that Article to a Public Company, "shareholders meeting" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of directors meeting." In such cases, the provision of the preceding Article shall not apply.
(2) In cases where Subscription Requirements are determined by a resolution of the board of directors meeting provided for in Article 199(2) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if a Public Company solicits subscribers for shares with a market price, it may prescribe, in lieu of the matters listed in item (ii), paragraph (1) of that Article, the method for determining the Amount To Be Paid In that is appropriate to realize payment in at a fair value.
(3) If a Public Company has determined Subscription Requirements by a resolution of the board of directors meeting provided for in Article 199(2) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, that Public Company shall notify the shareholders of such Subscription Requirements (in cases where the method for determining the Amount To Be Paid In has been prescribed, including that method. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section.) no later than two weeks prior to the day referred to in item (iv), paragraph (1) of that Article (or, in cases where a period has been prescribed under that item, no later than two weeks prior to the first day of that period).
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(5) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall not apply in cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of shareholders is compromised, including cases where, with respect to Subscription Requirements, the Stock Company has submitted, no later than two weeks prior to the date provided for in that paragraph, a notice under Article 4(1) through (3) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

(Cases where Entitlement to Allotment of Shares is Granted to Shareholders)
Article 202 (1) In carrying out solicitation under Article 199(1), the Stock Company may grant entitlement to the allotment of shares to its shareholders. In such cases, the Stock Company shall prescribe the following matters in addition to the Subscription Requirements:
(i) A statement to the effect that the Stock Company will grant entitlement to the allotment of the Shares for Subscription of that Stock Company (or, for a Company with Class Shares, class shares identical to the class shares held by such shareholders) to shareholders, subject to the application provided for in paragraph (2) of the following Article;
(ii) The day for the application for subscription for the Shares for Subscription referred to in the preceding item.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the shareholders under item (i) of that paragraph (excluding the Stock Company) shall be entitled to the allotment of the Shares for Subscription in accordance with the number of shares they hold; provided, however, that if the number of the Shares for Subscription to be allotted to such shareholders includes a fraction of less than one share, it shall be rounded off.
(3) In cases where the Stock Company prescribes the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1), the Subscription Requirements and the matters listed in each item of that paragraph shall be prescribed in accordance with the categories of the cases listed in the following items, by the methods provided for in each of such items:
(i) In cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that such Subscription Requirements and the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) may be prescribed by decision of the directors (excluding the cases where the Stock Company is a Company with Board of Directors): A decision of the directors;
(ii) In cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that such Subscription Requirements and the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) may be prescribed by resolution of the board of directors (excluding the cases listed in the following item): A resolution of the board of directors;
(iii) In cases where the Stock Company is a Public Company: A resolution of the board of directors;
(iv) In cases other than those listed in the preceding three items: A resolution of a shareholders meeting;
(4) In cases where a Stock Company prescribes the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1), the Stock Company shall notify the shareholders under item (i) of that paragraph (excluding such Stock Company) of the following matters no later than two weeks prior to the date provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph:
(i) The Subscription Requirements;
(ii) The number of Shares for Subscription to be allotted to such shareholders; and
(iii) The date provided for in item (ii) of paragraph (1).
(5) The provisions of paragraphs (2) to (4) inclusive of Article 199 and the preceding two articles shall not apply in cases where entitlement to the allotment of shares is granted to shareholders under the provisions of paragraphs (1) to (3) inclusive hereof.
Subsection 2 Allotment of Shares for Subscription

(Applications for Shares for Subscription)
Article 203 (1) A Stock Company shall notify persons who intend to subscribe for Shares for Subscription in response to solicitation in Article 199(1) of the matters listed in the following items:
(i) The trade name of the Stock Company;
(ii) The Subscription Requirements;
(iii) If any money payment is to be made, the place where payments are handled;
(iv) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding three paragraphs, matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A person who submits an application to subscribe for Shares for Subscription in response to solicitation in Article 199(1) shall deliver a document giving the following information:
(i) The name and address of the person applying;
(ii) The number of Shares for Subscription for which he/she intends to subscribe.
(3) A person who submits an application under the preceding paragraph may, in lieu of delivering a document as referred to in that paragraph, provide the information that is required to be detailed in the document referred to in that paragraph by electronic or magnetic means, with the approval of the Stock Company and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, the person who submitted the application shall be deemed to have delivered the document under that paragraph.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall not apply in cases where the Stock Company has issued a prospectus provided for in Article 2(10) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act that states the matters listed in each item of that paragraph to a person who intends to submit the application in paragraph (1), and in other cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of persons who intend to submit applications for subscription for Shares for Subscription is compromised.
(5) If there are changes in the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1), the Stock Company shall immediately notify persons who have submitted applications in paragraph (2) (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Applicants") thereof and of the matters so changed.
(6) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to an Applicant to be sent by the Stock Company to the address under item (i) of paragraph (2) (or, in cases where such Applicant notifies the Stock Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(7) The notices or demands referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.

(Allotment of Shares for Subscription)
Article 204 (1) A Stock Company shall specify the persons to whom Shares for Subscription will be allotted from among the Applicants and the number of Shares for Subscription to be allotted to those persons. In such cases, the Stock Company may reduce the number of Shares for Subscription the Stock Company allots to such Applicants below the number under item (ii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.
(2) In cases where Shares for Subscription are Shares with Restriction on Transfer, the determination under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise prescribed in the articles of incorporation.
(3) The Stock Company shall notify the Applicants, no later than the day immediately preceding the date referred to in item (iv), paragraph (1) of Article 199 (or, in cases where a period is prescribed under that item, no later than the day immediately preceding the first day of that period), of the number of Shares for Subscription that will be allotted to such Applicants.
(4) In cases where the Stock Company has granted entitlement to the allotment of shares to its shareholders pursuant to the provisions of Article 202, if the shareholders do not submit, no later than the date under item (ii), paragraph (1) of that Article, applications under paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, such shareholders shall lose the entitlement to the allotment of Shares for Subscription.

(Special Provision on Subscription and Allotment of Shares for Subscription)
Article 205 (1) The provisions of the preceding two Articles shall not apply in cases where a person who intends to subscribe for Shares for Subscription executes a contract for subscription for the total number of those shares.
(2) In the case prescribed in the preceding paragraph, if Shares for Subscription are Shares with Restriction on Transfer, the Stock Company shall obtain approval of the contract set forth in said paragraph by the resolution of shareholders meeting (in cases of a Company with Board of Directors, the board of directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise prescribed in the articles of incorporation.

(Subscription for Shares for Subscription)
Article 206 The persons listed in the following items shall be the subscribers for Shares for Subscription with respect to the number of Shares for Subscription prescribed in each of such items:
(i) Applicants: The number of the Shares for Subscription allotted by the Stock Company; or
(ii) A person who subscribed for all of the Shares for Subscription under a contract in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The number of Shares for Subscription for which that person has subscribed.

(Special Provision on Allotment, etc. of Shares for Subscription of a Public Company)
Article 206-2 (1) In cases where the rate of the number listed in item (i) to the number listed in item (ii) exceeds 50% with regard to a subscriber for Shares for Subscription, a Public Company shall notify shareholders of the name or address of said subscriber (hereinafter referred to as "Special Subscriber" in this paragraph and paragraph (4)), the number listed in item (i) with respect to said Special Subscriber, and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice by two weeks before the day set forth in Article 199 (1) (iv) (in cases where the period set forth in said item is specified, the first day of the period); provided however that this shall not apply to cases where said Special Subscriber is a Parent Company, etc. of said Public Company or where the right to obtain the allotment of shares is granted to shareholders pursuant to the provisions of Article 202:
(i) The number of votes that said subscriber (including its Subsidiaries, etc.) will hold when said subscriber becomes a shareholder of Shares for Subscription that said subscriber subscribed; and
(ii) The number of votes of all shareholders in cases where all subscribers of said Shares for Subscription become shareholders of Shares for Subscription that they subscribed.
(2) The notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may be substituted with a public notice.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), in cases where a Stock Company has made a notification under Article 4(1) through (3) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in paragraph (1) of this Article by two weeks before the day prescribed in said paragraph, or where it is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of shareholders is compromised, the notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is not required.
(4) When a shareholder(s) holding one-tenth (1/10) or more (in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who cannot exercise voting rights in the shareholders meeting set forth in this paragraph) makes a notice to a Public Company that the shareholder is against subscription for Shares for Subscription by a Special Subscriber (including its Subsidiaries, etc.; hereinafter the same shall apply in this paragraph) within two weeks from the day of notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or the day of public notice set forth in paragraph (2) (in the case set forth in the preceding paragraph, the day specified by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice), said Public Company shall obtain approval for the allotment of Shares for Subscription to said Special Subscriber or for the contract set forth in Article 205 (1) with said Special Subscriber by the resolution of shareholders meeting by the day before the day specified in paragraph (1); provided, however, that this does not apply if said Public Company's financial condition has deteriorated greatly and there is an urgent necessity in order for said Public Company to continue in business.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 309(1), the resolution of the shareholders meeting set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be made by attendance of the shareholders holding a majority of votes out of the shareholders who can exercise voting rights (in cases where one third (1/3) or more of the proportion is stipulated by the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) and by a majority of voting rights of said shareholders presents (in cases where any proportion higher than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more).
Subsection 3 Contribution of Property other than Monies
Article 207 (1) If a Stock Company has prescribed the matters listed in Article 199(1)(iii), the Stock Company shall file a petition to the court, without delay after the determination of the Subscription Requirements, for the appointment of an inspector in order to have the inspector investigate the value of the property provided for in that item (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Properties Contributed in Kind").
(2) In cases where the petition referred to in the preceding paragraph has been filed, the court shall appoint an inspector, except in cases where it dismisses such petition as unlawful.
(3) In cases where the court has appointed the inspector under the preceding paragraph, it may fix the amount of the remuneration that the Stock Company shall pay to such inspector.
(4) The inspector referred to in paragraph (2) shall conduct the necessary investigation and submit a report to the court by providing it with a document detailing the results of the investigation or with an electronic or magnetic record (limited to one as prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice) in which these have been recorded.
(5) If the court finds it necessary to clarify the contents of the report under the preceding paragraph or to confirm the grounds supporting such report, it may request that the inspector under paragraph (2) submit a further report under the preceding paragraph.
(6) If the inspector under paragraph (2) has submitted the report referred to in paragraph (4), he/she shall deliver a copy of the document referred to in that paragraph to the Stock Company or use a means prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to provide it with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in that paragraph.
(7) In cases where the court receives a report under paragraph (4), if it finds the value provided for in Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to Properties Contributed in Kind (excluding a value not subjected to investigation by the inspector under paragraph (2)) to be improper, it shall issue a ruling changing such value.
(8) In cases where the value of Properties Contributed in Kind has been changed, in whole or in part, because of a ruling under the preceding paragraph, the subscriber for Shares for Subscription (limited to a person who tenders Properties Contributed in Kind. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article.) may rescind his/her applications for subscription for Shares for Subscription, or his/her manifestation of intention relating to the contract provided for in Article 205(1), limited to within one week from the finalization of such ruling.
(9) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not apply in the cases in each of the following items with respect to the matters prescribed respectively in those items:
(i) In cases where the total number of the shares to be allotted to the subscribers for the Shares for Subscription does not exceed one tenth (1/10) of the total number of Issued Shares: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind that are tendered by the subscribers for such Shares for Subscription;
(ii) In cases where the total sum of the value provided for under Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind does not exceed 5,000,000 yen: The value of such Properties Contributed in Kind;
(iii) In cases where the value of the securities with market price provided for under Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to Properties Contributed in Kind does not exceed the value calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of such securities: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind with respect to such securities;
(iv) In cases where the verification of an attorney, a legal professional corporation, a certified public accountant, an auditing firm, a tax accountant or a tax accountant corporation (or in cases where the Properties Contributed in Kind consist of real estate, such verification and an appraisal by a real property appraiser. The same shall apply hereinafter in this item.) is obtained with respect to the reasonableness of the value provided for under Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to Properties Contributed in Kind: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind so verified;
(v) In cases where the Properties Contributed in Kind consist of a money claim (limited to claims that have already fallen due) to the Stock Company, and the value provided for under Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to such money claim does not exceed the book value of the debt representing such monetary claim: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind with respect to such monetary claim
(10) None of the following persons can provide the verification provided in item (iv) of the preceding paragraph:
(i) A director, an accounting advisor, a company auditor or executive officer, or an employee including a manager;
(ii) A subscriber for Shares for Subscription;
(iii) A person who is subject to a suspension of operations for whom the period of such suspension has not elapsed yet; or
(iv) A legal profession corporation, an auditing firm or a tax accountant corporation with respect to which more than half of its members are persons who fall under either item (i) or item (ii) above.
Subsection 4 Performance of Contributions

(Performance of Contributions)
Article 208 (1) Subscribers for Shares for Subscription (excluding persons who tender Properties Contributed in Kind) shall, on the date or within the period provided for in Article 199(1)(iv), pay in the entire Amount To Be Paid In for the Shares for Subscription for which the subscribers respectively subscribed, at the bank, etc. designated by the Stock Company as the place for the handling of payments.
(2) Subscribers for Shares for Subscription (limited to persons who tender Properties Contributed in Kind) shall, on the date or within the period provided for in Article 199(1)(iv), deliver the Properties Contributed in Kind equivalent in value to the entire Amount To Be Paid In of the Shares for Subscription for which the subscribers respectively subscribed.
(3) Subscribers for Shares for Subscription may not set off their obligations to effect payment under the provisions of paragraph (1) or delivery under the provisions of the preceding paragraph (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Performance of Contribution") against claims they have against the Stock Company.
(4) Transfer of the right to become a shareholder of Shares for Subscription by effecting the Performance of Contribution cannot be asserted against the Stock Company.
(5) A subscriber for Shares for Subscription shall lose his/her right to become the shareholder of Shares for Subscription by effecting the Performance of Contribution if he/she fails to effect the Performance of Contribution.

(Timing of Shareholder Status, etc.)
Article 209 (1) In the cases listed in the following items, a subscriber for Shares for Subscription shall become the shareholder of the Shares for Subscription for which he/she has effected the Performance of Contribution on the day prescribed in each of such items:
(i) In cases where a date under Article 199(1)(iv) is prescribed: Such date; and
(ii) In cases where a period under Article 199(1)(iv) is prescribed: The day on which the Performance of Contribution is effected.
(2) In the cases listed in the items of Article 213-2(1), a subscriber of Shares for Subscription may not exercise the rights of shareholders with respect to Shares for Subscription for which the performance of contribution is disguised, only after the payment prescribed in said items or the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 213-3 (1) is made.
(3) A person who accepts transfer of Shares for Subscription as set forth in the preceding paragraph may exercise the right of shareholders with respect to said Shares for Subscription; provided, however, that this shall not apply when the person was in bad faith or with gross negligence.
Subsection 5 Demanding Cessation of Issue of Shares for Subscription
Article 210 In the following cases, if shareholders are likely to suffer disadvantage, shareholders may demand that the Stock Company cease a share issue or disposition of Treasury Shares relating to solicitations under Article 199(1):
(i) In cases where such share issue or disposition of Treasury Shares violates the applicable laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation; or
(ii) In cases where such share issue or disposition of Treasury Shares is effected by using a method which is extremely unfair.
Subsection 6 Liabilities relating to Solicitation

(Restrictions on Invalidation or Rescission of Subscription)
Article 211 (1) The proviso to Article 93 and the provisions of Article 94(1) of the Civil Code shall not apply to manifestation of intention relating to applications for subscription for, or the allotment of, Shares for Subscription, or the contract under Article 205(1).
(2) If one year has elapsed from the day on which a subscriber for Shares for Subscription became a shareholder pursuant to the provisions of Article 209(1), or if he/she has exercised his/her rights in relation to such shares, he/she may not thereafter assert the invalidity of the subscription for the Shares for Subscription on the grounds of mistake, or rescind the subscription for Shares for Subscription on the grounds of fraud or duress.

(Liabilities of Persons who Subscribed for Shares with Unfair Amount To Be Paid In)
Article 212 (1) In the cases listed in the following items, subscribers for Shares for Subscription shall be liable to a Stock Company for payment of the amount provided for in such items:
(i) In cases where the subscriber subscribed for the Shares for Subscription at an Amount To Be Paid In that is extremely unfair, in collusion with directors (or directors or executive officers for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc.): The amount equivalent to the difference between such Amount To Be Paid In and the fair value of such Shares for Subscription;
(ii) In cases where the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind that the subscriber tendered when he/she became a shareholder of the Shares for Subscription pursuant to the provisions of Article 209(1) is extremely short of the value provided for under Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind: The amount of such shortfall.
(2) In the cases provided for in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, if the subscriber for Shares for Subscription who tendered the Properties Contributed in Kind has acted in good faith and without gross negligence as to the fact that the value of such Properties Contributed in Kind is extremely short of the value prescribed under Article 199(1)(iii) with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind, that subscriber may rescind his/her application for subscription for Shares for Subscription or his/her manifestation of intention relating to the contract provided for in Article 205(1).

(Liabilities of Directors in case of Shortfall in Value of Property Contributed)
Article 213 (1) In the cases listed in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the following persons (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Directors, etc.") shall be liable to the Stock Company for payment of the amounts listed in such items:
(i) Executive directors who carried out duties regarding the solicitation of subscribers for such Shares for Subscription (or, for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., executive officers. The same shall apply hereinafter in this item.) and other persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as persons who were involved, in the performance of their duties, in the execution of the business of such executive directors;
(ii) If a shareholders meeting has passed a resolution regarding the determination of the value of Properties Contributed in Kind, the persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the directors who submitted proposals to such shareholders meeting;
(iii) If a board of directors meeting has passed a resolution regarding the determination of the value of Properties Contributed in Kind, the persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the directors (or, for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., directors or executive officers) who submitted proposals to such board of directors meeting;
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Directors, etc. shall not be liable for Properties Contributed in Kind under that paragraph in the cases listed below:
(i) An investigation has been carried out by an inspector under Article 207(2) with respect to the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind; or
(ii) Such Directors, etc. have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(3) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1), the person who submitted the verification provided for in Article 207(9)(iv) (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Verifying Person") shall be liable for payment of the amount provided for in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such Verifying Person has proven that he/she did not fail to exercise care with respect to the submission of such verification.
(4) In cases where a subscriber for Shares for Subscription bears an obligation to pay an amount provided for in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article with respect to Properties Contributed in Kind tendered by the subscriber, if the persons listed as follows bear obligations provided for in such items with respect to such Properties Contributed in Kind, such persons shall be joint and several obligors:
(i) Directors, etc.: The obligations under paragraph (1); and
(ii) Verifying persons: The obligations under the main clause of the preceding paragraph.

(Liabilities of Subscribers of Shares for Subscription for which the Performance of Contribution is Disguised)
Article 213-2 (1) In the cases listed in the following items, subscribers for Shares for Subscription shall be liable to a Stock Company for performing the acts specified in said items:
(i) In cases of disguising the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 208(1): Payment of the entire payment amount for which the payment is disguised; and
(ii) In cases of disguising the delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 208(2): Payment of Properties Contributed in Kind for which the delivery is disguised (in cases where a Stock Company requests to pay money equivalent to the value of said Properties Contributed in Kind in lieu of said delivery, payment of the entire amount of said money).
(2) The liabilities of the subscriber of Shares for Subscription pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not be exempted without the consent of all shareholders.

(Liabilities of Directors in the Case of Disguising the Performance of Contribution)
Article 213-3 (1) In the cases listed in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a person prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a director (in cases of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., including executive officers) involved in the disguising of the performance of contribution by a subscriber of Shares for Subscription shall be liable to make the payment prescribed in said items to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the person (excluding the person who disguised said performance of contribution) proves that he/she did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of his/her duties.
(2) In cases where a subscriber of Shares for Subscription is liable to make the payment prescribed in the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if the person prescribed in the preceding paragraph is liable as set forth in said paragraph, these persons shall be joint and several obligors.
Section 9 Share Certificate
Subsection 1 General Provisions

(Provisions of Articles of Incorporation to the effect that Share Certificates be Issued)
Article 214 A Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that it issues share certificates relating to its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the shares of all classes).

(Issuing of Share Certificate)
Article 215 (1) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall, without delay after the day of a share issue, issue share certificates representing those shares.
(2) If a Share Certificate-Issuing Company consolidates shares, it shall issue share certificates representing those consolidated shares without delay after the day provided for in Article 180(2)(ii).
(3) If a Share Certificate-Issuing Company splits shares, it shall issue share certificates representing those split shares (excluding those which have been already issued) without delay after the day provided for in Article 183(2)(ii).
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, a Share Certificate-Issuing Company that is not a Public Company may elect to not deliver share certificates under those paragraphs until shareholders so request.

(Matters to be Specified on Share Certificates)
Article 216 A Stock Company shall state the following matters and the serial number on a share certificate, and the Representative Director of the Share Certificate-Issuing Company (or the representative executive officer for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) shall affix his/her signature, or name and seal:
(i) The trade name of the Share Certificate-Issuing Company;
(ii) The number of shares represented by such share certificates;
(iii) If it is provided that the approval of the Stock Company is required for the acquisition of shares which are represented by such share certificates by transfer, a statement to such effect; and
(iv) For a Company with Class Shares, the class and features of the shares represented by such share certificates.

(Offer Not to Possess Share Certificates)
Article 217 (1) Shareholders of a Share Certificate-Issuing Company may make an offer to such Share Certificate-Issuing Company to the effect that they do not wish to hold share certificates representing the shares that they hold.
(2) The offer pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made by disclosing the number of shares relating to the offer (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of shares and the number of shares for each class). In such cases, if share certificates representing those shares have been issued, such shareholders shall submit such share certificates to the Share Certificate-Issuing Company.
(3) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company that has received an offer under the provisions of paragraph (1) shall enter or record in the shareholder register, without delay, a statement that it will not issue share certificates representing the shares referred to in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph.
(4) If a Share Certificate-Issuing Company has stated or recorded the statement pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it may not issue share certificates representing the shares referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2).
(5) Share certificates submitted pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (2) shall become ineffective when a statement is stated or recorded pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3).
(6) A shareholder who has made an offer pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) may at any time demand that the Share Certificate-Issuing Company issue share certificates for the shares referred to in the first sentence of paragraph (2). In such cases, if there are any share certificates that have been submitted pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (2), the cost for the issuing of the share certificates shall be borne by such shareholder.

(Abolition of Provisions of Articles of Incorporation that Share Certificates be Issued)
Article 218 (1) If a Share Certificate-Issuing Company intends to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation to abolish provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that it issues share certificates for its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes), it shall give public notice of the following matters, and give separate notice thereof to each shareholder and each Registered Pledgee of Shares no later than two weeks prior to the day on which such amendment to the articles of incorporation takes effect:
(i) A statement to the effect that the Stock Company abolishes the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that it issues share certificates for its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes);
(ii) The day on which the amendment to the articles of incorporation will take effect; and
(iii) A statement to the effect that the share certificates of such Stock Company shall become invalid on the day provided for in the preceding item.
(2) Share certificates representing the shares of a Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall become invalid on the day provided for in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), in cases where a Share Certificate-Issuing Company that does not issue share certificates for any of its shares intends to effect a amendment to the articles of incorporation to abolish provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that it issues share certificates for its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes), it shall be sufficient to notify the shareholders and Registered Pledgees of Shares of the matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of that paragraph no later than two weeks prior to the day provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph.
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(5) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1), pledgees of shares (excluding Registered Pledgees of Shares) may, no later than the day immediately preceding the day provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph, demand that the Share Certificate-Issuing Company state or record the matters listed in each item of Article 148 in the shareholder register.
Subsection 2 Submission of Share Certificate

(Public Notice in relation to Submission of Share Certificate)
Article 219 (1) In cases where a Share Certificate-Issuing Company carries out an act listed in the following items, it shall, more than one month prior to the day when such act takes effect (in cases of performing the act listed in item (iv)-2, the Acquisition Day prescribed in Article 179-2(1)(v); hereinafter the day shall be referred to as the "Share Certificate Submission Day"), give public notice to the effect that share certificates representing the shares provided for in each of such items be submitted to such Share Certificate-Issuing Company before the Share Certificate Submission Day, and a separate notice to such effect to each shareholder and each Registered Pledgee of Shares thereof; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Share Certificate-Issuing Company does not issue share certificates for any of its shares:
(i) Amendments to the articles of incorporation to create provisions of the articles of incorporation with respect to the matters listed in Article 107(1)(i): All shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the class shares that have provisions with respect to such matters);
(ii) Consolidation of shares: All shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the class shares under Article 180(2)(iii));
(iii) Acquisitions of Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call provided for in Article 171(1): Such Shares Subject to Class-Wide Call;
(iv) Acquisitions of Shares subject to Call: Such Shares subject to Call;
(iv)-2 Approval set forth in Article 179-3(1): Shares Subject to the Cash-Out;
(v) Entity Conversion: All shares;
(vi) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): All shares;
(vii) Share Exchanges: All shares;
(viii) Share Transfers: All shares;
(2) In cases where a Share Certificate-Issuing Company performs the acts listed in the following items, if a person fails to submit the share certificates to said Share Certificate-Issuing Company by the Share Certificate Submission Day the person specified in each said item may refuse to deliver Monies, etc. to the shareholders of the shares pertaining to said share certificates by said act (in cases of performing acts listed in item (ii), acquisition of Shares Subject to Cash-Out pertaining to Demand for Cash-Out) until said share certificates are submitted:
(i) Acts listed in the items (i) through (iv) of the preceding paragraph: Said Share Certificate-Issuing Company;
(ii) Approval set forth in Article 179-3 (1): Special Controlling Shareholders;
(iii) Entity conversion: Membership Company after Entity Conversion prescribed in Article 744(1)(i);
(iv) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): the Company Surviving the Absorption-Type Merger as prescribed in Article 749(1) or the Company Incorporated in the Consolidation-Type Merger as prescribed in Article 753 (1);
(v) Share exchange: The Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange as prescribed in Article 767; and
(vi) Share transfer: The Wholly Owning Parent Company Incorporated in the Share Transfer as prescribed in Article 773(1)(i).
(3) Share certificates representing the shares provided for in each item of paragraph (1) shall become invalid on the Share Certificate Submission Day.
(4) The cost of public notice and notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), item (iv) -2 shall be paid by the Special Controlling Shareholder.

(Cases where Share Certificates cannot be Submitted)
Article 220 (1) In cases where the acts listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are carried out, if a person cannot submit share certificates, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company may, at the request of that person, give public notice to interested parties to the effect that they can state their objections, if any, during a certain period of time; provided, however, that such period cannot be less than three months.
(2) In cases where a Share Certificate-Issuing Company makes public notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if no interested party states an objection during the period of time under that paragraph, the person specified in the items of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article may deliver Monies, etc. under paragraph (2) of said Article to the person who made the request under the preceding paragraph.
(3) The costs of the public notice under the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be borne by the person who makes the request under that paragraph.
Subsection 3 Registration of Lost Share Certificate

(Register of Lost Share Certificates)
Article 221 A Share Certificate-Issuing Company (or a Stock Company, if one year has not elapsed from the day immediately following the day on which the Stock Company has effected an amendment to the articles of incorporation to abolish provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that it issues share certificates for its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection (excluding Article 223, Article 227 and Article 228(2)).) shall prepare a register of lost share certificates and enter or record the following information (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Information Required to Be Entered in the Lost Share Certificates Register") in the same:
(i) The serial numbers of the share certificates relating to the request under the provisions of Article 223 (including share certificates that have become invalid under the provisions of Article 218(2) or Article 219(3), and share certificates representing shares in cases where a judgment upholding a claim seeking invalidation of the share issue or the disposition of such shares has become final and binding. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection (excluding Article 228).);
(ii) The names and addresses of persons who have lost share certificates under the preceding item;
(iii) The names and addresses of persons entered or recorded in the shareholder register as the shareholders or Registered Pledgees of Shares of the shares represented by the share certificates (hereinafter in this Subsection, referring to as "Registered Holder") under paragraph (1); and
(iv) The day on which the matters listed in the preceding three paragraphs are stated or recorded for the share certificates provided for in paragraph (1) (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Day of Registration of Loss of Share Certificate").

(Entrusting a Person with Administering the Lost Share Certificates Register)
Article 222 For the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 123 to a Share Certificate-Issuing Company, in that Article, "of the shareholder register" shall be read as "of the shareholder register and the lost share certificates register," and "keeping the shareholder register" shall be read as "keeping the shareholder register and the lost share certificates register."

(Requests for Registration of Lost Share Certificate)
Article 223 A person that loses a share certificate may request the Share Certificate-Issuing Company to enter or record the Information Required to Be Entered in the Lost Share Certificates Register in the Lost Share Certificates Register with respect to that share certificate (hereinafter referred to as the "Registration of a Lost Share Certificate").

(Notices to Registered Holders)
Article 224 (1) In cases where a Share Certificate-Issuing Company has effected the Registration of Lost Share Certificate in response to a request under the provisions of the preceding Article, if the person entered or recorded in the lost share certificates register as the person that lost the share certificates relating to such request (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Registrant of Lost Share Certificate") is not the Registered Holder of the shares represented by such share certificates, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall, without delay, notify such Registered Holder to the effect that the Share Certificate-Issuing Company has effected the Registration of Lost Share Certificates for such share certificates, and of the matters listed in items (i), (ii) and (iv) of Article 221.
(2) In cases where share certificates have been submitted to the Share Certificate-Issuing Company in order to exercise rights with respect to the shares, if the Registration of Lost Share Certificate has been effected for such share certificates, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall, without delay, notify the person who submitted such share certificates to the effect that the Registration of Lost Share Certificate has been effected for such share certificates.

(Filing of Application to Cancel by Holders of Share Certificate)
Article 225 (1) A person who holds share certificates subject to the Registration of Lost Share Certificate (excluding the Registrant of Lost Share Certificate for such share certificates) may file an application with the Share Certificate-Issuing Company for the cancellation of such Registration of Lost Share Certificate, as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice; provided, however, that this shall not apply if one year has elapsed from the day immediately following the Day of Registration of the Loss of Share Certificate.
(2) A person who intends to make an application under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall submit the share certificates referred to in that paragraph to the Share Certificate-Issuing Company.
(3) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company that has received an application under the provisions of paragraph (1) shall, without delay, notify the Registrant of Lost Share Certificate referred to in that paragraph of the name and address of the person who made the application under the provisions of that paragraph, and of the serial numbers of the share certificates referred to in that paragraph.
(4) On the day on which two weeks have elapsed from the day of the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall cancel the Registration of Lost Share Certificate relating to share certificates submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2). In such cases, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall return such share certificates to the person who filed the application under the provisions of paragraph (1).

(Filing of Application to Cancel by Registrant of Lost Share Certificates)
Article 226 (1) A Registrant of Lost Share Certificate may file an application with the Share Certificate-Issuing Company, as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, to cancel the Registration of Lost Share Certificate (excluding the Registration of Lost Share Certificate for share certificates submitted under the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article in cases where an amendment is effected to the articles of incorporation to abolish provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that the Share Certificate-Issuing Company issues share certificates for its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes)).
(2) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company that has received an application under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall cancel the Registration of Lost Share Certificate relating to such application on the day of the receipt of such application.

(Cancellation of Registration of Lost Share Certificate where Provisions of Articles of Incorporation to Issue Share Certificates are Abolished)
Article 227 In cases where a Share Certificate-Issuing Company amends the articles of incorporation to abolish provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that the Share Certificate-Issuing Company issues share certificates for its shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shares of all classes), the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall cancel the Registration of Lost Share Certificate (excluding registrations for share certificates submitted under the provisions of Article 225(2) only if the Registrant of Lost Share Certificate is the Registered Holder of the shares relating to the share certificates subject to such Registration of Lost Share Certificate) on the day of the effectuation of such amendment to the articles of incorporation.

(Invalidation of Share Certificate)
Article 228 (1) Share certificates subject to the Registration of Lost Share Certificate (excluding registrations that have been cancelled) shall become invalid on the day on which one year has elapsed from the day immediately following the Day of Registration of Lost Share Certificate.
(2) In cases where share certificates become invalid under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall reissue share certificates to the Registrant of Lost Share Certificate for such share certificates.

(Relationship with Procedures for Notices seeking Objections)
Article 229 (1) In cases where a Registrant of Lost Share Certificate submits a request under Article 220(1), the Share Certificate-Issuing Company may give public notice pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph only if the last day of the period under that paragraph arrives before the day on which one year has elapsed from the day immediately following the Day of Registration of Lost Share Certificate.
(2) If a Share Certificate-Issuing Company gives public notice under the provisions of Article 220(1), such Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall cancel the Registration of Lost Share Certificate for the share certificates relating to such public notice on the day of such public notice.

(Effect of Registration of Lost Share Certificate)
Article 230 (1) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company may not state or record the names and addresses of the persons who acquired shares represented by share certificates subject to the Registration of Lost Share Certificate until the earliest of the following days (hereinafter in this Article referred to as the "Day of Cancellation of Registration"):
(i) The day on which such Registration of Lost Share Certificate is cancelled; or
(ii) The day on which one year has elapsed from the day immediately following the Day of Registration of Lost Share Certificate.
(2) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company may reissue share certificates subject to the Registration of Lost Share Certificate only after the Day of Cancellation of Registration.
(3) If a Registrant of Lost Share Certificate is not the Registered Holder of the shares represented by the share certificates subject to the Registration of Lost Share Certificate, the shareholders of such shares may not exercise voting right at a shareholders meeting or General Meeting of Class Shareholders until the Day of Cancellation of Registration.
(4) An auction pursuant to the provisions of Article 197(1) or a sale pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of that Article may not be effected with respect to shares represented by share certificates subject to the Registration of Lost Share Certificate.

(Keeping and Making Available for Inspection of the Lost Share Certificates Register)
Article 231 (1) A Share Certificate-Issuing Company shall keep the lost share certificates register at its head office (or, if it has a shareholder register administrator, at its business office).
(2) Any person may submit the following requests at any time during the business hours of a Share Certificate-Issuing Company with respect to the lost share certificates register (limited to the portion in which such person has an interest). In such cases, the reasons for such request shall be disclosed.
(i) If the lost share certificates register has been prepared in writing, a request for the review or copying of such document;
(ii) If the lost share certificates register has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.

(Notices to Registrants of Lost Share Certificate)
Article 232 (1) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to a Registrant of Lost Share Certificate to be sent by a Share Certificate-Issuing Company to the address of such Registrant of Lost Share Certificate stated or recorded in the lost share certificates register (or, in cases where such Registrant of Lost Share Certificate notifies the Share Certificate-Issuing Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(2) The notices or demands referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.

(Exception to Application)
Article 233 The provisions of Part IV of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act shall not apply to share certificates.
Section 10 Miscellaneous Provisions

(Treatment of Fractions)
Article 234 (1) In cases where a Stock Company delivers shares in such Stock Company to the persons listed in the following items when any act listed in such items is carried out, if the number of the shares of such Stock Company that shall be delivered to such persons includes a fraction of less than one share, the Stock Company shall sell the number of shares equivalent to the total sum of the fractions by auction (in cases where the total sum includes a fraction of less than one, such fraction shall be rounded off) and shall deliver the proceeds of that auction to such persons in proportion to the fractions attributed to them:
(i) The acquisition of shares under the provisions of Article 170(1): The shareholders of such Stock Company;
(ii) The acquisition of shares under the provisions of Article 173(1): The shareholders of such Stock Company;
(iii) The Allotment of Shares without Contribution provided for in the provisions of Article 185: The shareholders of such Stock Company;
(iv) The acquisition of Share Options pursuant to the provisions of Article 275(1): The share option holders of the Share Options provided for in of 236(1)(vii)(a);
(v) Merger (but only if the Stock Company survives the merger): The shareholders or members of the Company disappearing due to the merger;
(vi) The issuing of shares to be issued at the time of incorporation under merger contracts: The shareholders or members of the Company disappearing due to the merger;
(vii) The acquisition of all Issued Shares of another Stock Company by Share Exchange: The shareholders of the Stock Company that effects the Share Exchange;
(viii) The issuing of shares to be issued at the time of incorporation under Share Transfer plan: The shareholders of the Stock Company that effects the Share Transfer plan,
(2) In lieu of sale by auction under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company may sell shares under that paragraph with a market price in an amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price thereof, and shares under that paragraph without a market price using a method other than auction with the permission of the court. In such cases, if there are two or more directors, the petition for such permission shall be filed with the consent of all directors.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph in cases where the shares under paragraph (1) are sold, "of that auction" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "of that sale".
(4) A Stock Company may purchase some or all of the shares sold pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2). In such cases, the following matters shall be prescribed:
(i) The number of shares to be purchased (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class); and
(ii) The total amount of the monies to be delivered in exchange for the purchase of the shares under the preceding item.
(5) A Company with Board of Directors shall determine the matters listed in each item of the preceding paragraph by resolution of the board of directors.
(6) The provisions of paragraphs (1) to (4) inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where Bonds or Share Options of such Stock Company are delivered to the persons provided for in each item of paragraph (1) when any act listed in such items is carried out.
Article 235 (1) If a Share Split or consolidation of shares effected by a Stock Company produces any fraction less than one share in the number of the shares, the Stock Company shall sell the number of shares equivalent to the total sum of the fractions by auction (in cases where the total sum includes a fraction of less than one, such fraction shall be rounded off) and shall deliver the proceeds of that auction to the shareholders in proportion to the fractions attributed to them:
(2) The provisions of paragraphs (2) to (5) inclusive of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph.

Chapter III Share Option
Section 1 General Provisions

(Features of Share Option)
Article 236 (1) If a Stock Company issues Share Options, the features of the Share Options shall consist of the following matters:
(i) The number of the shares underlying the Share Options (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class), or the method for calculating that number;
(ii) The value of the property to be contributed when such Share Options are exercised or the method for calculating that value;
(iii) If property other than monies will be the subject of the contribution when Share Options are exercised, a statement to such effect and the description and value of that property;
(iv) The period during which such Share Options can be exercised;
(v) Matters regarding the capital and capital reserves that will be increased in cases where shares will be issued as a result of the exercise of such Share Options;
(vi) If it is arranged that the approval of such Stock Company will be required for the acquisition of such Share Options by transfer, a statement to such effect;
(vii) If it is arranged that such Stock Company may acquire such Share Options on condition of certain grounds arising, the following matters:
(a) A statement that such Stock Company may acquire its Share Options on the day when certain grounds arise, and of those grounds;
(b) If it is arranged that the grounds referred to in (a) will arise as at the arrival of a day to be separately prescribed by such Stock Company, a statement of such arrangement;
(c) If it is arranged that a portion of the Share Options referred to in (a) may be acquired on the day the grounds referred to in (a) arise, a statement of such arrangement and of the method for determining the portion of the Share Options to be acquired;
(d) If shares in such Stock Company are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options in exchange for the acquisition of the Share Options referred to in (a), the number of such shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class), or the method for calculating that number;
(e) If Bonds of such Stock Company (other than those on Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options in exchange for the acquisition of the Share Options referred to in (a), the description of the classes of such Bonds and the total amount for each class of Bonds, or the method for calculating that total amount;
(f) If other Share Options of such Stock Company (other than those attached to Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options in exchange for the acquisition of the Share Options referred to in (a), the feature and number of such other Share Options, or the method for calculating that number;
(g) If Bonds with Share Option of such Stock Company are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options in exchange for the acquisition of the Share Options referred to in (a), the matters prescribed in (e) for such Bonds with Share Option, and the matters prescribed in (f) for the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option;
(h) If property other than Share Options, etc. of such Stock Company is delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options in exchange for the acquisition of the Share Options referred to in (a), a description of the features and number or amount of such property, or the method for calculating that number or amount.
(viii) If it is arranged that in cases where such Stock Company carries out acts listed in sub-items (a) to (e) inclusive below, the Share Options of the Stock Company provided for in sub-items (a) to (e) inclusive is to be delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options, a statement to that effect and of the conditions of the same:
(a) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): The Stock Company that survives the merger or the Stock Company incorporated as a result of the merger;
(b) Absorption-type Company Split: The Stock Company which succeeds, in whole or in part, to any rights and obligations that a Stock Company effecting an Absorption-type Company Split holds in connection with its business;
(c) Incorporation-type Company Split: The Stock Company that is incorporated in the Incorporation-type Company Split;
(d) Share Exchange: The Stock Company that acquires all of the Issued Shares of the Stock Company effecting the Share Exchange;
(e) Share Transfer: The Stock Company incorporated as a result of the Share Transfer.
(ix) If, in cases where the number of the shares to be issued to a share option holder that has exercised a Share Option includes a fraction of less than one share, such fraction shall be rounded off, a statement to that effect.
(x) If it is arranged to issue share option certificates representing such Share Options (excluding those attached to Bonds with Share Option), a statement to that effect.
(xi) In the cases provided for in the preceding item, if the share option holders cannot make, in whole or in part, the demand under the provisions of Article 290, a statement to that effect.
(2) The number of the Share Options attached to Bonds with Share Option shall be uniform for each monetary amount for the Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option.

(Exercise of Rights by Co-owners)
Article 237 If any Share Option is co-owned by two or more persons, the co-owners may not exercise their rights in relation to such Share Option unless they specify one person to exercise the rights in relation to such Share Option, and notify the Stock Company of the name of that person; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Stock Company has agreed to the exercise of such rights.
Section 2 Share Option Issue
Subsection 1 Determination of Subscription Requirements

(Determination of Subscription Requirements)
Article 238 (1) Whenever a Stock Company intends to solicit subscribers for a Share Option issue, the Stock Company shall prescribe the following matters (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Subscription Requirements") with respect to the Share Options for Subscription (meaning the Share Options that is to be allotted to persons who subscribed for such Share Options in response to such solicitation. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter.):
(i) The features and number of the Share Options for Subscription;
(ii) In cases where it is arranged that there is no requirement for monies to be paid in in exchange for the Share Options for Subscription, a statement to that effect;
(iii) In cases other than the cases provided for in the preceding item, the Amount To Be Paid In for the Share Options for Subscription (meaning the amount of money to be paid in in exchange for one Share Option for Subscription. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter.) or the method for calculating that amount;
(iv) The day on which the Share Options for Subscription is allotted (hereinafter in this Section referred to as the "Day of Allotment");
(v) If the Stock Company prescribes the date for the payment of monies in exchange for the Share Options for Subscription, that date;
(vi) In cases where Share Options for Subscription are attached to Bonds with Share Option, the matters listed in each item of Article 676;
(vii) In the cases provided for in the preceding item, if the Stock Company otherwise provides for the method for submission of a demand under the provisions of Article 118(1), Article 179 (2), Article 777(1), Article 787(1), or Article 808(1) with respect to the Share Options for Subscription attached to the Bonds with Share Option under that item, that provision.
(2) The determination of the Subscription Requirements shall be made by resolution of shareholders meeting.
(3) In the following cases, the directors shall explain at the shareholders meeting referred to in the preceding paragraph the reasons for the need to solicit subscribers for Share Options for Subscription with the offer of the conditions under item (i) or in the amount under item (ii):
(i) If, in the cases provided for in item (ii) of paragraph (1), the absence of a requirement for the payment in of monies is particularly favorable to relevant persons; or
(ii) If, in the cases provided for in item (iii) of paragraph (1), the Amount To Be Paid In under that paragraph is particularly favorable to relevant persons.
(4) For a Company with Class Shares, if some or all classes of the shares underlying the Share Options for Subscription are Shares with Restriction on Transfer, the determination of the Subscription Requirements regarding such Share Options for Subscription shall not become effective without a resolution of the relevant General Meeting of Class Shareholders, except in cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that, with respect to the solicitation of subscribers for Share Options for Subscription for which the underlying shares are such class shares, a resolution of the General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class is not required; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where there is no Class Shareholder who can exercise his/her voting right at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders.
(5) The Subscription Requirements shall be uniform for each solicitation under paragraph (1).

(Delegation of Determination of Subscription Requirements)
Article 239 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (4) of the preceding Article, a shareholders meeting may delegate the determination of the Subscription Requirements to the directors (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, the board of directors) by resolution. In such cases, the shareholders meeting shall prescribe the following matters:
(i) The features and maximum number of Share Options for Subscription for which the Subscription Requirements may be determined under such delegation; and
(ii) In cases where it is arranged that there will be no requirement to pay monies in with respect to the Share Options for Subscription under the preceding item, a statement to that effect;
(iii) In cases other than those prescribed in the preceding item, the minimum Amount To Be Paid In for Share Options for Subscription.
(2) In the following cases, the directors shall explain at the shareholders meeting referred to in the preceding paragraph the reasons for the need to solicit subscribers for Share Options for Subscription with the offer of the conditions under item (i) or in the amount under item (ii):
(i) If, in the cases provided for in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, the absence of a requirement for the payment in of monies is particularly favorable to relevant persons; or
(ii) If, in the cases provided for in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph, the minimum Amount To Be Paid In under that paragraph is particularly favorable to relevant persons.
(3) Resolutions under paragraph (1) shall be effective with respect only to solicitation under that paragraph under which the date under item (iv), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article falls within one year from the day of such resolution.
(4) For a Company with Class Shares, if some or all of the classes of the shares underlying the Share Options for Subscription are Shares with Restriction on Transfer, the determination of the Subscription Requirements regarding such Share Options for Subscription shall not become effective without a resolution of the relevant General Meeting of Class Shareholders, except in cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation referred to in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the case where there is no Class Shareholder who can exercise his/her voting right at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders.

(Special Provisions on Determination of Subscription Requirements for Public Company)
Article 240 (1) Except for the cases listed in each item of Article 238(3), for the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) of that Article to a Public Company, "shareholders meeting" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of directors meeting". In such cases, the provision of the preceding Article shall not apply.
(2) In cases where a Public Company has determined Subscription Requirements by a resolution of a board of directors meeting provided for in Article 238(2) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Public Company shall notify the shareholders of such Subscription Requirements no later than two weeks prior to the Day of Allotment.
(3) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (2) shall not apply in cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of shareholders is compromised, including cases where, with respect to Subscription Requirements, the Stock Company has submitted, no later than two weeks prior to the Day of Allotment, a notice under Article 4(1) through (3) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

(Cases where Entitlement to Allotment of Share Options is Granted to Shareholders)
Article 241 (1) In carrying out solicitation under Article 238(1), the Stock Company may grant entitlement to the allotment of Share Options to its shareholders. In such cases, in addition to the Subscription Requirements, the Stock Company shall prescribe the following matters:
(i) A statement to the effect that the Stock Company will grant entitlement to the allotment of the Share Options for Subscription of that Stock Company (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the Share Options the shares underlying which have the class identical to the class of the shares held by such shareholders) to shareholders subject to the application provided for in paragraph (2) of the following Article;
(ii) The day for the application for subscription for the Share Options for Subscription referred to in the preceding item.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the shareholders under item (i) of that paragraph (excluding the Stock Company) shall be entitled to the allotment of the Share Options for Subscription in accordance with the number of shares they hold; provided, however, that if the number of the Share Options for Subscription to be allotted to such shareholders includes a fraction of less than one unit, it shall be rounded off.
(3) In cases where the Stock Company prescribes the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1), the Subscription Requirements and the matters listed in each item of that paragraph shall be prescribed in accordance with the categories of the cases listed in the following items, by the methods provided for in each of such items:
(i) In cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that such Subscription Requirements and the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) may be prescribed by decision of the directors (excluding the cases where the Stock Company is a Company with Board of Directors): A decision of the directors;
(ii) In cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation to the effect that such Subscription Requirements and the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) may be prescribed by resolution of the board of directors (excluding the cases listed in the following item): A resolution of the board of directors;
(iii) In cases where the Stock Company is a Public Company: A resolution of the board of directors;
(iv) In cases other than those listed in the preceding three items: A resolution of a shareholders meeting;
(4) In cases where a Stock Company determines the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1), the Stock Company shall notify the shareholders under item (i) of that paragraph (excluding such Stock Company) of the following matters no later than two weeks prior to the date provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph:
(i) The Subscription Requirements;
(ii) The features and number of Share Options for Subscription to be allotted to such shareholders; and
(iii) The date provided for in item (ii) of paragraph (1).
(5) The provisions of Article 238(2) to (4) inclusive and the preceding two articles shall not apply in cases where entitlement to the allotment of Share Options is granted to the shareholders under the provisions of paragraph (1) to paragraph (3) inclusive hereof.
Subsection 2 Allotment of Share Options for Subscription

(Application for Share Options for Subscription)
Article 242 (1) A Stock Company shall notify persons who intend to subscribe for Share Options for Subscription in response to solicitation in Article 238(1) of the matters listed in the following items:
(i) The trade name of the Stock Company;
(ii) The Subscription Requirements;
(iii) If any payment is to be made when the Share Options are exercised, the place where payments are handled;
(iv) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding three paragraphs, any matter prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A person who applies to subscribe for the Share Options for Subscription in response to solicitation in paragraph (1) of Article 238 shall deliver a document giving the following information:
(i) The name and address of the person applying;
(ii) The number of Share Options for Subscription for which he/she intends to subscribe.
(3) A person who applies referred to in the preceding paragraph may, in lieu of delivering a document as referred to in that paragraph, provide the information that is required to be detailed in the document referred to in that paragraph by electronic or magnetic means, with the approval of the Stock Company and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, the person applying shall be deemed to have delivered the document under such paragraph.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (3) shall not apply in cases where the Stock Company has issued a prospectus provided for in Article 2(10) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act that specifies the matters listed in each item of that paragraph to the person who intends to submit the application under paragraph (1), and in other cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of persons who intend to submit applications for subscription for Share Options for Subscription are compromised.
(5) If there are changes in the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1), the Stock Company shall immediately notify persons who have submitted applications under paragraph (2) (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Applicants") thereof and of the matter so changed.
(6) In cases where Share Options for Subscription are attached to Bonds with Share Option, Applicants (limited to those who submitted applications solely for Share Options for Subscription) shall be deemed to have applied for subscription for the Bonds with Share Option to which the Share Options for Subscription relating to such applications are attached.
(7) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to an applicant to be sent by the Stock Company to the address under item (i) of paragraph (2) (or, in cases where such applicant notifies the Stock Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(8) The notices or demands referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.

(Allotment of Share Options for Subscription)
Article 243 (1) A Stock Company shall specify the persons from among the Applicants the persons to whom Share Options for Subscription will be allotted, and determine the number of Share Options for Subscription to be allotted to those persons. In such cases, the Stock Company may reduce the number of Share Options for Subscription the Stock Company allots to such Applicants below the number under item (ii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.
(2) In the following cases, the determination under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(i) In cases where some or all of the shares underlying the Share Options for Subscription are Shares with Restriction on Transfer; or
(ii) In cases where the Share Options for Subscription are Share Options with Restriction on Transfer (meaning Share Options for which it is provided that the acquisition of such Share Options by transfer shall require the approval of the Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter.).
(3) The Stock Company shall notify the Applicants, no later than the day immediately preceding the Day of Allotment, of the number of the Share Options for Subscription that will be allotted to such Applicants (in cases where such Share Options for Subscription are attached to Bonds with Share Option, including a description of the classes of Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option and the total amount of money for each class of Bonds).
(4) In cases where the Stock Company has granted entitlement to the allotment of Share Options pursuant to the provisions of Article 241 to its shareholders, if the shareholders do not submit, no later than the date under item (ii), paragraph (1) of that Article, applications under paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, such shareholders shall lose the entitlement to the allotment of Share Options for Subscription.

(Special Provisions on the Subscription for and Allotment of Share Options for Subscription)
Article 244 (1) The provisions of the preceding two Articles shall not apply in cases where a person who intends to subscribe for Share Options for Subscription executes a contract for subscription for the total number of those Share Options.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the preceding paragraph in cases where the Share Options for Subscription are those attached to Bonds with Share Option, "for subscription for the total number of those Share Options" in that paragraph shall be read as "for subscription for the total number of those Share Options and the total amount of the Bonds to which such Share Options for Subscription are attached."
(3) In the case prescribed in paragraph (1), in the following cases, a Stock Company shall obtain approval for the contact set forth in said paragraph by the resolution of the shareholders meeting (in cases of a Company with Board of Directors, Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation:
(i) in cases where all or part of shares underlying Share Options for Subscription are Shares with Restriction on Transfer; and
(ii) in cases where Share Options for Subscription are Share Options with Restriction on Transfer.

(Special Provisions on Allotment, etc. of Share Options for Subscription of a Public Company)
Article 244-2 (1) In cases where the rate of the number listed in item (i) to the number listed in item (ii) exceeds 50% with regard to an applicant who receives allotment of Share Options for Subscription or a subscriber of all of Share Options for Subscription pursuant to the contract set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Subscriber" in this paragraph), a Public Company shall notify to shareholders name and address of said Subscriber (hereinafter referred to as "Special Subscriber" in this paragraph and paragraph (5)), the number listed in item (i) with respect to said Special Subscriber, and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice by two weeks before the Allotment Day; provided however that this shall not apply to cases where said Special Subscriber is a Parent Company, etc. of said Public Company or where the right to obtain allotment of Share Options is granted to shareholders pursuant to the provisions of Article 241:
(i) The largest number of voting rights that said Subscriber (including its Subsidiary, etc.) will hold when said Subscriber becomes a shareholder of shares issued related to Shares for Subscription that said Subscriber subscribed; and
(ii) The largest number of voting rights of all shareholders in the case prescribed in the preceding item.
(2) The term "shares issued" as prescribed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph means shares underlying Share Options for Subscription, shares set forth in Article 236(1)(vii)(d) in cases where there are provisions on the matter listed in (d) of said item as the content of Share Options for Subscription, and other shares prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as shares to be issued to a share option holder of Share Options for Subscription.
(3) The notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) may be substituted with a public notice.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), in cases where a Stock Company has made a notification under Article 4(1) through (3) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in paragraph (1) of this Article by two weeks before the Allotment Day, or where it is prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of shareholders is compromised, the notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is not required.
(5) When a shareholder holding one-tenth (1/10) or more (in cases where any lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of voting rights of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who cannot exercise voting rights in the shareholders meeting set forth in this paragraph) makes a notice to a Public Company that the shareholder is against subscription for Shares Options for Subscription by a Special Subscriber (including its Subsidiary, etc.; hereinafter the same shall apply in this paragraph) within two weeks from the day of notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or the day of public notice set forth in paragraph (3) (in the case set forth in the preceding paragraph, the day specified by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice), said Public Company shall obtain approval for the allotment of Share Options for Subscription to said Special Subscriber or for the contract set forth in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article with said Special Subscriber by the resolution of the shareholders meeting by the day before the Allotment Day; provided, however, that this does not apply if said Public Company's financial condition has deteriorated greatly and there is an urgent necessity in order for said Public Company to continue in business.
(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 309 (1), the resolution of the shareholders meeting set forth in the preceding paragraph shall be made by attendance of the shareholders holding a majority of votes out of the shareholders who can exercise voting rights (in cases where one-third (1/3) or more of the proportion is stipulated by the articles of incorporation, the proportion or more) and by a majority of the votes of said shareholders present (in cases where any proportion higher than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more).

(Status as Share Option Holder)
Article 245 (1) The persons listed in the following items shall become the share option holders of the Share Options for Subscription provided for in such items on the Day of Allotment:
(i) Applicants: The Share Options for Subscription allotted by the Stock Company; and
(ii) Persons who subscribed for the total number of the Share Options for Subscription under the provisions of Article 244(1): The Share Options for Subscription for which those persons have subscribed.
(2) In cases where Share Options for Subscription are attached to Bonds with Share Option, the persons who become share option holders under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall become bondholders of the Bonds with respect to the Bonds with Share Option to which such Share Options for Subscription are attached.
Subsection 3 Payments for Share Options for Subscription
Article 246 (1) In the cases provided for under Article 238(1)(iii), holders of Share Options shall pay the entire Amount To Be Paid In for the Share Options for Subscription for which the holders respectively subscribed, at the place for the handling of bank, etc. payments designated by the Stock Company, no later than the day immediately preceding the first day of the period provided for under Article 236(1)(iv) for Share Options for Subscription (or, in the cases provided for under Article 238(1)(v), no later than the date under that item; in paragraph (3) referred to as the "Payment Date").
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, share option holders may, with the approval of the Stock Company, tender property other than monies equivalent to the Amount To Be Paid In or set off their claims against such Stock Company, in lieu of payment under the provisions of that paragraph.
(3) In the cases provided for under Article 238(1)(iii), share option holders may not exercise the Share Options for Subscription unless they pay in the entire Amount To Be Paid In for their respective Share Options for Subscription (including tendering property other than monies or setting off claims against such Stock Company in lieu of such payment) no later than the Payment Date with respect to such Share Options for Subscription.
Subsection 4 Demand for Discontinuation of Issue of Share Options for Subscription
Article 247 In the following cases, if shareholders are likely to suffer any disadvantage, shareholders may demand that the Stock Company discontinue an issue of the Share Options relating to solicitation under Article 238(1):
(i) In cases where such Share Option issue violates the applicable laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation; or
(ii) In cases where such Share Option issue is effected by using a method that is extremely unfair.
Subsection 5 Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 248 The provisions of Article 676 through Article 680 shall not apply to the solicitation of subscribers for the Bonds with respect to the Bonds with Share Option.
Section 3 Share Option Register

(Share Option Register)
Article 249 A Stock Company shall, without delay after the day Share Options are issued, prepare a share option register and enter or record, in accordance with the categories of Share Options listed in the following items, the information set forth in such items (hereinafter referred to as "Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register"):
(i) Share Options for which bearer form share option certificates are issued (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Bearer Share Options"): The serial numbers of such share option certificates and the features and number of such Bearer Share Options; and
(ii) Share Options that are attached to any Bond with Share Options under a certificate that represents that Bond with Share Options (meaning a bond certificate representing a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued (meaning a Bond with Share Options for which the Stock Company has established that it issues a bond certificate; the same applies hereinafter in this Chapter); hereinafter the same applies) has been issued in bearer form (hereinafter in this Chapter a Bond with Share Options represented by such a bearer-form bond certificate is referred to as a "Bearer Bond with Share Options"): The serial number of the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options and the features and number of such Share Options; and
(iii) Share Options other than the Share Options listed in the preceding two items: The following matters:
(a) The names and addresses of the share option holders;
(b) The features and number of the Share Options held by the share option holders referred to in (a);
(c) The days when the share option holders referred to in (a) acquired the Share Options; and
(d) If the Share Options referred to in (b) are share options for which certificates are issued (meaning Share Options (excluding those attached to Bonds with Share Options) for which the Stock Company has established that it issues share option certificates; the same applies hereinafter in this Chapter), the serial numbers of the share option certificates representing those Share Options (but only if the share option certificates have been issued).
(e) If the Share Options referred to in (b) are attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued, the serial number of the certificate that represents that Bond with Share Options (but only if the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options has been issued).

(Delivery of Documents Showing Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register)
Article 250 (1) A share option holder as referred to in item (iii)(a) of the preceding Article may file a request with the Stock Company to be issued a document showing the Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register which has been entered or recorded in the share option register with respect to that share option holder, or to be provided with the electronic or magnetic record in which the Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register has been recorded.
(2) The documents referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be affixed with the signature, or name and seal, of the Representative Director of the Stock Company (referring to the representative executive officer for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. The same shall apply in the following paragraph.).
(3) With respect to the electronic or magnetic record referred to in paragraph (1), the Representative Director of the Stock Company shall implement measures in lieu of the affixation of signature, or name and seal, prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to share options for which certificates are issued or Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued.

(Administration of the Share Option Register)
Article 251 For the purpose of the application of Article 123 in cases where a Stock Company issues Share Options, in that Article, "shareholder register administrator" shall be read as "shareholder and share option register administrator" and "administer the shareholder register" shall be read as "administer the shareholder register and the share option register".

(Keeping and Making Available for Inspection of Share Option Register)
Article 252 (1) A Stock Company shall keep the share option register at its head office (or, if it has a shareholder register administrator, at its business office).
(2) Shareholders and creditors may submit the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company. In such cases, the reasons for such requests shall be disclosed.
(i) If the share option register is prepared in writing, a request for the inspection or copying of such document;
(ii) If the share option register has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) If a request referred to in the preceding paragraph is made, a Stock Company may not refuse such request unless it falls under any of the following:
(i) The shareholder or creditor who made such request (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as the "Requestor") submitted the request for a purpose other than for research on securing or exercising his/her rights;
(ii) The Requestor made the request with the purpose of interfering with the execution of the operations of such Stock Company or prejudicing the common benefit of the shareholders;
(iii) The Requestor made the request in order to report facts to third parties for profit, knowledge of which may be acquired by inspecting or copying the share option register; or
(iv) The Requestor is a person who has reported facts. Knowledge of which was acquired by reviewing or copying the share option register, to third parties for profit in the immediately preceding two years.
(4) If it is necessary for a Member of the Parent Company of a Stock Company to exercise his/her rights, such Member of the Parent Company may, with the permission of the court, make the requests set forth in each item of paragraph (2) with respect to the share option register of such Stock Company. In such cases, the reasons for such requests shall be disclosed.
(5) The court may not grant the permission referred to in the preceding paragraph if any circumstance provided for in any item of paragraph (3) applies to the Member of the Parent Company referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Notices to Share Option Holder)
Article 253 (1) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to holders of Share Options to be sent by a Stock Company to the addresses of such holders of Share Options which have been entered or recorded in the share option register (or, in cases where such share option holders notify such Stock Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(2) The notices or demands referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.
(3) If a Share Option is co-owned by two or more persons, the co-owners shall specify one person who receives the notice or demand sent by the Stock Company to the share option holders and notify such Stock Company of the name of that person. In such case, that person shall be deemed to be the share option holder and the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply.
(4) In cases where there is no notice by co-owners pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall be sufficient for a notice or demand sent by a Stock Company to the co-owners of the Share Options if it is sent to one of them.
Section 4 Transfer of Share Option
Subsection 1 Transfer of Share Option

(Transfer of Share Option)
Article 254 (1) Share option holders may transfer the Share Options held by the same.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, Share Options attached to Bonds with Share Option may not be transferred on a stand-alone basis; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option are extinguished.
(3) Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option may not be transferred on a stand-alone basis; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option are extinguished.

(Transfer of Share Options for Which Certificates Are Issued)
Article 255 (1) Transfer of share options for which certificates are issued shall not become effective unless the share option certificates representing the share options for which such certificates are issued are delivered; provided, however, that this shall not apply to transfer of share options for which certificates are issued that arise out of the disposition of Own Share Options (meaning Own Share Options that the Stock Company holds. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter.).
(2) Transfer of Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued shall not become effective unless the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options for which such a certificate is issued is delivered; provided, however, that this shall not apply to transfer of Share Options attached to Own Bonds with Share Option (meaning Own Bonds with Share Option that the Stock Company holds. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article and in the following Article.) that arise out of the disposition of such Own Bonds with Share Option.

(Special Provisions on Disposition of Own Share Option)
Article 256 (1) A Stock Company shall, without delay after the day of the disposition of its Own Share Options (limited to share options for which certificates are issued), deliver the share option certificates to the persons who acquired such Own Share Options.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company may elect to not deliver share option certificates under that paragraph until the persons under that paragraph so request.
(3) A Stock Company shall, without delay after the day of the disposition of its Own Bonds with Share Option (limited to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued), deliver the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options to the persons who acquire such Own Bonds with Share Option.
(4) The provisions of Article 687 shall not apply to the transfer of Bonds with respect to the Own Bonds with Share Option arising from the disposition of such Own Bonds with Share Option.

(Perfection of Transfer of Share Option)
Article 257 (1) Transfer of Share Options shall not be perfected against the Stock Company and other third parties unless the names and addresses of the person who acquire those Share Options is stated or recorded in the share options register.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to share options for which certificates are issued and in respect of which registered share option certificates have been issued, and Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued and in respect of which a registered certificate representing the Bond with Share Options has been issued, "the Stock Company and other third parties" in that paragraph shall be read as "the Stock Company".
(3) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to any Bearer Share Options or Share Options attached to Bearer Bonds with Share Option.

(Presumption of Rights)
Article 258 (1) A possessor of share option certificates shall be presumed to be the lawful owner of the rights in relation to share options for which certificates are issued and which those share option certificates represent.
(2) A person who receives delivery of share option certificates shall acquire the rights in relation to the share options for which certificates are issued and which those share option certificates represent; provided, however, that this shall not apply if that person is in bad faith or with gross negligence as to the fact of defective title of the transferor.
(3) A possessor of a certificate representing a Bond with Share Options shall be presumed to be the lawful owner of the rights in relation to the Share Options that are attached to the Bond with Share Options for which the certificate is issued and which the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options represents.
(4) A person who receives delivery of a certificate representing a Bond with Share Options shall acquire the rights in relation to the Share Options that are attached to the Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued and which the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options represents; provided, however, that this shall not apply if that person is in bad faith or with gross negligence.

(Entry or Recording of Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register Not Requested by Share Option Holders)
Article 259 (1) In the cases provided for in the following items, a Stock Company shall enter or record the Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register in respect of the share option holders referred to in such items:
(i) In cases where it has acquired the Share Options of such Stock Company;
(ii) In cases where it has disposed of Own Share Options.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to Bearer Share Options or Share Options attached to Bearer Bonds with Share Option.

(Entry or Recording of Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register at the Request of Share Option Holders)
Article 260 (1) A person who has acquired Share Options from a person other than the Stock Company that issued such Share Options (excluding such Stock Company, hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Acquirer of Share Options") may request the Stock Company to enter or record the Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register with respect to those Share Options, in the share option register.
(2) Except for cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases of no likelihood of detriment to interested parties, requests under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made jointly with the person stated or recorded in the share option register as the share option holder so acquired, or his/her general successors including his/her heirs.
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to Bearer Share Options or Share Options attached to Bearer Bonds with Share Option.
Article 261 The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in cases where the Share Options acquired by the Acquirer of Share Options are Share Options with Restriction on Transfer; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it falls under any of the following:
(i) Such Acquirer of Share Options has obtained approval under the following Article as to an intended acquisition of such Share Options with Restriction of Transfer;
(ii) Such Acquirer of Share Options has obtained approval under Article 263(1) as to a completed acquisition of such Share Options with Restriction of Transfer;
(iii) Such Acquirer of Share Options is a person who acquired the Share Options with Restriction of Transfer by general succession including inheritance.
Subsection 2 Restriction on Transfer of Shares

(Requests for Approval by Share Option Holders)
Article 262 If share option holders with Restriction on Transfer intend to transfer Share Options with Restriction on Transfer held by the same to others (excluding the Stock Company which issued such Share Options with Restriction on Transfer), they may request that such Stock Company make a determination as to whether or not to approve the acquisition by such others of such Share Options with Restriction on Transfer.

(Request for Approval by Acquirers of Share Options)
Article 263 (1) Acquirers of Share Options who have acquired Share Options with Restriction on Transfer may request that the Stock Company make a determination as to whether or not to approve the acquisition of such Share Options with Restriction on Transfer.
(2) Except for cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases of no likelihood of detriment to interested parties, requests pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be submitted jointly with the person stated or recorded in the share option register as the share option holders so acquired, or his/her general successors including his/her heirs.

(Method for Requests for Approval of Transfer)
Article 264 The requests listed in the following items (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Requests for Approval of Transfer") shall be made by disclosing the matters provided for in such items:
(i) Requests under the provisions of Article 262: The following matters:
(a) The features and number of Share Options with Restriction on Transfer that the share option holders making such request intend to transfer to others;
(b) The names of the person accepting the transfer of the Share Options with Restriction on Transfer referred to in (a);
(ii) Requests under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following matters:
(a) The features and number of Share Options with Restriction on Transfer that the Acquirer of Share Options making such request has acquired;
(b) The name of the Acquirer of Share Options referred to in (a);

(Determination of Approval of Transfer)
Article 265 (1) The determination by a Stock Company as to whether or not to grant approval under Article 262 or Article 263(1) shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for as a feature of the Share Options.
(2) If a Stock Company has made a determination under the preceding paragraph, it shall notify the person who made the Requests for Approval of Transfer of the content of such determination.

(Cases where Stock Company is Deemed to have Approved)
Article 266 In cases where a Stock Company has failed to give notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article within two weeks (or if any shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such shorter period of time) from the day of the Requests for Approval of Transfer, the Stock Company shall be deemed to have given the approval under Article 262 or Article 263(1); provided, however, that this shall not apply if otherwise provided for by agreement between the Stock Company and the person who made the Requests for Approval of Transfer.
Subsection 3 Pledge of Share Options

(Pledge of Share Options)
Article 267 (1) Share option holders may pledge the Share Options held by the same.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, Share Options attached to Bonds with Share Option may not be pledged on a stand-alone basis; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option are extinguished.
(3) Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option may not be pledged on a stand-alone basis; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option are extinguished.
(4) Pledges of share options for which certificates are issued shall not become effective unless the share option certificates representing the share options for which certificates are issued have been delivered.
(5) Pledges of Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued shall not become effective unless the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options for such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued is delivered.

(Perfection of Pledges of Share Options)
Article 268 (1) Pledges of Share Options shall not be perfected against the Stock Company and other third parties unless the names and addresses of pledgees are stated or recorded in the share option register.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a pledgee of share options for which certificates are issued may not assert his/her pledge against the Stock Company and other third parties unless he/she is in continuous possession of the share option certificates representing the share options for which certificates are issued.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a pledgee of Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued may not assert his/her pledge against the Stock Company and other third parties unless he/she is in continuous possession of the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options for such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued.

(Entries in Share Option Register)
Article 269 (1) A person who pledges Share Options may request that the Stock Company enter or record the following information in the share option register:
(i) The name and address of the pledgee;
(ii) The Share Options underlying the pledge.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to Bearer Share Options or Share Options attached to Bearer Bonds with Share Option.

(Delivery of Documents Showing Information That Has Been Entered in the Share Option Register)
Article 270 (1) A pledgee whose information as set forth in the items of the preceding Article has been entered or recorded in the share option register (hereinafter referred to as a "Registered Pledgee of Share Options") may file a request with the Stock Company to be issued a document showing the information set forth in the items of that paragraph which has been entered or recorded in the share option register with respect to the Registered Pledgee of Share Options, or to be provided with the electronic or magnetic record in which that information has been recorded.
(2) The documents referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be affixed with the signature, or name and seal, of the Representative Director of the Stock Company (the representative executive officer for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. The same shall apply in the following paragraph.).
(3) With respect to the electronic or magnetic record referred to in paragraph (1), the Representative Director of the Stock Company shall implement measures in lieu of the affixation of signature, or name and seal prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to share options for which certificates are issued or Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued.

(Notices to Registered Pledgees of Share Options)
Article 271 (1) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand to a Registered Pledgees of Share Options to be sent by a Stock Company to the addresses of such Registered Pledgees of Share Options stated or recorded in the share option register (or, in cases where such Registered Pledgees of Share Options notify the Stock Company of any different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or demands, to such place or contact address).
(2) The notices or demands referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand should normally have arrived.

(Effect of Pledge of Share Options)
Article 272 (1) In cases where a Stock Company carries out any of the acts listed below, pledge for Share Options shall be effective with respect to the Monies, etc. which the share option holders of such Share Options are entitled to receive as a result of such act:
(i) The acquisition of Share Options;
(ii) Entity Conversion;
(iii) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger);
(iv) Absorption-type Company Split;
(v) Incorporation-type Company Split;
(vi) Share Exchange; or
(vii) Share Transfer.
(2) Registered Pledgees of Share Options may receive the Monies, etc. (limited to monies) under the preceding paragraph, and appropriate them as payment to satisfy their own claims in priority to other creditors.
(3) In cases where a Stock Company performs the acts listed in the following items, if the claims under the preceding paragraph have not yet become due and payable, the Registered Pledgees of Share Options may have the person specified in said items deposit an amount equivalent to the value of the Monies, etc. provided for in that paragraph. In such cases, the pledge shall be effective with respect to the monies so deposited.
(i) Acquisition of Share Options: Said Stock Company
(ii) Entity Conversion: a Membership Company after Entity Conversion prescribed in Article 744(1)(i); and
(iii) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): The Company Surviving the Absorption-Type Merger as prescribed in Article 749(1) or the Company Incorporated in the Consolidation-Type Merger as prescribed in Article 753(1).
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a Special Controlling Shareholder acquires Share Options Subject to the Cash-Out by the Demand for Share Option Cash-Out. In this case, "the person specified in said items" in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "said Special Controlling Shareholder."
(5) Pledges for Share Options attached to Bonds with Share Option (limited to cases where the property provided for in Article 236(1)(iii) consists of the Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option, and the redemption amount for such Bonds is equal to or more than the value provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph with respect to such Share Options) shall be effective with respect to the shares that the share option holders of such Share Options receive by exercising such Share Options.
Subsection 4 Perfection, etc. of Share Options Belong to the Trust Property
Article 272-2 (1) With regard to Share Options, the fact that said New Options belong to the trust property shall not be perfected against the Stock Company and other third parties unless the fact that said Share Options belong to the trust property is entered or recorded in the share option register.
2) When Share Options held by the share option holders set forth in Article 249(iii)(a) belong to the trust property, the share option holders may request the Stock Company to enter or record to that effect in the share option register. 2) When Share Options held by the share option holders set forth in Article 249(iii)(a) belong to the trust property, the share option holders may request the Stock Company to enter or record to that effect in the share option register.
(3) When applying the provisions of Article 250(1) and Article 259(1) in cases where the statement or record is made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph in the share option register, "showing the Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register which has been entered or recorded" in Article 250(1) shall be deemed to be replaced with "showing the Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register (including the fact that the Share Options held by those share option holders belong to the trust property) which has been entered or recorded" and "Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register" in Article 259(1) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Information Required to Be Entered in the Share Option Register (including the fact that the Share Options held by those share option holders belong to the trust property)".
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to a Share Certificate-Issuing Company.
Section 5 Acquisition of Own Share Option by Stock Companies
Subsection 1 Acquisition of Share Option pursuant to Subscription Requirements

(Determination of Day of Acquisition)
Article 273 (1) In cases where there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in Article 236(1)(vii)(b) as a feature of Share Options subject to Call (meaning Share Options for which there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in item (vii)(a) of that paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter.), the Stock Company shall determine the day under the same item (vii)(b) by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided as a feature of such Share Options subject to Call.
(2) If a Stock Company determines the day under Article 236(1)(vii)(b), the Stock Company shall notify the share option holders of Share Options subject to Call (or, in cases where there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in item (vii)(c) of that paragraph, the share option holders of Share Options subject to Call determined under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the following Article) and the Registered Pledgees of Share Options thereof of such date, no later than two weeks prior to such day.
(3) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Determination of Share Options to be Acquired)
Article 274 (1) In cases where there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in Article 236(1)(vii)(c), if a Stock Company intends to acquire Share Options subject to Call, it shall determine the Share Options subject to Call that it intends to acquire.
(2) The Share Options subject to Call under the preceding paragraph shall be determined by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided as a feature of such Share Options subject to Call.
(3) If a Stock Company makes the determination pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the Stock Company shall immediately notify the share option holders of Share Options subject to Call who are determined under the provisions of that paragraph and the Registered Pledgees of Share Options thereof to the effect that the Stock Company will acquire such Share Options subject to Call.
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Effectuation)
Article 275 (1) A Stock Company shall acquire, on the day when the grounds under item (vii)(a), paragraph (1) of Article 236 have arisen (or, in cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in item (vii)(c) thereof, the day listed in item (i) or the day listed in item (ii) below, whichever comes later. The same shall apply in the following paragraph and paragraph (3)), Share Options subject to Call (or, in cases where there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in item (vii)(c), paragraph (1) of that Article, the Share Options subject to Call determined pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. The same shall apply in the following paragraph and paragraph (3)):
(i) The day when the grounds under Article 236(1)(vii)(a) have arisen; or
(ii) The day of notice under the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article, or the day when two weeks have lapsed from the day of the public notice under paragraph (4) of that Article.
(2) In cases where the Share Options subject to Call that a Stock Company acquires under the provisions of the preceding paragraph are attached to Bonds with Share Option, the Stock Company shall acquire the Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option on the day when the grounds under Article 236(1)(vii)(a) have arisen.
(3) In the cases listed in the following items, the share option holders of Share Options subject to Call (excluding the relevant Stock Company) shall acquire the status provided for in each of such items in accordance with the provisions with respect to the matters provided for in such item, on the day when the grounds under Article 236(1)(vii)(a) have arisen:
(i) In cases where there are provisions on the matters listed in Article 236(1)(vii)(d): Shareholders of shares under the same item (vii)(d);
(ii) In cases where there are provision on the matters listed in Article 236(1)(vii)(e): Bondholders of Bonds under the same item (vii)(e);
(iii) In cases where there are provisions on the matters listed in Article 236(1)(vii)(f): Share option holders of "other Share Options" under that item (vii)(f);
(iv) In cases where there are provisions on the matters listed in Article 236(1)(vii)(g): Bondholders of the Bonds with respect to Bonds with Share Option under that item (vii)(g), and share option holders of Share Options attached to such Bonds with Share Option;
(4) Without delay after the grounds under Article 236(1)(vii)(a) have arisen, a Stock Company shall notify the share option holders of Share Options subject to Call and Registered Pledgees of Share Options thereof (in cases where there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in the same item (vii)(c) thereof, the share option holders of Share Options subject to Call determined pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, and Registered Pledgees of Share Options thereof) to the effect that such grounds has occurred; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Stock Company has given notice under the provisions of Article 273(2) or has given public notice under the provisions of paragraph (3) of the same Article.
(5) A public notice may be substituted for the notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
Subsection 2 Cancellation of Share Options
Article 276 (1) A Stock Company may cancel its Own Share Options. In such cases, the Stock Company shall determine the features and number of the Own Share Options it intends to cancel.
(2) For a Company with Board of Directors, the determination under the provisions of the second sentence of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a board of directors meeting.
Section 6 Allotment of Share Options without Contribution

(Allotment of Share Options without Contribution)
Article 277 A Stock Company may allot the Share Options of such Stock Company to shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, shareholders of a certain class) without requiring them to make additional contribution (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Allotment of Share Options without Contribution").

(Determination of Matters in relation to Allotment of Share Options without Contribution)
Article 278 (1) Whenever a Stock Company intends to effect the Allotment of Share Options without Contribution, it shall prescribe the following matters:
(i) The features and number of the Share Options the Stock Company will allot to shareholders or the method for calculating such number;
(ii) In cases where the Share Options provided for in the preceding item are attached to Bonds with Share Option, the classes of Bonds with respect to such Bonds with Share Option, and the total of the amounts for each Bond or the method for calculating such amount;
(iii) The day when such Allotment of Share Options without Contribution becomes effective; and
(iv) In cases where the Stock Company is a Company with Class Shares, the classes of shares held by shareholders who are entitled to such Allotment of Share Options without Contribution.
(2) The provisions regarding the matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of the preceding paragraph shall be that the Share Options under item (i) of that paragraph and the Bonds under item (ii) of that paragraph will be allotted in proportion to the number of shares (or, for a Company with Class Shares, the shares of the classes under item (iv) of that paragraph) held by shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Class Shareholders of the classes under item (iv) of that paragraph) other than such Stock Company.
(3) The determination of the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or of a board of directors meeting for a Company with Board of Directors); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where it is otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.

(Effectuation of Allotment of Share Options without Contribution)
Article 279 (1) Shareholders to whom the Share Options under item (i), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article have been allotted shall become the share option holders provided for in item (i) of that paragraph on the day provided for in item (iii) of that paragraph (or, in the case provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph, the share option holders provided for in item (i) of that paragraph and the Bondholders of the Bonds provided for in item (ii) of that paragraph).
(2) A Stock Company shall notify shareholders (or, for a Company with Class Shares, Class Shareholders of the classes under item (iv) of said paragraph) and the Registered Pledgees of Shares thereof, of the features and number of the Share Options (in the cases provided for in item (ii) of said paragraph, including the classes of Bonds that have been allotted to such shareholders and the total of the amounts for each Bond) that have been allotted to such shareholders, after the day set forth in paragraph (1)(iii) of the preceding Article without day.
(3) In cases where notice is made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, when the end of the period set forth in Article 236 (1)(iv) with respect to the Share Options set forth in paragraph (1), item (i) of the preceding Article arrives before the day when two weeks elapse from said day of notice, the period set forth in said item shall be deemed to be extended to the day when two weeks elapse from said day of notice.
Section 7 Exercising Share Option
Subsection 1 General Provisions

(Exercising Share Option)
Article 280 (1) Share Options shall be exercised by disclosing the following matters:
(i) The features and number of the Share Options to be exercised; and
(ii) The day on which the Share Options will be exercised.
(2) If it is intended to exercise share options for which certificates are issued, the holders of such share options for which certificates are issued shall submit the share option certificates representing the share options for which certificates are issued to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply if no such share option certificates have been issued.
(3) If it is intended to exercise Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued, the holders of such Share Options shall submit to the Stock Company the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options for Bonds with Share Option to which such Share Options are attached. In such case, such Stock Company shall specify in such certificate representing the Bond with Share Options to the effect that those Share Options attached to such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued have been extinguished.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where it is intended to exercise Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued, if the Bonds with respect to such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued are extinguished by the exercise of such Share Options, the share option holders of such Share Options shall submit the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options for the Bonds with Share Option to which such Share Options are attached to the Stock Company.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (3), in cases where it is intended to exercise the Share Options attached to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued after the redemption of the Bonds with respect to such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued, the share option holders of such Share Options shall submit the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options for the Bonds with Share Option to which such Share Options are attached to the Stock Company.
(6) A Stock Company cannot exercise Own Share Options.

(Payment of Amount to be Paid in on Exercise of Share Option)
Article 281 (1) If monies are the subject of the contribution to be made on the exercise of Share Options, the share option holders shall pay in the entire amount of the value provided for in Article 236(1)(ii) with respect to the Share Options relating to such exercise at the place for the handling of bank, etc. payments designated by the Stock Company on the day provided for in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(2) If any property other than monies is the subject of the contribution to be made on the exercise of Share Options, the share option holders shall deliver the property provided for in Article 236(1)(iii) with respect to the Share Options relating to such exercise on the day provided for in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. In such cases, if the value of such property falls short of the value provided for in Article 236(1)(ii), the holders of the Share Options shall pay in monies equivalent to the balance thereof at the place for the handling of payments referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(3) Share option holders may not set off their obligations to effect payment under the provisions of paragraph (1) or delivery under the provisions of the preceding paragraph against claims the Holders of Share Options have against the Stock Company.

(Timing, etc. of Shareholder Status)
Article 282 (1) Share option holders who have exercised Share Options shall become shareholders of the shares underlying such Share Options on the day when such Share Options are exercised.
(2) A share option holder that exercises a Share Option and is as set forth in an item of Article 286-2(1) shall not exercise the right of shareholders with respect to shares that are subject matters of Share Options for which payment or delivery set forth in items of Article 286-2(1) is disguised, unless the payment specified in said items or the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 268-3(1) is made.
(3) The person who accepts the transfer of shares set forth in the preceding paragraph may exercise the right of shareholders with respect to said shares; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the person was in bad faith or with gross negligence.

(Treatment of Fraction)
Article 283 In cases where Share Options are exercised, if the number of the shares to be issued to the share option holders of such Share Options includes a fraction of less than one share, the Stock Company shall, in accordance with the categories of the cases listed in the following items, deliver to the share option holders of such Share Options monies equivalent to the amount obtained by multiplying the amount provided for in each such item by such fraction; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in Article 236(1)(ix):
(i) In cases where such shares are shares with a market price: The amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of one such share; and
(ii) In cases other than the cases listed in the preceding item: The amount of net assets per share.
Subsection 2 Contribution of Property Other than Monies
Article 284 (1) In cases where Share Options for which there are provisions with respect to the matters listed in Article 236(1)(iii) are exercised, a Stock Company shall petition the court, without delay after a delivery of property under the provisions of Article 281(2), for the appointment of an inspector, in order to have the inspector investigate the value of the property provided for in that item (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Properties Contributed in Kind").
(2) In cases where the petition referred to in the preceding paragraph has been filed, the court shall appoint an inspector, except in cases where it dismisses such petition as unlawful.
(3) In cases where the court has appointed the inspector under the preceding paragraph, it may fix the amount of the remuneration that the Stock Company shall pay to such inspector.
(4) The inspector referred to in paragraph (2) shall conduct the necessary investigation and submit a report to the court by providing it with a document detailing the results of the investigation or with an electronic or magnetic record (limited one prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice) in which these have been recorded.
(5) If the court finds it necessary to clarify the contents of the report under the preceding paragraph or to confirm the grounds supporting such report, it may request that the inspector under paragraph (2) submit a further report under the preceding paragraph.
(6) If the inspector under paragraph (2) has submitted the report referred to in paragraph (4), he/she shall deliver a copy of the document referred to in that paragraph to the Stock Company or use a means prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to provide it with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in that paragraph.
(7) In cases where the court receives a report under paragraph (4), if it finds the value provided for in item (iii), paragraph (1) of Article 236 with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind (excluding a value not subjected to the investigation by the inspector under paragraph (2)) to be improper, it shall issue a ruling changing such value.
(8) In cases where the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind has been changed, in whole or in part, because of a ruling under the preceding paragraph, the share option holders referred to in paragraph (1) may rescind their manifestation of intention relating to the exercise of their Share Options, limited to within one week from the finalization of such ruling.
(9) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall not apply in the cases in each of the following items with respect to the matters prescribed respectively in those items:
(i) In cases where the total number of the shares to be delivered to the share option holders of Share Options that have been exercised does not exceed one tenth (1/10) of the total number of Issued Shares: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind that are tendered by the share option holders of such Share Options;
(ii) In cases where the total sum of the values provided for under Article 236(1)(iii) with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind does not exceed 5,000,000 yen: The value of such Properties Contributed in Kind;
(iii) In cases where the value provided for under Article 236(1)(iii) with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind does not exceed the value calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of such securities: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind with respect to such securities;
(iv) In cases where, the verification of an attorney, a legal professional corporation, a certified public accountant, an auditing firm, a tax accountant or a tax accountant corporation (or in cases where the Properties Contributed in Kind consist of real estate, hereinafter in this item referring to such verification and an appraisal by a real property appraiser) is obtained with respect to the reasonableness of the value provided for under Article 236(1)(iii) with respect to Properties Contributed in Kind: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind so verified;
(v) In cases where the Properties Contributed in Kind consist of a money claim (limited to claims that have already fallen due), and the value provided for under Article 236(1)(iii) with respect to such money claim does not exceed the book value of the debt representing such money claim: The value of the Properties Contributed in Kind with respect to such monetary claim.
(10) None of the following persons can provide the verification provided in item (iv) of the preceding paragraph:
(i) A director, an accounting advisor, a company auditor or executive officer, or an employee including a manager;
(ii) A share option holder;
(iii) A person who has become subject to a suspension of operations for whom the period of such suspension has not elapsed yet; or
(iv) A legal professional corporation, an auditing firm or a tax accountant corporation with respect to which more than half of its members are the persons who fall under either item (i) or item (ii) above.
Subsection 3 Liabilities

(Liabilities of Persons who Subscribed for Share Options with Unfair Amount To Be Paid In)
Article 285 (1) In a case as set forth in one of the following items, the share option holder exercising the Share Option shall be liable to the Stock Company for payment of the amount provided for in the relevant item:
(i) In the cases provided for in Article 238(1)(ii), if the arrangement that there is no requirement for monies to be paid in for Share Options for Subscription is a condition that is extremely unfair (limited to the cases where the share option holder subscribed for the Share Options in collusion with directors (or, directors or executive officers for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., the same shall apply in the following item.)): The fair value of such Share Options;
(ii) In the cases provided for in Article 238(1)(iii), if the share option holder subscribed for the Share Options at an Amount To Be Paid In that is extremely unfair, in collusion with directors: The amount equivalent to the difference between such Amount To Be Paid In and the fair value of such Share Options;
(iii) In cases where the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind that the share option holder tendered when becoming a shareholder pursuant to the provisions of Article 282(1) is extremely short of the value provided for under Article 236(1)(iii) with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind: The amount of such shortfall.
(2) In the cases provided for in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph, if the share option holder that tendered the Properties Contributed in Kind has acted in good faith and without gross negligence as to the fact that the value of such Properties Contributed in Kind is extremely short of the value provided for under item (iii), paragraph (1) of Article 236 with respect to the Properties Contributed in Kind, the share option holder may rescind his/her manifestation of intention relating to the exercise of the Share Options.

(Liabilities of Directors in case of Shortfall in Value of Property Contributed)
Article 286 (1) In the cases listed in item (iii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the following persons (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Directors, etc.") shall be liable to the Stock Company for payment of the amounts listed in such items:
(i) Executive directors who carried out duties regarding the solicitation of such share option holders (or, for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., executive officers. The same shall apply in this item.) and other persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as persons who were involved, in the performance of their duties, in the execution of the business of such executive directors;
(ii) If a shareholders meeting has passed a resolution regarding the determination of the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind, the persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the directors who submitted proposals to such shareholders meeting;
(iii) If a board of directors meeting has passed a resolution regarding the determination of the value of Properties Contributed in Kind, the persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the directors (or, for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., directors or executive officers) who submitted proposals to such board of directors meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Directors, etc. shall not be liable for Properties Contributed in Kind under that paragraph in the cases listed below:
(i) An investigation has been carried out by an inspector under Article 284(2) with respect to the value of the Properties Contributed in Kind; or
(ii) Such Directors, etc. have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(3) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1), the person who submitted the verification provided for in Article 284(9)(iv) (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Verifying Person") shall be liable for the payment of the amount provided for in item (iii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article to the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such Verifying Person has proven that he/she did not fail to exercise care with respect to the submission of such verification.
(4) In cases where a share option holder bears an obligation to pay an amount provided for in item (iii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article with respect to Properties Contributed in Kind tendered by the share option holder, if the persons listed as follows bear obligations provided for in such items with respect to such Properties Contributed in Kind, such persons shall be joint and several obligors:
(i) Directors, etc.: The obligations under paragraph (1); and
(ii) Verifying Person: The obligations under the main clause of the preceding paragraph.

(Liabilities of Share Option Holders, etc. That Have Disguised Payment, etc. of Share Option)
Article 286-2 (1) A share option holder that exercises a Share Option and is as set forth in the following items shall be liable to perform the acts specified in said items to a Stock Company:
(i) A person that disguised the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 246(1) (including delivery of property other than money that is made in lieu of said payment pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of said Article) or a person who accepts transfer of Share Options for Subscription and had knowledge or did not know due to gross negligence that said payment was disguised: Payment of the entire paid amount for which the payment has been disguised (in cases where the delivery of property other than money in lieu of said payment is disguised, said delivery of property (in cases where a Stock Company demands money equivalent to the value of said property in lieu of said delivery, payment of the entire amount of said money));
(ii) A person that disguised the payment pursuant to the provisions of Article 281(1) or the second sentence of paragraph (2): Payment of the entire amount of money for which payment is disguised; and
(iii) A person that disguised the delivery pursuant to the provisions of Article 281(2) first sentence: Delivery of property other than money for which the delivery is disguised (in cases where a Stock Company requests the payment of money equivalent to the value of said property in lieu of said delivery, the payment of the entire amount of said money).
(2) The liabilities of share option holders prescribed in the preceding paragraph pursuant to the provision of said paragraph shall not be exempted without the consent of all shareholders.

(Liabilities of Directors, etc. in Cases of Disguising the Payment, etc. of Share Options)
Article 286-3 (1) If a share option holder that exercises a Share Option and is as set forth in one of the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is liable to perform the actions specified in the relevant item, a person prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a director (in cases of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., including executive officers) involved in disguising the payment or delivery of said items shall be liable to a Stock Company for the payment prescribed in said items; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where the person (excluding the person who disguised said payment or delivery) proves that he/she did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of his/her duties.
(2) If a share option holder that exercises a Share Options and is as set forth in one of the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is liable to make the payment prescribed in the relevant item, if the person prescribed in the preceding paragraph assumes the liability set forth in said paragraph, these persons shall be joint and several obligors.
Subsection 4 Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 287 In addition to the cases provided for in Article 276(1), if a share option holder can no longer exercise the Share Options held by the same, such Share Options shall be extinguished.
Section 8 Certificates for Share Options
Subsection 1 Share Option Certificates

(Issuing of Share Option Certificates)
Article 288 (1) A Stock Company shall, without delay after the day of issue of share options for which certificates are issued, issue share option certificates representing the share options for which certificates are issued.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company may elect to not deliver the share option certificates under that paragraph until the share option holders so request.

(Matters to be Stated on Share Option Certificate)
Article 289 A Stock Company shall state the following matters and the serial number on a share option certificates and the Representative Director of the Stock Company (or the representative executive officer for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) shall affix his/her signature, or name and seal:
(i) The trade name of the Stock Company; and
(ii) The features and number of share options for which certificates are issued relating to such share option certificates;

(Conversion between Registered Share Option and Bearer Share Option)
Article 290 Holders of share options for which certificates are issued may demand at any time that the Stock Company convert their registered share option certificates into bearer share option certificates, or convert their bearer share option certificates into registered share option certificates, except in cases where there is an arrangement that such conversion is not possible under the provisions with respect to the matters listed in Article 236(1)(xi).

(Loss of Share Option Certificates)
Article 291 (1) Share option certificates may be invalidated pursuant to the public notification procedures under Article 100 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act.
(2) A person who has lost a share option certificate may not request the re-issuing of their share option certificate until after they obtain the decision for invalidation provided for in Article 106(1) of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act.
Subsection 2 Certificates of Bonds with Share Option
Article 292 (1) The certificate representing the Bond with Share Options representing a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued shall state the features and number of the Share Options attached to such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued, in addition to the matters to be stated under the provisions of Article 697(1).
(2) In cases where it is intended to redeem Bonds with respect to a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued, if the Share Options attached to such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued have not been extinguished, the Stock Company may not demand the redemption of the Bonds in exchange for the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options representing such a Bond with Share Options for which a certificate is issued. In such cases, the Stock Company may, in exchange for the redemption of the Bonds, seek the presentation of such certificate representing the Bond with Share Options and may enter a statement on such certificate representing the Bond with Share Options to the effect that the Bonds have been redeemed.
Subsection 3 Submission of Share Option Certificate

(Public Notice in relation to Submission of Share Option Certificate)
Article 293 (1) In cases where a Stock Company carries out an act listed in the following items, if it has issued share option certificates representing the Share Options provided for in such items (if such Share Options are attached to Bonds with Share Option, hereinafter in this Subsection referring to the certificate representing the Bond with Share Options representing such Bonds with Share Options), such Stock Company shall, more than one month prior to the day when such act takes effect(in cases of performing the action listed in item (i), the Acquisition Day prescribed in Article 179-2 (1)(v); hereinafter referred to as "Share Option Certificate Submission Day"), give public notice to the effect that such share option certificates shall be submitted to such Stock Company before Share Option Certificate Submission Day, and a separate notice to such effect to each share option holder of such Share Options and each registered pledgee of such Share Options:
(i) Approval set forth in Article 179-3(1): Share Options Subject to the Cash-Out;
(i)-2 Acquisitions of Share Options subject to Call: Such Share Options subject to Call;
(ii) Entity Conversion: All Share Options;
(iii) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): All Share Options;
(iv) Absorption-type Company Split: Share Options in Absorption-type Split Agreement provided for in Article 758(v)(a);
(v) Incorporation-type Company Split: Share Options in the Incorporation-type Company Split Plan provided for in Article 763(1)(x)(a);
(vi) Share Exchange: Share Options in Share Exchange Agreement provided for in Article 768(1)(iv)(a); or
(vii) Share Transfer: Share Options in Share Transfer Plan provided for in Article 773(1)(ix)(a).
(2) If a Stock Company takes an action set forth in one of the following items and a person fails to submit share option certificates to the Stock Company by the Share Option Certificate Submission Day, the person specified in the relevant item may refuse to deliver the Monies, etc. that the holder of the Share Options represented by those share option certificates is entitled to receive as a result of that act (if it takes the action set forth in item (i), this means Monies, etc. that the holder is entitled to receive as a result of the acquisition of the Share Options That Are Subject to the Cash-Out based on the Demand for a Share Option Cash-Out) until the share option certificates are submitted:
(i) The approval set forth in Article 179-3(1): A Special Controlling Shareholder;
(ii) Acquisition of Share Options subject to Call: Said Stock Company;
(iii) Entity Conversion: Membership Company after the Entity Conversion prescribed in Article 744(1)(i);
(iv) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger): The Company Surviving the Absorption-type Merger as prescribed in Article 749(1) or the Company Incorporated in the Consolidation-type Merger as prescribed in Article 753 (1);
(v) Absorption-type Company Split: The Company Succeeding in the Absorption-type Split as prescribed in Article 758 (i);
(vi) Incorporation-type Company Split: The Stock Company Incorporated in the Incorporation-type Split as prescribed in Article 763(1)(i);
(vii) Share exchange: The Wholly Owning Parent Stock Company Resulting from the Share Exchange as prescribed in Article 768 (1) (i); and
(viii) Share transfer: The Wholly Owning Parent Company Incorporated in the Share Transfer as prescribed in Article 773(1)(i).
(3) The share option certificates representing the Share Options provided for in each item of paragraph (1) shall become invalid on the Share Option Certificate Submission Day.
(4) The cost of public notice and notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), item (i) shall be paid by a Special Controlling Shareholder.
(5) The provisions of Article 220 shall apply mutatis mutandis if, in cases where an act listed in any item of paragraph (1) is carried out, a person cannot submit the share option certificates. In this case, "items of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article" in paragraph (2) of said Articles shall be deemed to be replaced with "items of Article 293(2)".

(Cases Where Bearer Share Option Certificates are not Submitted)
Article 294 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 132, in cases where the act listed in item (i)-2, paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is carried out (limited to cases where, in exchange for the acquisition of Share Options by a Stock Company, shares in such Stock Company are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options), if share option certificates (hereinafter in this Article limited to those in bearer form) are not submitted pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, the Stock Company is not required to enter or record the information set forth in Article 121(i) in the shareholder register in connection with shares that persons holding those share option certificates are entitled to have delivered.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company is not required to send notices or demands to shareholders of shares that persons who hold share option certificates that shall be submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are entitled to have delivered.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 249 and Article 259(1), in cases where the act listed in item (i)-2, paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is carried out (limited to cases where, in exchange for the acquisition of Share Options by a Stock Company, other Share Options of such Stock Company (excluding those attached to Bonds with Share Option) are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options), if no share option certificates are submitted pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, the Stock Company is not required to state or record in the share option register the matters listed in Article 249(iii)(a) relating to such other Share Options (excluding Bearer Share Options) that persons who hold such share option certificates are entitled to have delivered.
(4) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company is not required to send notices or demands to share option holders of Share Options that persons who hold share option certificates that shall be submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are entitled to have delivered.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 249 and Article 259(1), in cases where the act listed in item (i)-2, paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is carried out (limited to cases where, in exchange for the acquisition of Share Options by a Stock Company, Bonds with Share Option of such Stock Company are delivered to the share option holders of such Share Options), if no share option certificates are submitted pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, the Stock Company is not required to state or record in the share option register the matters listed in Article 249(iii)(a) relating to Share Options attached to the Bonds with Share Option (excluding Bearer Bonds with Share Option) that persons who hold such share option certificates are entitled to have delivered.
(6) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company is not required to send notices or demands to share option holders of Share Options attached to the Bonds with Share Option that persons who hold share option certificates that are to be submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are entitled to have delivered.

Chapter IV Organ
Section 1 Shareholders Meeting and General Meeting of Class Shareholders
Subsection 1 Shareholders Meeting

(Authority of Shareholders Meeting)
Article 295 (1) Shareholders meetings may resolve the matters provided for in this Act, the organization, operations and administration of the Stock Company, and any and all other matters regarding the Stock Company.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, for a Company with Board of Directors, a shareholders meeting may resolve only the matters provided for in this Act and the matters provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(3) Provisions of the articles of incorporation which provide to the effect that any organization other than the shareholders meeting, such as directors, executive officers and board of directors, may determine any matter which, pursuant to the provisions of this Act, requires the resolution of the shareholders meeting shall not be effective.

(Calling of Shareholders Meeting)
Article 296 (1) Annual shareholders meeting shall be called within a defined period of time after the end of each business year.
(2) A shareholders meeting may be called whenever necessary.
(3) A shareholders meeting shall be called by directors, except in cases where it is called pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the following Article.

(Demand for Calling of Meeting by Shareholders)
Article 297 (1) Shareholders having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more) not less than three hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders may demand the directors, by showing the matters which shall be the purpose of the shareholders meeting (limited to the matters on which such shareholders may exercise their votes) and the reason of the calling, that they call the shareholders meeting.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the preceding paragraph to a Stock Company which is not a Public Company, "having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more)" in that paragraph shall be read as "having".
(3) The number of the votes of the shareholders who may not exercise their votes on the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting referred to in paragraph (1) shall not be included in the number of the votes of all shareholders under that paragraph.
(4) In the following cases, the shareholders who made the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) may call the shareholders meeting with the permission of the court:
(i) In cases where the calling procedure is not effected without delay after the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1); or
(ii) In cases where a notice for the calling of the shareholders meeting which designates, as the day of the shareholders meeting, a day falling within the period of eight weeks (or, in cases where any period less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period) from the day of the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) is not dispatched.

(Determination to Call Shareholders Meeting)
Article 298 (1) Directors (in cases where shareholders call a shareholders meeting pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, such shareholders. The same shall apply in the main clause of the next paragraph and in the following Article to Article 302 inclusive) shall decide the following matters in cases where they call a shareholders meeting:
(i) The date, time and place of the shareholders meeting;
(ii) If there is any matter which is the purpose of the shareholders meeting, such matter;
(iii) That shareholders who do not attend the shareholders meeting may exercise their votes in writing, if so arranged;
(iv) That shareholders may exercise their votes by electronic or magnetic means, if so arranged;
(v) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding items, any matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) In cases where the number of the shareholders (excluding shareholders who may not exercise their votes on all matters which may be resolved at a shareholders meetings. The same shall apply in the next Article to Article 302 inclusive) is one thousand or more, the directors shall decide the matters listed in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where such Stock Company is a Stock Company which issues the shares listed on the financial instruments exchange provided for in Article 2(16) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and is an entity prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Directors, "matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meetings" in that that paragraph shall be read as "matters listed in paragraph (2) of the preceding paragraph".
(4) At a Company with Board of Directors, the decision of the maters listed in each item of paragraph (1) shall be made by the resolution of the board of directors, except for the cases where the shareholders call the Company pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article.

(Notice of Calling of Shareholders meetings)
Article 299 (1) In order to call the shareholders meeting, the directors shall dispatch the notice thereof to the shareholders no later than two weeks (or one week if the Stock Company is not a Public Company, except in cases where the matters listed in item (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are decided, (or if a shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation in cases where the Stock Company is a Stock Company other than the Company with Board of Directors, such shorter period of time)) prior to the day of the shareholders meeting.
(2) The notice referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be in writing in the following cases:
(i) Where the matters listed in item (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are decided; or
(ii) Where the Stock Company is a Company with Board of Directors.
(3) In lieu of issuing a written notice as referred to in the preceding paragraph, the directors may issue notice by electronic or magnetic means, with the consent of the shareholders and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, such directors shall be deemed to have issued the written notice referred to in that paragraph.
(4) The notice under the preceding two paragraphs shall specify or record the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(Omission of Calling Procedures)
Article 300 Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, the shareholders meeting may be held without the procedures of calling if the consent of all shareholders is obtained; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the matters listed in item (iii) or item (iv) of Article 298(1) are decided.

(Giving of Reference Documents for Shareholders Meeting and Voting Card)
Article 301 (1) In cases where the matters listed in item (iii) of Article 298(1) are decided, the directors shall, when dispatching a notice under Article 299(1), give the shareholder the document stating matters of reference for the exercise of votes (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Reference Documents for Shareholders Meeting") and the document to be used by the shareholder to exercise the votes (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Voting Card") pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) If the directors issue notices by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 299(3) to the shareholders who have given consent under the same paragraph, in lieu of delivering the Reference Documents for Shareholders Meeting and Voting Card pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the directors may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in those documents; provided, however, that if requested by any shareholder, they shall deliver these documents to the shareholder.
Article 302 (1) In cases where the matters listed in item (iv) of Article 298(1) are decided, the directors shall, when dispatching a notice under Article 299(1), give the shareholders the Reference Documents for Shareholders Meeting pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) If the directors issue notice by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 299(3) to the shareholders who have given consent as referred to in that paragraph, in lieu of delivering the Reference Documents for Shareholders Meeting pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the directors may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in those documents; provided, however, that, if requested by any shareholder, the directors shall give the Reference Documents for Shareholders Meeting to the shareholder.
(3) In the case provided for in paragraph (1), when using electronic or magnetic means as referred to in Article 299(3) to notify the shareholders that have given the consent referred to in that paragraph, the directors must use that electronic or magnetic means to provide the shareholders with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card, pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) In the case provided for in paragraph (1), if any shareholder who has not given consent under Article 299(3) requests, no later than one week prior to the day of the shareholders meeting, to be provided with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card by electronic or magnetic means, the directors shall use electronic or magnetic means to immediately provide the shareholder with that information, pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Shareholders' Right to Propose)
Article 303 (1) Shareholders may demand that the directors include certain matters (limited to the matters on which such shareholders may exercise their votes. The same shall apply in the following paragraph) in the purpose of the shareholders meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, at a Company with Board of Directors, only shareholders having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more) not less than one hundredth (1/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders or not less than three hundred (or, in cases where lesser number is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such number of) votes of all shareholders may demand the directors that the directors include certain matters in the purpose of the shareholders meeting. In such cases, that demand shall be submitted no later than eight weeks (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more) prior to the day of the shareholders meeting.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Directors which is not a Public Company, "having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more)" in that paragraph shall be read as "having".
(4) The number of the votes to which the shareholders who may not exercise their votes on the certain matters referred to in paragraph (2) are entitled shall not be included in the number of the votes of all shareholders under that paragraph.
Article 304 Shareholders may submit proposals at the shareholders meeting with respect to the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting (limited to the matters on which such shareholders may exercise their votes. The same shall apply in paragraph (1) of the following Article); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such proposals are in violation of the laws or the articles of incorporation, or in cases where three years have not elapsed from the day on which, with respect to the proposal which is essentially identical to such proposal, affirmative votes not less than one tenths (1/10) (or, in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding the shareholders who may not exercise their voting rights on such proposal) were not obtained.
Article 305 (1) Shareholders may demand the directors that, no later than eight weeks (or, in cases where any period less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period) prior to the day of the shareholders meeting, shareholders be notified of the summary of the proposals which such demanding shareholders intend to submit with respect to the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting (or, in cases where a notice pursuant to paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of Article 299 is to be given, such summary be specified or recorded in that notice); provided, however, that, for a Company with Board of Directors, only shareholders having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more) not less than one hundredth (1/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders or not less than three hundred (or, in cases where lesser number is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such number of) votes of all shareholders may make such demand.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the proviso to the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Directors which is not a Public Company, "having consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more)" in that paragraph shall be read as "having."
(3) The number of the votes to which the shareholders who may not exercise their votes on the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting referred to in paragraph (1) are entitled shall not be included in the number of the votes of all shareholders under the proviso to that paragraph.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply in cases where the proposals under paragraph (1) are in violation of the laws or the articles of incorporation, or in cases where three years have not elapsed from the day on which, with respect to the proposal which is essentially identical to such proposal, affirmative votes not less than one tenths (1/10) (or, in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding the shareholders who may not exercise their voting rights on such proposal) were not obtained.

(Appointment of Inspector on Calling Procedures of Shareholders Meeting)
Article 306 (1) A Stock Company or shareholders who hold not less than one hundredth (1/100) (or, in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding the shareholders who may not exercise their votes on all matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meeting) may file a petition with the court, before a shareholders meeting, for the appointment of an inspector who shall be retained to investigate the calling procedures and method of resolution relating to such shareholders meeting.
(2) For the purpose of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Directors which is a Public Company, in that paragraph, "matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meeting" shall be read as "matters listed in item (ii) of Article 298(1)" and "hold" shall be read as "have held, for the consecutive period of six months or more (or, in cases where any period less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period)"; and for the purpose of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Directors which is not a Public Company, "matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meeting" in that paragraph shall be read as "matters listed in item (ii) of Article 298(1)".
(3) In cases where the petition for the appointment of an inspector pursuant to the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs has been filed, the court shall appoint the inspector except in case it dismisses such petition as non-conforming.
(4) In cases where the court has appointed the inspector set forth in the preceding paragraph, it may fix the amount of the compensation which the Stock Company shall pay to such inspector.
(5) The inspector set forth in paragraph (3) shall conduct the necessary investigation and submit a report to the court by providing it with a document detailing the results of the investigation or with an electronic or magnetic record (limited to one prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice) in which these have been recorded.
(6) If the court finds it necessary to for the purpose of clarification of the contents of the report set forth in the preceding paragraph or of confirmation of the grounds supporting such report, it may request the inspector set forth in paragraph (3) a further report set forth in the preceding paragraph.
(7) When the inspector set forth in paragraph (3) reports pursuant to paragraph (5), he/she shall deliver a copy of the document referred to in that paragraph to the Stock Company (in cases where the person who filed a petition for the appointment of an inspector was not such Stock Company, such Stock Company and that person) or use a means prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to provide it with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in that paragraph.

(Determination by the Court of the Calling of Shareholders Meeting)
Article 307 (1) In cases where the report under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article is submitted, if the court finds it necessary, it shall order the directors to take some or all of the measures listed below:
(i) To call a shareholders meeting within a defined period of time; and
(ii) To notify the shareholders of the result of the investigation under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article.
(2) In cases where the court orders the measures listed in item (i), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the directors shall disclose the content of the report under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article at the shareholders meeting under that paragraph.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the directors (or the directors and company auditors for a Company with Company Auditor(s)) shall investigate the content of the report under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article and report the result thereof to the shareholders meeting under item (i) of paragraph (1).

(Number of Votes)
Article 308 (1) Shareholders (excluding the shareholder prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the entity in a relationship that may allow the Stock Company to have substantial control of such entity through the holding of one quarter or more of the votes of all shareholders of such entity or other reasons) shall be entitled to one vote for each one share they hold at the shareholders meeting; provided, however, that, in cases where a Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, they shall be entitled to one vote for each one unit of the shares.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Stock Company shall not have any votes with respect to its Treasury Shares.

(Resolution of Shareholders Meetings)
Article 309 (1) Unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation, the resolution of a shareholders meeting shall be made by a majority of the votes of the shareholders present at the meeting where the shareholders holding a majority of the votes of the shareholders who are entitled to exercise their votes are present.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the resolutions of the following shareholders meetings shall be made by a majority of two thirds (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or more of the votes of the shareholders present at the meeting where the shareholders holding a majority (in cases where a proportion of one third or more is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the votes of the shareholders entitled to exercise their votes at such shareholders meeting are present. In such cases, it is not precluded from providing in the articles of incorporation, in addition to such requirements for resolution, additional requirements including those providing to the effect that the approval of a certain number or more of the shareholders are required:
(i) Shareholders meeting under Article 140(2) and (5);
(ii) Shareholders meeting under Article 156(1) (limited to the case where the specific shareholders under Article 160(1) are to be identified);
(iii) Shareholders meeting under Article 171(1) and Article 175(1);
(iv) Shareholders meeting under Article 180(2);
(v) Shareholders meeting under Article 199(2), Article 200(1), item (iv) of Article 202(3), Article 204(2), and Article 205 (2);
(vi) Shareholders meeting under Article 238(2), Article 239(1), item (iv) of Article 241(3), Article 243(2), and Article 244(3);
(vii) Shareholders meeting under Article 339(1) (limited to the case where directors (excluding a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member) elected pursuant to the provisions of item (iii) through (v) of Article 342 are to be dismissed or where directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or company auditors are to be dismissed);
(viii) Shareholders meeting under Article 425(1);
(ix) Shareholders meeting under Article 447(1) (excluding the cases which fall under both of the following conditions):
(a) That the matters listed in each item of Article 447(1) shall be determined at the annual shareholders meeting; and
(b) That the amount referred to in item (i) of Article 447(1) shall not exceed the amount which is calculated in a manner prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of deficit at the day of the annual shareholders meeting referred to in Sub-item (a) (or, in the case provided for in the first sentence of Article 439, the day when the approval under Article 436(3) is effected).
(x) Shareholders meeting under Article 454(4) (limited to the cases where it is to be arranged that the Dividend Property shall consist of any property other than cash, and that no Right to Demand Distribution of Monies provided for in item (i) of that paragraph shall be granted to the shareholders);
(xi) Shareholders meeting in cases where the resolution by such shareholders meeting is required pursuant to the provisions of Chapter VI through Chapter VIII;
(xii) Shareholders meeting in cases where no resolution by such shareholders meeting is required pursuant to the provisions of Part V.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the resolutions of the following shareholders meetings (excluding the shareholders meetings of a Company with Class Shares) shall be made by at least half (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the shareholders entitled to exercise their votes at such shareholders meeting, being a majority of two thirds (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or more of the votes of such shareholders:
(i) Shareholders meetings where the articles of incorporation are amended creating a provision to the effect that, as the features of all shares issued by a Stock Company, the approval of such Stock Company is required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer;
(ii) Shareholders meetings under Article 783(1) (limited to the shareholders meeting held if the Stock Company disappearing in the merger or the Stock Company effecting the Share Exchange is a Public Company, and some or all of the Monies, etc. to be delivered to the shareholders of such Stock Company consist of Shares with Restriction on Transfer, Etc. (meaning the Shares with Restriction on Transfer, Etc. provided for in paragraph (3) of that paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in the following item.)); or
(iii) Shareholders meetings under Article 804(1) (limited to such shareholders meeting where the Stock Company which effects merger or Share Transfer is a Public Company, and some or all of the Monies, etc. to be distributed to the shareholders of such Stock Company consist of Shares with Restriction on Transfer, Etc.).
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, resolutions of the shareholders meetings which effect any amendment in the articles of incorporation (excluding those which repeal such provisions of the articles of incorporation) with respect to the amendment in the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of Article 109(2) shall be made by the majority (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of all shareholders, being a majority equating three quarters (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or more of the votes of all shareholders.
(5) At a Company with Board of Directors, the shareholders meeting may not resolve matters other than the matters listed in item (ii) of Article 298(1); provided, however, that this shall not apply to the election of the persons provided for in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Article 316, nor to requests for the presence of a financial auditor under Article 398(2).

(Proxy Voting)
Article 310 (1) Shareholders may exercise their votes by proxy. In such cases, such shareholders or proxies shall submit to the Stock Company a document evidencing the authority of proxy.
(2) The grant of the authority of proxy under the preceding paragraph shall be made for each shareholders meeting.
(3) Shareholders or proxies referred to in paragraph (1) may, in lieu of submitting a document evidencing the authority of proxy, use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in such document, with the approval of the Stock Company and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, such shareholders or proxies shall be deemed to have submitted such document.
(4) In cases where the shareholders are the persons who gave consent under Article 299(3), the Stock Company may not refuse to grant the approval under the preceding paragraph without justifiable reasons.
(5) The Stock Company may restrict the number of proxies who may attend the shareholders meeting.
(6) The Stock Company shall keep the documents evidencing the authority of proxy and the electronic or magnetic record in which information with which it is provided by the electronic or magnetic means referred to in paragraph (3) has been recorded at its head office for the period of three months from the day of the shareholders meeting.
(7) The shareholders (excluding the shareholders who may not exercise their votes on all matters which may be resolved at the shareholders meeting under the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in paragraph (4) of the following Article and in Article 312(5)) may submit the following request at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company:
(i) Request for the inspection or copying of the documents evidencing the authority of proxy; and
(ii) Request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Voting in Writing)
Article 311 (1) The exercise of voting rights in writing shall be effected by entering the Voting Card with necessary matters and submitting it to the Stock Company no later than the time prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) The number of the votes exercised in writing pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be included in the number of the votes of the shareholders who are present at the meeting.
(3) The Stock Company shall keep the Voting Cards submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) at its head office for the period of three months from the day of the shareholders meeting.
(4) The shareholders may make requests for the inspection or copying of the Voting Cards submitted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company.

(Voting by Electronic or Magnetic Means)
Article 312 (1) The exercise of voting rights by electronic or magnetic means shall be effected by using electronic or magnetic means to provide the Stock Company with the information that is required to be entered in the Voting Card no later than the time prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, with the approval of the Stock Company and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(2) In cases where the shareholders are the persons who have given consent under Article 299(3), the Stock Company may not refuse to give the approval under the preceding paragraph without justifiable reasons.
(3) The number of the votes exercised by electronic or magnetic means pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be included in the number of the votes of the shareholders who are present at the meeting.
(4) The Stock Company shall keep any electronic or magnetic record in which the information with which it has been provided pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has been recorded at its office for the period of three months from the day of the shareholders meeting.
(5) The shareholders may, at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company, request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Diverse Exercise of Votes)
Article 313 (1) Shareholders may diversely exercise the votes they hold.
(2) For a Company with Board of Directors, the shareholders under the preceding paragraph shall notify the Stock Company that they will diversely exercise their votes and of the reason thereof no later than three days prior to the day of the shareholders meeting.
(3) If the shareholders referred to in the paragraph (1) are not persons who hold the shares on behalf of others, the Stock Company may refuse the diverse exercise of the votes held by such shareholders pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph.

(Accountability of Directors, etc.)
Article 314 In cases where a director, an accounting advisor, a company auditor or an executive officer is requested by the shareholders to provide explanations on certain matters at the shareholders meeting, they shall provide necessary explanations with respect to such matters; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such matters are not relevant to the matters that are the purpose of the shareholders meeting, or in cases where such explanations are to the serious detriment of the common interest of the shareholders, or in other cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the cases where there are justifiable grounds.

(Authority of Chairperson)
Article 315 (1) The chairperson of the shareholders meeting shall maintain the order of such shareholders meeting and organize the business of the meeting.
(2) The chairperson of the shareholders meeting may require any one who does not comply with his/her order or who otherwise disturbs the order of such shareholders meeting to leave the room.

(Investigation of Materials Submitted to the Shareholders Meeting)
Article 316 (1) The shareholders meeting may, by its resolution, elect a person to investigate the materials submitted or provided to such shareholders meeting by the directors, accounting advisors, company auditors, board of company auditors and financial auditors.
(2) The shareholders meeting which is called pursuant to the provisions of Article 297 may, by its resolution, elect a person who will be charged to investigate the status of the operations and property of the Stock Company.

(Resolution for Postponement or Adjournment)
Article 317 In cases where there is a resolution for the postponement or adjournment of the shareholders meeting, the provisions of Article 298 and Article 299 shall not apply.

(Minutes)
Article 318 (1) Minutes shall be prepared with respect to the business of the shareholders meetings pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) The Stock Company shall keep the minutes referred to in the preceding paragraph at its head office for the period of ten years from the day of the shareholders meeting.
(3) The Stock Company shall keep copies of the minutes referred to in paragraph (1) at its branch offices for the period of five years from the day of the shareholders meeting; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where such minutes have been prepared by an electronic or magnetic record and the Stock Company adopts the measures prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as measures enabling its branch offices to respond to the request listed in item (ii) of the following paragraph.
(4) The shareholders and creditors may submit the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company:
(i) If the minutes under paragraph (1) are prepared in writing, requests for inspection or copying of such documents or copies of such documents; and
(ii) If the minutes under paragraph (1) have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(5) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of a Stock Company, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the minutes referred to in paragraph (1).

(Omission of Resolution of Shareholders Meetings)
Article 319 (1) In cases where directors or shareholders submit a proposal with respect to a matter which is the purpose of the shareholders meeting, if all shareholders (limited to those who may exercise their votes with respect to such matter) manifest their intention to agree to such proposal in writing or in an electronic or magnetic record, it shall be deemed that the resolution to approve such proposal at the shareholders meeting has been made.
(2) The Stock Company shall keep the document or electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding paragraph at its head office for a period of ten years from the day when the resolution of the shareholders meeting is deemed to have been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(3) The shareholders and creditors may submit the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company:
(i) Request for inspection or copying of the documents under the preceding paragraph; and
(ii) Request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(4) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of such Stock Company, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the document or electronic or magnetic record referred to in paragraph (2).
(5) In cases where it is deemed that the resolutions to approve proposals on all matters that are the purpose of the annual shareholders meeting have been made at the shareholders meeting pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), such annual shareholders meeting shall be deemed concluded at that time.

(Omission of Reports to Shareholders Meetings)
Article 320 In cases where the directors notify all shareholders of any matter that is to be reported to the shareholders meeting, if all shareholders manifest in writing or in an electronic or magnetic record their intention to agree that it is not necessary to report such matter to the shareholders meeting, it shall be deemed that such matter has been reported to the shareholders meeting.
Subsection 2 General Meeting of Class Shareholders

(Authority of General Meeting of Class Shareholders)
Article 321 General Meeting of Class Shareholders may resolve only the matters provided for in this Act and the matters provided for in the articles of incorporation.

(General Meeting of Class Shareholders where Detriment to Class Shareholders of Certain Class Likely)
Article 322 (1) In cases where a Company with Class Shares carries out an act listed in the following items, if it is likely to cause detriment to the Class Shareholders of any class of shares, such act shall not become effective unless a resolution is made at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of the shares of such class (in cases where there are two or more classes of shares relating to such Class Shareholders, referring to the respective General Meetings of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders categorized by the class of such two or more classes of shares. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article); provided, however, that this shall not apply to the case where there exists no Class Shareholder who may exercise his/her votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders:
(i) Amendment of the articles of incorporation with respect to the following matters (excluding those provided for in paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of Article 111);
(a) Creation of a new class of the shares;
(b) Change in the features of the shares;
(c) Increase of the Total Number of Authorized Shares, or Total Number of Authorized Shares in a Class.
(i)-2 The Approval set forth in Article 179-3(1);
(ii) Consolidation of shares or share split;
(iii) Allotment of share without contribution provided for in Article 185;
(iv) Solicitation of persons who subscribe for the shares of such Stock Company (limited to that which prescribes the matters listed in each item of Article 202(1));
(v) Solicitation of persons who subscribe for the Share Options of such Stock Company (limited to that which prescribes the matters listed in each item of Article 241(1));
(vi) Allotment of Share Option without contribution provided for in Article 277;
(vii) Merger;
(viii) Absorption-type Company Split;
(ix) Succession by Absorption-type Company Split to some or all of the rights and obligations held by another Company with respect to such Company's business;
(x) Incorporation-type Company Split;
(xi) Share Exchange;
(xii) Acquisition of all Issued Shares of another Stock Company by Share Exchange; or
(xiii) Share Transfer.
(2) A Company with Class Shares may provide in the articles of incorporation that, as a feature of a certain class of shares, a resolution of the General Meeting of Class Shareholders pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not be required.
(3) The provisions of the paragraph (1) shall not apply to General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of the class which is subject to the provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where the amendment in the articles of incorporation (excluding the amendment relating to Share Unit) set forth in item (i) of paragraph (1) is carried out.
(4) If, after shares of a certain class are issued, it is intended to create provisions pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) with respect to the shares of such class by effecting an amendment in the articles of incorporation, the consent of all Class Shareholders of such class shall be obtained.

(Cases of Provision Requiring Resolution of General Meeting of Class Shareholders)
Article 323 If, at a Company with Class Shares, there is a provision, as a feature of a certain class of shares, to the effect that, with respect to the matter that is subject to the resolution of the shareholders meeting (for a Company with Board of Directors, shareholders meeting or board of directors; and for a Company with Board of Liquidators provided for in Article 478(8), shareholders meeting or board of liquidators), in addition to such resolution, the resolution of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of such class of shares is required, such matter shall not become effective unless the resolution is made at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of the shares of such class in addition to the resolution of the shareholders meeting, board of directors or board of liquidators, consistently with the provisions of articles of incorporation; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the case where there exists no Class Shareholder who may exercise the votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders.

(Resolution of General Meeting of Class Shareholders)
Article 324 (1) Unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation, resolutions of a General Meeting of Class Shareholders shall be made by a majority of the votes of the shareholders of that class present at the meeting where the shareholders who hold a majority of the votes of all shareholders of the shares of such class are present.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the resolutions of the following General Meetings of Class Shareholders shall be made by a majority of two thirds (in cases where any higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or more of the votes of the shareholders present at the meeting where the shareholders who hold a majority of the votes (in cases where any proportion of one third or more is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the shareholders who are entitled to exercise their votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders are present. In such cases, it is not precluded from providing in the articles of incorporation, in addition to such requirements for resolution, additional requirements including those providing to the effect that the approval of a certain number or more of the shareholders are required:
(i) General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 111(2) (limited to the cases where, as a feature of a certain class of shares, a provision of the articles of incorporation is to be created with respect to the matters listed in item (vii) of Article 108(1));
(ii) General Meeting of Class Shareholders under of Article 199(4) and Article 200(4);
(iii) General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 238(4) and Article 239(4);
(iv) General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 322(1);
(v) General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 339(1) which is applied by the deemed replacement of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(2);
(vi) General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 795(4).
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the resolutions of the following General Meetings of Class Shareholders shall be made by a majority (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the shareholders entitled to exercise their votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders, being a majority of two thirds (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or more of the votes of such shareholders:
(i) General Meetings of Class Shareholders under Article 111(2) (limited to the cases where, as a feature of a certain class of shares, a provision of the articles of incorporation is to be created with respect to the matters listed in item (vii) of Article 108(1));
(ii) General Meetings of Class Shareholders under Article 783(3) and Article 804(3).

(Mutatis mutandis Application of Provisions regarding Shareholders Meetings)
Article 325 The provisions of the preceding Subsection (excluding paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 295, paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 296, and Article 309) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the General Meeting of Class Shareholders. In such cases, in Article 297(1), "all shareholders" shall be deemed to be replaced with "all shareholders (limited to the shareholders of a certain class of shares. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection (excluding Article 308(1))." and "Shareholders" shall be deemed to be replaced with "Shareholders (limited to the shareholders of a certain class of shares. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Subsection (excluding Article 318(4) and Article 319(3))".
Section 2 Establishment of Organs Other Than Shareholders Meeting

(Establishment of Organs Other Than Shareholders Meeting)
Article 326 (1) A Stock Company shall have one or more directors.
(2) A Stock Company may have a board of directors, an accounting advisor, a company auditor, a board of company auditors, a financial auditor, Audit and Supervisory Committee, or Nominating Committee, etc. as prescribed by the articles of incorporation.

(Obligations to Establish Board of Directors and Other Organizations)
Article 327 (1) The following Stock Company shall have a board of directors.
(i) A Public Company;
(ii) A Company with Board of Company Auditors;
(iii) A Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee;
(iv) A Company with Nominating Committee, etc.
(2) A Company with Board of Directors (excluding Company with Audit and Supervisory Committees and Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) shall have a company auditor; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a Company with Accounting Advisor(s) that is not a Public Company.
(3) A Company with Financial Auditor(s) (excluding a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committees and Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) shall have a company auditor.
(4) A Company with Audit and Supervisory Committees and Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may not have a company auditor.
(5) A Company with Audit and Supervisory Committees and Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall have a financial auditor.
(6) A Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall not have an Audit and Supervisory Committee.

(Disclosure of Reason not to Have an Outside Director)
Article 327-2 In cases where a person that is a Company with Board of Company Auditors (limited to a Public Company and a Large Company) at the end of the business year and is required to submit a securities report to the Prime Minister with respect to shares that the Company issues pursuant to the provisions of Article 24(1) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, does not have an Outside Director, directors shall explain the reason why it is not appropriate to have an Outside Director in the annual shareholders meeting of said related business year.

(Obligations of Large Companies to Establish Board of Company Auditors, etc.)
Article 328 (1) A Large Company (excluding a company which is not a Public Company, a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and a Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) shall have a board of company auditors and a financial auditor.
(2) A Large Company which is not a Public Company shall have a financial auditor.
Section 3 Election and Dismissal of Officers and Financial Auditors
Subsection 1 Election

(Election)
Article 329 (1) Officers (meaning directors, accounting advisors and company auditors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section and in Article 371(4) and Article 394(3)) and financial auditors shall be elected by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(2) In cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, the election of directors pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be implemented by distinguishing directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members and other directors.
(3) In case of the resolution under paragraph (1), substitute Officers may be elected as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice by way of precaution against the cases where there are no Officers (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors, or accounting advisors; hereinafter the same shall apply in this paragraph) in office or the cases where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of Officers prescribed in this Act or articles of incorporation.

(Relationship between Stock Company and Officers)
Article 330 The relationship between a Stock Company and its Officers or financial auditors shall be governed by the provisions on mandate.

(Qualifications of Directors)
Article 331 (1) The following persons may not act as directors:
(i) A juridical person;
(ii) An adult ward, a person under curatorship, or a person who is similarly treated under foreign laws and regulations;
(iii) A person who has been sentenced to a penalty for having violated the provisions of this Act or the Act on General Incorporated Association and General Incorporated Foundation (Act No. 48 of 2006), or for having committed: a crime under Article 197, Article 197-2(1)(i) through (x)-3 or (xiii) through (xv), Article 198(viii), Article 199, Article 200(i) through (xii)-2, (xx) or (xxi), Article 203(3) or Article 205 (i) through (vi), (xix) or (xx) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act; a crime under Articles 255, 256, 258 through 260 or 262 of the Civil Rehabilitation Act (Act No. 225 of 1999); a crime under Articles 65, 66, 68 or 69 of the Act on Recognition and Assistance for Foreign Insolvency Procedures (Act No. 129 of 2000); a crime under Articles 266, 267, 269 through Article 271 or 273 of the Corporate Reorganization Act (Act No. 154 of 2002); or a crime under Articles 265, 266, 268 through 272 or 274 of the Bankruptcy Act, for whom two years have not elapsed since the day on which the execution of the sentence was completed or the sentence no longer applied.
(iv) A person who violated the provisions of laws and regulations other than those provided for in the preceding item, was sentenced to imprisonment or severer penalty and who has not completed the execution of the sentence or to whom the sentence still applies (excluding persons for whom the execution of the sentence is suspended).
(2) A Stock Company may not provide in the articles of incorporation that directors shall be shareholders; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a Stock Company that is not a Public Company.
(3) A director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member may not concurrently act as an executive director, manager, or other employees of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or its Subsidiary, or accounting advisor (if the accounting advisor is a juridical person, the member who is in charge of its affairs) or an executive officer of said Subsidiary.
(4) A director of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may not concurrently act as a manager or other employee of said Company with Nominating Committee, etc.
(5) A Company with Board of Directors shall have three or more directors.
(6) A Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee shall have three or more of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members and the majority of them shall be Outside Directors.

(Directors' Terms of Office)
Article 332 (1) Directors' terms of office shall continue until the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year which ends within two years from the time of their election; provided, however, that this shall not preclude the shortening the term of the directors by the articles of incorporation or by the resolution of the shareholders meeting.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not preclude a Stock Company which is not a Public Company (excluding a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee and Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) from extending, by the articles of incorporation, the term of office under that paragraph until the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year which ends within ten years from the time of the election.
(3) With regard to application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to directors (excluding those who are the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members) of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "two years" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "one year."
(4) The provisions of the proviso to paragraph (1) shall not apply to the terms of office of directors who are the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.
(5) The provision of the main clause of paragraph (1) shall not preclude to stipulate by articles of incorporation that the term of office of the director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member and elected as substitute for a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee and retired before expiry of its term of office shall be by the time when the term of office of the retired director who was an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member expires.
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provisions under paragraph (1) to the directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "two years" in that paragraph shall be read as "one year."
(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, in cases where any of the following amendments in the articles of incorporation is made, the directors' term of office shall expire when such amendment in the articles of incorporation takes effect:
(i) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to the effect that an Audit and Supervisory Committee or Nominating Committee, etc. shall be established;
(ii) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that an Audit and Supervisory Committee or Nominating Committee, etc. shall be established; or
(iii) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that, as a feature of all shares the Stock Company issues, the approval of the Stock Company is required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer (excluding an amendment made by a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee and Company with Nominating Committee, etc.).

(Qualifications of Accounting Advisors)
Article 333 (1) An accounting advisor shall be a Certified Public Accountant or audit firm, or a certified public tax accountant or tax accountant corporation.
(2) An audit firm or tax accountant corporation which has been elected as the accounting advisor shall appoint, from among its members, a person who is in charge of the affairs of an accounting advisor, and notify the Stock Company to that effect. In such cases, the persons listed in each item of following paragraph may not be appointed.
(3) The following persons may not act as accounting advisors:
(i) A director, company auditor or executive officer, or an employee, including a manager, of a Stock Company or its Subsidiary;
(ii) A person who is subject to the disciplinary action ordering a suspension of operations and for whom the period of such suspension has not yet elapsed; or
(iii) A person who, pursuant to the provisions of Article 43 of the Certified Public Tax Accountant Act (Act No. 237 of 1951), may not engage in the business of the certified public tax accountant prescribed in Article 2(2) of that act.

(Accounting Advisors' Terms of Office)
Article 334 (1) The provisions of Article 332 (excluding paragraphs (4) and (5); the same shall apply in the following paragraph) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the accounting advisors' terms of office.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 332 applied mutatis mutandis under the preceding paragraph, in cases where a Company with Accounting Advisor(s) effects an amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that it shall have an accounting advisor, the accounting advisor's term of office shall expire when such amendment in the articles of incorporation takes effect.

(Qualifications of Company auditors)
Article 335 (1) The provisions of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 331 shall apply mutatis mutandis to company auditors.
(2) A company auditor of a Stock Company may not concurrently act as a director, employee, including manager, of that Stock Company or its Subsidiary, and may not act as an accounting advisor (if the accounting advisor is a juridical person, the member who is in charge of its affairs) or an executive officer of such Subsidiary.
(3) A Company with Board of Company Auditors shall have three or more company auditors, and the half or more of them shall be Outside Company Auditors.

(Company Auditors' Terms of Office)
Article 336 (1) Company auditors' terms of office shall continue until the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year which ends within four years from the time of their election.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not preclude a Stock Company which is not a Public Company from extending, by the articles of incorporation, the terms of office under that paragraph until the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year which ends within ten years from the time of the election.
(3) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not preclude providing, by the articles of incorporation, that the term of office of a company auditor, who is elected as the substitute for a company auditor who retired from office before the expiration of the term of office, shall continue until the time the term of office of the company auditor who retired from office expires.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs, in cases where any of the following amendments in the articles of incorporation is made, the company auditors' terms of office shall expire when such amendment in the articles of incorporation takes effect:
(i) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that company auditors shall be established;
(ii) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to the effect that an Audit and Supervisory Committee or Nominating Committee, etc. shall be established;
(iii) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that the scope of the audit by the company auditors shall be limited to an audit related to accounting;
(iv) An amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that, as a feature of all shares the Stock Company issues, the approval of the Stock Company is required for the acquisition of such shares by transfer.

(Qualifications of Financial Auditors)
Article 337 (1) A financial auditor shall be a Certified Public Accountant or an audit firm.
(2) An audit firm which has been elected as a financial auditor shall appoint, from among its members, a person who is in charge of the affairs of a financial auditor, and notify the Stock Company to that effect. In such cases, the person listed in item (ii) of the following paragraph may not be appointed.
(3) The following persons may not act as financial auditors:
(i) A person who, pursuant to the provisions of the Certified Public Accountant Act, may not audit the financial statement provided for in Article 435(2);
(ii) A person who is in continuous receipt of remuneration from a Subsidiary of the Stock Company, or from a director, accounting advisor, company auditor or executive officer of that Subsidiary, for operations other than the operations of the Certified Public Accountant or audit firm, or the spouse of that person; or
(iii) An audit firm half or more of its members of which are persons listed in the above items.

(Financial Auditors' Terms of Office)
Article 338 (1) A financial auditor's term of office shall continue until the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year which ends within one year from the time of their election.
(2) Unless otherwise resolved at the annual shareholders meeting under the preceding paragraph, financial auditors shall be deemed to have been re-elected at such annual shareholders meeting.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, in cases where a Company with Financial Auditor(s) makes any amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that it shall have a financial auditor, the financial auditor's term of office shall expire when such amendment in the articles of incorporation takes effect.
Subsection 2 Dismissal

(Dismissal)
Article 339 (1) Officers and financial auditors may be dismissed at any time by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(2) A person dismissed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be entitled to demand damages arising from the dismissal from the Stock Company, except in cases where there are justifiable grounds for such dismissal.

(Dismissal of Financial Auditors by Company Auditors)
Article 340 (1) The company auditor may dismiss a financial auditor if that financial auditor:
(i) has breached his or her duty in the course of his/her duties, or neglected his/her duties;
(ii) has engaged in misconduct inappropriate for a financial auditor; or
(iii) has difficulty in, or is unable to cope with the execution of his/her duties due to mental or physical disability.
(2) Dismissals pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be effected by the unanimous consent of all company auditors in cases where there are two or more company auditors.
(3) If a financial auditor is dismissed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), the company auditor (or, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, the company auditor appointed by the company auditors from among themselves) shall report such fact and the reason for dismissal to the first shareholders meeting called after the dismissal.
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditor" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "board of company auditors," "company auditors in cases where there are two or more company auditors" in paragraph (2) shall be read as "company auditors," and "company auditor (or, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, the company auditor appointed by the company auditors from among themselves)" in the preceding paragraph shall be read as "the company auditor appointed by the board of company auditors."
(5) With regard to the application of provisions of paragraphs (1) through (3) in a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "company auditor" in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee," "all company auditors in cases where there are two or more company auditors" in paragraph (2) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee Members," and "company auditor (or, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, the company auditor appointed by the company auditors from among themselves)" in paragraph (3) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee Members appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee" respectively.
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) through paragraph (3) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "a company auditor" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "[an] audit committee," "company auditors in cases where there are two or more company auditors" in paragraph (2) shall be read as "committee members of the audit committee," and "company auditor (or, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, the company auditor appointed by the company auditors from among themselves)" in paragraph (3) shall be read as "committee member appointed by the audit committee".
Subsection 3 Special Provisions on the Procedures for Election and Dismissal

(Resolution at Shareholders Meeting for Election and Dismissal of Officers)
Article 341 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 309(1), resolutions for the election or dismissal of officers shall be made by the majority (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the votes of the shareholders present at the meeting where the shareholders holding the majority of the votes (in cases where a proportion of one third or more is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the shareholders entitled to exercise their votes are present.

(Election of Directors by Cumulative Vote)
Article 342 (1) In cases where the purpose of the shareholders meeting is the election of two or more directors (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article), the shareholders (limited to the shareholders entitled to exercise their votes with respect to the election of the directors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) may request the Stock Company that the directors be elected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) through paragraph (5), except as otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.
(2) The request under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made no later than five days prior to the day of the shareholders meeting referred to in that paragraph.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 308(1), in cases where a request is made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), a shareholder shall be entitled to such number of votes as is equal to the number of the directors to be elected in such shareholders meeting for each one share the shareholder holds (or, in cases where the Share Unit is provided for in the articles of incorporation, for each one unit of the shares the shareholder holds) with respect to the resolution of the election of the directors. In such cases, the shareholder may exercise his/her votes by casting votes for only one candidate or for two or more candidates.
(4) In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, the directors shall be elected in the order of the votes obtained by respective candidates.
(5) In addition to the matters provided in the preceding two paragraphs, necessary matters regarding the election of directors in cases where a request has been made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(6) The provisions of the preceding Article shall not apply to resolutions for the dismissal of the directors elected pursuant to the provisions of the preceding three paragraphs.

(Statement of Opinions on the Election of a Director, etc. who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member)
Article 342-2 (1) A director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member may state their opinions on the election or dismissal, or resignation of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.
(2) A person who has resigned as a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member may attend the first shareholders meeting called after the resignation and state the fact of the resignation and the reason thereof.
(3) Directors shall notify the person under the preceding paragraph of the fact that the shareholders meeting under said paragraph is to be called, and of the matters listed in Article 298(1)(i).
(4) An Audit and Supervisory Committee Member appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee may state the opinions of the Audit and Supervisory Committee on the election, dismissal, or resignation of directors other than directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members at the shareholders meeting.

(Consent of Company Auditors to Election of Company Auditors)
Article 343 (1) In cases where a company auditor is in office, directors shall obtain the consent of the company auditor (or, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, the majority of the company auditors) in order to submit a proposal for the election of a company auditor to the shareholders meeting.
(2) The company auditor may request the directors that they include the election of the company auditor in the purpose of the shareholders meeting, or they submit a proposal regarding the election of company auditor to the shareholders meeting.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the preceding two paragraphs to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditor (or, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, the majority of the company auditors)" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "board of company auditors," and "company auditor may" in the preceding paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors may".
(4) The provisions of Article 341 shall not apply to resolutions for the dismissal of company auditors.

(Determination of Content of Proposal on the Election, etc. of a Financial Auditor)
Article 344 (1) At a Company with Company Auditor(s), content of proposals on election and dismissal of a financial auditor and the refusal to reelect the financial auditor to be submitted to the shareholders meeting shall be determined by the company auditor.
(2) With regard to the application of provisions of the preceding paragraph to cases where there are two or more company auditors, "by the company auditor" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "by a majority of company auditors".
(3) For the purpose of the application of paragraph (1) to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditor" in said paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors".

(Consent of the Audit and Supervisory Committee to the Election of Directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members)
Article 344-2 (1) In cases where there is an Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors shall obtain the consent of the Audit and Supervisory Committee in order to submit proposals to the shareholders meeting on the election of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.
(2) The Audit and Supervisory Committee may request directors to set the election of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members as the purpose of the shareholders meeting or to submit proposals to the shareholders meeting on the election of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.
(3) The provisions of Article 341 shall not apply to the resolution of dismissal of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.

(Statement of Opinions on Election of Accounting Advisors, etc.)
Article 345 (1) Accounting advisors may state their opinions on the election or dismissal, or resignation of accounting advisors at the shareholders meeting.
(2) A person who has resigned as an accounting advisor may attend the first shareholders meeting called after the resignation and state the fact of the resignation and the reason thereof.
(3) Directors shall notify the person under the preceding paragraph of the fact that the shareholders meeting under that paragraph is to be called, and of the matters listed in item (i) of Article 298(1).
(4) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a company auditor, and the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to a person who resigned as the company auditor, respectively. In such cases, "accounting advisors" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "company auditors".
(5) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a financial auditor, and the provisions of paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to a person who resigned as the financial auditor and a person dismissed as the financial auditor pursuant to the provisions of Article 340(1), respectively. In such cases, "on the election or dismissal, or resignation of accounting advisors at the shareholders meeting" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "on the election, dismissal or refusal of reelection, or resignation of accounting financial auditors, by attending the shareholders meeting," and in paragraph (2), "after the resignation" shall be read with "after the dismissal or resignation," and "the fact of the resignation and the reason thereof" shall be read with "the fact of the resignation and the reason thereof, or opinions on the dismissal".

(Measures when Vacancies arise among Officers)
Article 346 (1) Where there are no Officers (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors, or accounting advisors; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article) in office, or where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of Officers prescribed in this Act or articles of incorporation, an Officer who retired from office due to expiration of his/her term of office or resignation shall continue to have the rights and obligations of an Officer until a newly elected Officer (including a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of an Officer under the following paragraph) assumes his/her office.
(2) In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the court finds it necessary, it may, in response to a petition by interested persons, appoint a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of an Officer.
(3) In cases where the court has appointed a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of an Officer under the preceding paragraph, the court may prescribe the amount of the remuneration that the Stock Company shall pay to that person.
(4) Where there are no financial auditors in office, or where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of financial auditors prescribed in the articles of incorporation, if a financial auditor is not elected without delay, the company auditor shall appoint a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a financial auditor.
(5) The provisions of Article 337 and Article 340 shall apply mutatis mutandis the person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a financial auditor under the preceding paragraph.
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (4) to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditor" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors."
(7) With regard to application of the provisions of paragraph (4) to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "company auditors" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee."
() For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (4) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "company auditor" in that paragraph shall be read as "Audit Committee." () For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (4) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "company auditor" in that paragraph shall be read as "Audit Committee."

(Election of Directors or Company Auditors at General Meeting of Class Shareholders)
Article 347 (1) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 329(1), Article 332(1), Article 339(1), Article 341, and Article 344-2 (1) and (2) to the cases where it issues shares of a class for which there is the provision with respect to the matters listed in item (ix) of Article 108(1) (limited to those relating to directors (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors)), "shareholders meeting" in Article 329(1) shall be read as "shareholders meeting (or, for directors (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors), General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of each class of shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation on the matters prescribed in item (ix) Article 108(2))"; "by resolution of a shareholders meeting" in Article 332(1) and Article 339(1) shall be read as "by resolution of a shareholders meeting (or, for directors (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or other directors) elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 41(1), or at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 90(1) or a General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 329(1) applied by reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(1), General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of shares of the class relating to the election of such director (or shareholders meeting in cases where it is otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, or in cases where, before the expiration of the term of office of such director, there are no longer any shareholders entitled to exercise his/her votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders))"; "Article 309(1)" in Article 341 shall be read as "Article 309(1) and Article 324"; and "shareholders meeting" in Article 341 shall be read as "shareholders meeting (including the General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 329(1) and Article 339(1) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(1))"; "shareholders meeting" in Article 344-2(1) and (2) shall be read as "General Meeting of Class Shareholders set forth in Article 329 (1) as applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(1)".
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 329(1), Article 339(1), Article 341 and Article 343(1) and (2) to the cases where it issues shares of a class for which there is the provision with respect to the matters listed in item (ix) of Article 108(1) (limited to those relating to company auditors), "shareholders meeting" in Article 329(1) shall be read as "shareholders meeting (or, for company auditors, General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of each class of shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation on the matters prescribed in item (ix) Article 108(2))"; "the shareholders meeting" in Article 339(1) shall be read as "shareholders meeting (or, for company auditors elected pursuant to the provisions of Article 41(1) applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (3) of that Article, or at an Organizational Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 90(1) applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of that Article or at a General Meeting of Class Shareholders under 329(1) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(2), General Meeting of Class Shareholders constituted by the Class Shareholders of shares of the class relating to the election of such company auditor (or shareholders meeting in cases where it is otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, or in cases where, before the expiration of the term of office of such company auditor, there are no longer any shareholders entitled to exercise his/her votes at such General Meeting of Class Shareholders))"; "Article 309(1)" in Article 341 shall be read as "Article 309(1) and Article 324"; "shareholders meeting" in Article 341 shall be read as "shareholders meeting (including the General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 329(1) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(2)); and "shareholders meeting" in Article 343(1) and (2) shall be read as " General Meeting of Class Shareholders under Article 329(1) applied by the reading of terms pursuant to the provisions of Article 347(2)".
Section 4 Directors

(Execution of Operations)
Article 348 (1) The directors shall execute the operations of the Stock Company (excluding a Company with Board of Directors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.
(2) In cases where there are two or more directors, the operations of the Stock Company shall be decided by a majority of the directors, unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.
(3) In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, the directors may not delegate the decisions on the following matters to individual directors:
(i) The appointment or dismissal of managers;
(ii) The establishment, relocation and abolition of branch offices;
(iii) The matters listed in each item of Article 298(1) (including the cases where such items are applied mutatis mutandis under Article 325);
(iv) The development of systems necessary to ensure that the execution of the duties by the directors complies with the laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, and other systems prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as systems necessary to ensure the properness of operations of a Stock Company and operations of group of enterprises consisting of said Stock Company and its Subsidiaries; or
(v) Exemption from the liability under Article 423(1) pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of Article 426(1).
(4) At a Large Company, the directors shall decide the matters listed in item (iv) of the preceding paragraph.

(Representatives of Companies)
Article 349 (1) The directors shall represent the Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where Representative Directors or other persons who represent the Company are otherwise designated.
(2) In cases where there are two or more directors referred to in the main clause of the preceding paragraph, each director shall represent the Stock Company individually.
(3) A Stock Company (excluding a Company with Board of Directors) may appoint Representative Directors from among the directors pursuant to the articles of incorporation, or through the appointment by the directors from among themselves pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation, or by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(4) Representative Directors shall have authority to do any and all judicial and non-judicial acts in connection with the operations of the Stock Company.
(5) No limitation on the authority under the preceding paragraph may be asserted against a third party in good faith.

(Liability for Damages Caused by Acts of Directors)
Article 350 A Stock Company shall be liable for damage caused to third parties by its Representative Directors or other representatives during the course of the performance of their duties.

(Measures when Vacancy arises in Office of Representative Director)
Article 351 (1) Where there are no Representative Directors in office, or where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of Representative Directors prescribed in the articles of incorporation, a Representative Director who retired from office due to expiration of his/her term of office or resignation shall continue to have the rights and obligations of a Representative Director until a newly appointed Representative Director (including the person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a Representative Director under the following paragraph) assumes his/her office.
(2) In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the court finds it necessary, it may, in response to the petition by the interested persons, appoint a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a Representative Director.
(3) In cases where the court has appointed the person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a Representative Director under the preceding paragraph, the court may prescribe the amount of the remuneration that the Stock Company shall pay to that person.

(Authority of Persons who Perform Duties on Behalf of Directors)
Article 352 (1) A person who is appointed by a provisional disposition order provided for in Article 56 of the Civil Provisional Remedies Act (Act No. 91 of 1989) to perform the duties of directors or Representative Directors on behalf of them shall obtain the permission of the court in order to engage in acts that do not belong to the ordinary operations of the Stock Company, unless otherwise provided for in the provisional disposition order.
(2) Any act of the person who performs the duties of directors or Representative Directors on behalf of them that is performed in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be void; provided, however, that the Stock Company may not assert that voidness against a third party in good faith.

(Representation of Companies in Actions between Stock Company and Directors)
Article 353 Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4), in cases where a Stock Company files an action against its directors (including persons who were directors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), or the directors of a Stock Company files an action against that Stock Company, a shareholders meeting may designate a person to represent the Stock Company in such action.

(Apparent Representative Directors)
Article 354 In cases where a Stock Company gives the title of president, vice president or other title regarded as having authority to represent the Stock Company to a director who is not a Representative Director, the Stock Company shall be liable to third parties in good faith for the acts of such director.

(Duty of Loyalty)
Article 355 Directors shall perform their duties for the Stock Company in a loyal manner in compliance with laws and regulations, the articles of incorporation, and resolutions of shareholders meetings.

(Restrictions on Competition and Conflicting Interest Transactions)
Article 356 (1) In the following cases, a director shall disclose the material facts on the relevant transactions at a shareholders meeting and obtain approval of the shareholders meeting:
(i) If the director intends to carry out, for himself/herself or for a third party, any transactions in the line of business of the Stock Company;
(ii) If the director intends to carry out any transactions with the Stock Company for himself/herself or for a third party; or
(iii) If a Stock Company intends to guarantee debts of a director or otherwise to carry out any transactions with a person other than the director that results in a conflict of interests between the Stock Company and such director.
(2) The provisions of Article 108 of the Civil Code shall not apply to the transactions under item (ii) of the preceding paragraph that are approved under that paragraph.

(Director's Duty to Report)
Article 357 (1) If directors detect any fact likely to cause substantial detriment to the Stock Company, they shall immediately report such fact to the shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), the company auditors).
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), the company auditors)" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors".
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), the company auditors)" shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee".

(Appointment of Inspector of Execution of Operation)
Article 358 (1) If there are sufficient grounds to suspect misconduct or material facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation in connection with the execution of the operations of a Stock Company, the following shareholders may file a petition for the appointment of an inspector with the court in order to have the inspector investigate the status of the operations and the financial status of such Stock Company:
(i) Shareholders who hold not less than three hundredths (3/100) of the votes (or, in cases where a lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who may not exercise their votes on all matters which may be resolved at shareholders meetings); or
(ii) Shareholders who hold not less than three hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where a lesser proportion prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the Issued Shares (excluding Treasury Shares).
(2) In cases where the petition under the preceding paragraph has been filed, the court shall appoint the inspector except in case it dismisses such petition as non-conforming.
(3) In cases where the court has appointed the inspector under the preceding paragraph, it may fix the amount of the remuneration that the Stock Company shall pay to such inspector.
(4) The inspector referred to in paragraph (2) may investigate the status of the operations and the financial status of Subsidiaries of the Stock Company if it is necessary in order to perform his/her duties.
(5) The inspector referred to in paragraph (2) shall conduct the necessary investigation and submit a report to the court by providing it with a document detailing the results of the investigation or with an electronic or magnetic record (limited to one prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice) in which these have been recorded.
(6) If the court finds it necessary for the purpose of clarification of the contents of the report under the preceding paragraph or of confirmation of the grounds supporting such report, it may request the inspector under paragraph (2) a further report under the preceding paragraph.
(7) When the inspector under paragraph (2) reports pursuant to paragraph (5), he/she shall deliver a copy of the document referred to in that paragraph to the Stock Company and the shareholders who filed the petition for the appointment of an inspector or use a means prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to provide them with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in that paragraph.

(Decision by Court to Call Shareholders Meeting)
Article 359 (1) In cases where the report under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article is submitted, if the court finds it necessary, it shall order the directors to take some or all of the measures listed below:
(i) To call a shareholders meeting within a defined period of time; and
(ii) To notify shareholders of the result of the investigation under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article.
(2) In cases where the court orders the measures listed in item (i), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, the directors shall disclose the content of the report under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article at the shareholders meeting under that paragraph.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the directors (or the directors and company auditors for a Company with Company Auditor(s)) shall investigate the content of the report under paragraph (5) of the preceding Article and report the result thereof to the shareholders meeting under item (i) of paragraph (1).

(Enjoinment of Acts of Directors by Shareholders)
Article 360 (1) In cases where a director engages, or is likely to engage, in an act outside the scope of the purpose of a Stock Company, or other acts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, if such act is likely to cause substantial detriment to such Stock Company, shareholders having the shares consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more) may demand that such director cease such act.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Stock Company which is not a Public Company, "shareholders having the shares consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more)" in that paragraph shall be read as "shareholders".
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Company Auditor(s) or a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "substantial detriment" in that paragraph shall be read as "irreparable damage".

(Remuneration for Directors)
Article 361 (1) The following matters with respect to the financial benefits received from a Stock Company as a consideration for the execution of the duties, such as remunerations and bonuses, (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Remunerations") of directors shall be fixed by resolution of a shareholders meeting if such matters are not prescribed in the articles of incorporation:
(i) For Remunerations in a fixed amount, that amount;
(ii) For Remunerations the amount of which is not fixed, the specific method for calculating that amount;
(iii) For Remunerations that are not monetary, the specific contents thereof.
(2) In cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, the matters listed in the items of the preceding paragraph shall be determined by distinguishing directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members and other directors.
(3) In cases where there are no provisions in the articles of incorporation or resolutions of shareholders meeting with regard to Remunerations of each director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member, said Remunerations shall be determined through discussion among directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members within the range of Remunerations set forth in paragraph (1).
(4) Directors who prescribed the matters listed in item (ii) or item (iii) of paragraph (1), or who submitted a proposal to amend these matters to a shareholders meeting shall explain the reasons why such matters are reasonable at such shareholders meeting.
(5) Directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members may state their opinions on the Remunerations of directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members in the shareholders meeting.
(6) The Audit and Supervisory Committee Member appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee may state the opinions of the Audit and Supervisory Committee on the Remunerations of directors other than directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.
Section 5 Board of Directors
Subsection 1 Authority

(Authority of Board of Directors)
Article 362 (1) Board of directors shall be composed of all directors.
(2) Board of directors shall perform the following duties:
(i) Deciding the execution of the operations of the Company with Board of Directors;
(ii) Supervising the execution of the duties by directors; and
(iii) Appointing and removing Representative Directors.
(3) Board of directors shall appoint Representative Directors from among the directors.
(4) Board of directors may not delegate the decision on the execution of important operations such as the following matters to directors:
(i) The disposal of and acceptance of transfer of important assets;
(ii) Borrowing in a significant amount;
(iii) The appointment and dismissal of an important employee including managers;
(iv) The establishment, changes or abolition of important structures including branch offices;
(v) Matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as important matters regarding the solicitation of persons who subscribe for Bonds such as the matters listed in item (i) of Article 676;
(vi) The development of systems necessary to ensure that the execution of duties by directors complies with laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, and other systems prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as systems necessary to ensure the properness of operations of a Stock Company and operations of group of enterprises consisting of said Stock Company and its Subsidiaries; or
(vii) Exemption from liability under Article 423(1) pursuant to provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of Article 426(1).
(5) A Company with Board of Directors that is a Large Company shall decide the matters listed in item (vi) of the preceding paragraph.

(Authority of Directors of Companies with Board of Directors)
Article 363 (1) The following directors shall execute the operations of a Company with Board of Directors:
(i) A Representative Director; or
(ii) A director other than a Representative Director, who is appointed by resolution of the board of directors as the director who is to execute the operations of a Company with Board of Directors.
(2) The directors listed in each item of the preceding paragraph shall report the status of the execution of his/her duties to the board of directors at least once every three months.

(Representation of Company in Actions between Companies with Board of Directors and Directors)
Article 364 In the case provided for in Article 353, except when there is designation by a shareholders meeting pursuant to the provisions of that Article, the board of directors may designate a person to represent the Company with Board of Directors with respect to the actions under that Article.

(Restrictions on Competition and Transactions with Companies with Board of Directors)
Article 365 (1) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of Article 356 to a Company with Board of Directors, "shareholders meeting" in paragraph (1) of that Article shall be read as "board of directors".
(2) At a Company with Board of Directors, a director who has engaged in transactions under each item of Article 356(1) shall report the material facts with respect to such transaction to the board of directors without delay after such transaction.
Subsection 2 Operations

(Convenor)
Article 366 (1) A board of directors meetings shall be called by any director; provided, however, that, if the director to call the board of directors meetings is designated by the articles of incorporation or the board of directors, such director shall call the meetings.
(2) In the case provided for in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, directors other than the director designated pursuant to the provision of the proviso to that paragraph (referred to as "Convenor" the same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter.) may demand that the Convenor call the board of directors meeting by indicating to the Convenor the matters that are the purpose of the board of directors meeting.
(3) In cases where, within five days from the day of the demand made pursuant to the provisions of preceding paragraph, a notice of calling of the board of directors meeting which designates as the day of the board of directors meeting a day falling within two weeks from the day of the demand is not dispatched, the directors who made the demand may call the board of directors meeting.

(Demand for Calling of Meeting by Shareholders)
Article 367 (1) If shareholders of a Company with Board of Directors (excluding a Company with Company Auditor(s), Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) recognize that a director engages, or is likely to engage, in an act outside the scope of the purpose of the Company with Board of Directors, or other acts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, they may demand the calling of a board of directors meeting.
(2) The demand pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be made to the directors (or to the Convenor in the case provided for in the proviso to paragraph (1) of the preceding Article) by indicating the matters that are the purpose of the board of directors meeting.
(3) The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where a demand is made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1).
(4) Shareholders who made the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) may attend the board of directors meeting which is called pursuant to such demand or which they call pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article applied mutatis mutandis under the preceding paragraph and state their opinions.

(Calling Procedures)
Article 368 (1) A person who calls a board of directors meeting shall dispatch the notice thereof to each director (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), to each director and each company auditor) no later than one week (or if a shorter period of time is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period of time) prior to the day of the board of directors meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the board of directors meeting may be held without the procedures of calling if the consent of all directors (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), directors and company auditors) is obtained.

(Resolution of Board of Directors Meetings)
Article 369 (1) The resolution of a board of directors meeting shall be made by a majority (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the directors present at the meeting where the majority (in cases where a higher proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion or more) of the directors entitled to participate in the vote are present.
(2) Directors with a special interest in the resolution under the preceding paragraph may not participate in the vote.
(3) With respect to the business of the board of directors meeting, minutes shall be prepared pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and if the minutes are prepared in writing, the directors and company auditors present at the meeting shall sign or affix the names and seals to it.
(4) With respect to information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record in cases where the minutes under the preceding paragraph have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, an action in lieu of the signing or the affixing of names and seals prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice shall be taken.
(5) Directors who participate in resolutions of the board of directors meeting and do not have their objections recorded in the minutes under paragraph (3) shall be presumed to have agreed to such resolutions.

(Omission of Resolution of Board of Directors Meeting)
Article 370 A Company with Board of Directors may provide in the articles of incorporation to the effect that, in cases where directors submit a proposal with respect to a matter which is the purpose of the resolution of board of directors meeting, if all directors (limited to those who are entitled to participate in votes with respect to such matter) manifest their intention to agree to such proposal in writing or in an electronic or magnetic record (except for the case, at a Company with Company Auditor(s), where a company auditor states his/her objections to such proposal), it shall be deemed that the resolution to approve such proposal at the board of directors meeting has been made.

(Minutes)
Article 371 (1) A Company with Board of Directors shall keep the minutes referred to in Article 369(3) or the document or electronic or magnetic record in which the the manifestation of intention under the preceding Article (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Minutes") has been detailed or recorded at its head office for the period of ten years from the day of the board of directors meeting (including the day when a resolution of a board of directors meeting is deemed to have been made pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article).
(2) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a shareholder, he/she may make the following requests at any time during the business hours of a Stock Company:
(i) If the Minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in writing, requests for inspection or copying of such documents; and
(ii) If the Minutes under the preceding paragraph have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Company Auditor(s), Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "at any time during the business hours of a Stock Company" in that paragraph shall be read as "with the permission of the court".
(4) If it is necessary for the purpose of enforcing the liability of Officers or executive officers by a creditor of a Company with Board of Directors, such creditor may, with the permission of the court, make the request set forth in each item of paragraph (2) with respect to the Minutes of such Company with Board of Directors.
(5) The provision of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of a Company with Board of Directors.
(6) If the court finds that the inspection or copying relating to the requests listed in each item of paragraph (2) applied by the reading of terms under paragraph (3), or a request under paragraph (4) (including the case of the mutatis mutandis application under the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) is likely to cause substantial detriment to such Company with Board of Directors or its Parent Company or Subsidiary, the court may not grant the permission under paragraph (2) applied by the reading of terms under paragraph (3) or the permission under paragraph (4).

(Omission of Report to Board of Directors)
Article 372 (1) In cases where the directors, accounting advisors, company auditors or financial auditors have notified all directors (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), directors and company auditors) of matters that are to be reported to a board of directors meeting, it shall be unnecessary to report such matters to a board of directors meeting.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to reports under the provisions of Article 363(2).
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "company auditors or financial auditors" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "financial auditors or executive officers"; "directors (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), directors and company auditors)" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "directors"; and "Article 363(2)" in the preceding paragraph shall be read as "Article 417(4)".

(Resolution of Board of Directors by Special Directors)
Article 373 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 369(1), in cases where a Company with Board of Directors (excluding a Company with Nominating Committee, etc.) falls under all of the following requirements (in cases of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, excluding the cases prescribed in Article 399-13 (5) or cases where there are provisions of articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (6) of said Article), the board of directors may provide to the effect that the resolution of the board of directors on the matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of Article 362(4) or items (i) and (ii) of Article 399-13 (4) may be made, where the majority (in cases where a higher proportion is determined by the board of directors, such proportion or more) of three or more directors appointed in advance (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Special Directors") who are entitled to participate in the vote are present, by the majority (in cases where a higher proportion is determined by the board of directors, such proportion or more) of such directors who are present:
(i) That there are six or more directors; and
(ii) That one or more of the directors are Outside Directors.
(2) In cases where there is a provision on the vote by Special Directors pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, directors other than the Special Directors shall not be required to attend the board of directors meeting that decides the matters listed in item (i) and item (ii) of Article 362(4) or items (i) and (ii) of Article 399-13 (4). For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the main clause of Article 366(1) and Article 368 to such cases, "any director" in the main clause of 366(1) shall be read as "any Special Director (referring to the Special Director provided for in Article 373(1). The same shall apply in Article 368)," "in the articles of incorporation" in Article 368(1) shall be read as "by the board of directors," "each director" in the same paragraph shall be read as "each Special Director," "directors (" in paragraph (2) of that Article shall be read as "Special Directors (," and "directors and" in the same paragraph shall be read as "Special Directors and".
(3) The person who is appointed by Special Directors from among themselves shall report without delay after the resolution of the board of directors under the preceding paragraph the content of such resolution to the directors other than the Special Directors.
(4) The provisions of Article 366 (excluding the main clause of paragraph (1)), Article 367, Article 369(1), Article 370, and Article 399-14 shall not apply to the board of directors under paragraph (2).
Section 6 Accounting Advisors

(Authority of Accounting Advisors)
Article 374 (1) Accounting advisors, together with the directors, prepare Financial Statements (meaning Financial Statements as provided in Article 435(2). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter) and the annexed detailed statements accompanying them, Provisional Financial Statements (meaning Provisional Financial Statements as provided in Article 441(1). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter), and Consolidated Financial Statements (meaning Consolidated Financial Statements as provided in Article 444(1). The same shall apply in Article 396(1)). In such cases, the accounting advisors shall prepare accounting advisor's report pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Accounting advisors may at any time inspect or copy the following things or request reports on accounting from directors and managers or other employees:
(i) If the account books or the materials relating thereto are prepared in writing, such documents; and
(ii) If an account book or material relating thereto has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) If it is necessary for the purpose of performing duties of an accounting advisor, an accounting advisor may request reports on accounting from a Subsidiary of the Company with Accounting Advisor(s), or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of the Company with Accounting Advisor(s) or of its Subsidiary.
(4) The Subsidiary under the preceding paragraph may refuse the report or investigation under that paragraph if there are justifiable grounds.
(5) Accounting advisors may not employ a person listed in item (ii) or item (iii) of Article 333(3) in performing their duties.
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "directors" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "executive officers," and "directors and" in paragraph (2) shall be read as "executive officers and directors, and."

(Accounting Advisor's Duty to Report)
Article 375 (1) If an accounting advisor detects, during the performance of their duties, misconduct or material facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation in connection with the execution of the duties of the directors, they shall report the same to the shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), to the company auditors) without delay.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), to the company auditors)" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors".
(3) For the purpose of application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), to the company auditors)" shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee".
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "directors" in that paragraph shall be read as "executive officers or directors" and "shareholders (or, for a Company with Company Auditor(s), to the company auditors)" in the same paragraph shall be read as "audit committee".

(Attendance at Board of Directors Meetings)
Article 376 (1) Accounting advisors (in cases where accounting advisors are audit firms or tax accountant corporation, referring to the members who are to perform the duties of the accounting advisors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) of a Company with Board of Directors shall attend the board of directors meetings that effect the approval under Article 436(3), Article 441(3) or Article 444(5). In such cases, accounting advisors shall state their opinions if they regard it necessary.
(2) At a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), a person who is to call the board of directors meetings under the preceding paragraph shall dispatch the notice thereof to each accounting advisor no later than one week (or if a shorter period of time is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such shorter period of time) prior to the day of such board of directors meeting.
(3) In order to hold a board of directors meeting under paragraph (1) without the calling procedures pursuant to the provisions of Article 368(2) at a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), the consent of all accounting advisors shall be obtained.

(Statement of Opinions at Shareholders Meetings)
Article 377 (1) If an accounting advisor's opinion on matters regarding the preparation of the statements provided for in Article 374(1) differs from those of the directors, the accounting advisor (in cases where the accounting advisors are audit firms or tax accountant corporations, referring to the members who are to perform the duties of the accounting advisors) may state his/her opinion at the shareholders meeting.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "directors" in that paragraph shall be read as "executive officers".

(Keeping and Inspection of Financial Statements by Accounting Advisors)
Article 378 (1) Accounting advisors shall keep the things listed in the following items at the place designated by the accounting advisors for the period provided for in each such item, pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice:
(i) Financial Statements and annexed detailed statements accompanying them, and the accounting advisor's report for each business year: Five years from the day one week (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, two weeks) prior to the day of the annual shareholders meeting (or, in the case provided for in Article 319(1), from the day when the proposal under that paragraph was submitted); and
(ii) Provisional Financial Statements and the accounting advisor's report: Five years from the day when the Provisional Financial Statement was prepared.
(2) The shareholders and creditors of a Company with Accounting Advisor(s) may submit the following request to the accounting advisors at any time during the business hours of the Company with Accounting Advisor(s) (except for cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is difficult for the accounting advisor to response to the request); provided, however, that the fees designated by such accounting advisors are required to be paid in order to submit the requests listed in item (ii) or item (iv):
(i) If the statements listed in each item of the preceding paragraph are prepared in writing, a request to inspect the statements;
(ii) A request for a transcript or extract of the statements referred to in the preceding item;
(iii) If a statement set forth in one of the items of the preceding paragraph has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; or
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in an electronic or magnetic record as referred to in the preceding item by an electronic or magnetic means that the accounting advisor has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
(3) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the things of such Company with Financial Auditor(s) listed in each item of paragraph (1); provided, however, that in order to make the requests listed in item (ii) or item (iv) of the preceding paragraph, the fees designated by such accounting advisor are required to be paid.

(Remunerations for Accounting Advisors)
Article 379 (1) The Remunerations for accounting advisors shall be fixed by resolution of a shareholders meeting if the amount thereof is not prescribed in the articles of incorporation.
(2) In cases where there are two or more accounting advisors, if there is no provision in the articles of incorporation and no resolution by a shareholders meeting with respect to the Remunerations for each accounting advisor, such Remunerations shall be fixed by discussion by the accounting advisors within the extent of the Remunerations referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(3) Accounting advisors (or, in cases where accounting advisors are audit firms or tax accountant corporation, the members who are to perform the duties of accounting advisors) may state their opinions on Remunerations for the accounting advisors at a shareholders meeting.

(Requests for Indemnification of Expenses)
Article 380 If accounting advisors make the following requests to a Company with Accounting Advisor(s) with respect to the execution of their duties, such Company with Accounting Advisor(s) may not refuse such request except in cases where it proves that the expense or debt relating to such request is not necessary for the execution of the duties of such accounting advisors:
(i) Requests for advancement of expenses;
(ii) Requests for indemnification of the expenses paid and interests thereon from and including the day of the payment; or
(iii) Requests for payment (or, in cases where such debt is not yet due, provision of reasonable security) to the creditor of a debt incurred.
Section 7 Company Auditors

(Authority of Company Auditors)
Article 381 (1) Company auditors shall audit the execution of duties by directors (or directors and accounting advisors for a Company with Accounting Advisor(s)). In such cases, company auditors shall prepare audit reports pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Company auditors may at any time request reports on the business from the directors and accounting advisors and managers and other employees, or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of the Company with Company Auditor(s).
(3) Company auditors may, if it is necessary for the purpose of performing duties of the company auditors, request reports on the business from a Subsidiary of the Company with Company Auditor(s), or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of its Subsidiary.
(4) The Subsidiary under the preceding paragraph may refuse the report or investigation under that paragraph if there are justifiable grounds.

(Duty to Report to Directors)
Article 382 If company auditors find that directors engage in misconduct, or are likely to engage in such conduct, or that there are facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation or grossly improper facts, they shall report the same to the directors (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, to the board of directors) without delay.

(Duty to Attend Board of Directors Meetings)
Article 383 (1) Company auditors shall attend the board of directors meeting, and shall state their opinions if they find it necessary; provided, however, that, in cases where there are two or more company auditors, if there is a provision on the vote by Special Directors pursuant to the provisions of Article 373(1), the specific company auditor who shall attend the board of directors meeting under paragraph (2) of that Article shall be appointed by the company auditors from among the company auditors.
(2) In the case provided for in the preceding Article, if company auditors find it necessary, they may demand that the directors (or a Convenor in case provided for in the proviso to Article 366(1)) call the board of directors meeting.
(3) In cases where, within five days from the day of the demand made pursuant to the provisions of preceding paragraph, a notice of calling of the board of directors meeting which designates as the day of the board of directors meeting a day falling within the period of two weeks from the day of the demand are not dispatched, the company auditors who made that demand may call the board of directors meeting.
(4) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to the board of directors meeting under Article 373(2).

(Duty to Report to Shareholders Meeting)
Article 384 Company auditors shall investigate proposals, documents and other items prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice that directors intend to submit to the shareholders meeting. In such cases, if company auditors find that there is a violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation or a grossly improper fact, they shall report the results of the investigation to a shareholders meeting.

(Enjoinment of Acts of Directors by Company Auditors)
Article 385 (1) In cases where a director engages, or is likely to engage in an act outside the scope of the purpose of a Stock Company, or other acts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, if such act is likely to cause substantial detriment to such Company with Company Auditor(s), company auditors may demand that such director cease such act.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the court orders a director under the preceding paragraph to cease such act by a provisional disposition, the court shall not require the provision of security.

(Representation of Company in Actions between Company with Company Auditor(s) and Directors)
Article 386 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4), Article 353 and Article 364, in cases listed in the following items, the company auditors shall represent the Company with Company Auditor(s) in said actions in each item.
(i) In cases where a Company with Company Auditor(s) files an action to a director (including a person who was a director; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article) or where a director files an action to a Company with Company Auditor(s);
(ii) In cases where a Company with Company Auditor(s) which is a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. as prescribed in item (i) of Article 849 (2); the same shall apply in item (iii) of the following paragraph) files an action to enforce liabilities (limited to those for which the fact of the cause occurred by the time when the act listed in items of Article 847-2 (1) becomes effective) of directors, executive officers (including persons who were executive officers; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article), or liquidators (including persons who were liquidators; hereinafter the same shall apply in this Article) of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. (meaning its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-2 (1); the same shall apply in item (iii) of the following Article); and
(iii) In cases where a Company with Company Auditor(s) which is an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. (meaning an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-3 (1); the same shall apply in item (iv) of the following paragraph) files an action to enforce specific liabilities (meaning an action to enforce specific liabilities prescribed in paragraph (1) of said Article) to directors, executive officers, or liquidators of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. as prescribed in paragraph (2), item (ii) of said Article and including any company that is deemed to be such a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of said Article; the same shall apply in item (iv) of the following paragraph).
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4), in the following cases, the company auditors shall represent the Company with Company Auditor(s):
(i) In cases where a Company with Company Auditor(s) is requested to file an action under Article 847(1), Article 847-2 (1) or (3) (including the cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraphs (4) and (5) of said Article), or Article 847-3 (1) (limited to requests for the filing of actions that enforce the liability of directors); or
(ii) In cases where a Company with Company Auditor(s) receives a third party notice under Article 849(4) (limited to those related to actions that enforce the liability of directors) and a notice or demand pursuant to the provisions of Article 850(2) (limited to those related to the settlement of a suit relating to an action that enforces the liability of directors).
(iii) In cases where a Company with Company Auditor(s) which is a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. makes a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1) (limited to a request to file an action prescribed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph) or receives a notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 849 (6) (limited to those related to the action to enforce the liability of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc.); or
(iv) In cases where a Company with Company Advisor(s) which is an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. makes a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1) (limited to the request to file an action to enforce specific liabilities prescribed in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph) or receives a notice pursuant to the provisions of Article 849 (7) (limited to those related to the action to enforce liabilities of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of a Stock Company which is its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc.).

(Remunerations for Company Auditors)
Article 387 (1) The Remunerations for company auditors shall be fixed by resolution of a shareholders meeting if the amount thereof is not prescribed in the articles of incorporation.
(2) In cases where there are two or more company auditors, if there is no provision in the articles of incorporation and no resolution by a shareholders meeting with respect to the Remunerations for each company auditor, such Remunerations shall be fixed by discussion by the company auditors within the extent of the Remunerations referred to in the preceding paragraph.
(3) Company auditors may state their opinions on Remunerations for the company auditors at a shareholders meeting.

(Requests for Indemnification of Expenses)
Article 388 If company auditors make the following requests to a Company with Company Auditor(s) (including a Stock Company the articles of incorporation of which provide that the scope of the audit by its company auditors shall be limited to an audit related to accounting) with respect to the execution of their duties, such Company with Company Auditor(s) may not refuse such request except in cases where it proves that the expense or debt relating to such request is not necessary for the execution of the duties of such company auditors:
(i) Requests for advancement of expenses;
(ii) Requests for indemnification of the expenses paid and the interests thereon from and including the day of the payment; or
(iii) Requests for the payment (or, in cases where such debt is not yet due, provision of reasonable security) to the creditor of a debt incurred.

(Limitation of Scope of Audit by Provisions of Articles of Incorporation)
Article 389 (1) A Stock Company which is not a Public Company (excluding a Company with Board of Company Auditors and Company with Financial Auditor(s)) may provide in the articles of incorporation that the scope of the audit by its company auditors shall be limited to an audit related to accounting, notwithstanding the provisions of Article 381(1).
(2) Company auditors of a Stock Company that has the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall prepare audit reports pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) The company auditors under the preceding paragraph shall investigate the proposals, documents and other items prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice that are related to accounting which the directors intend to submit to a shareholders meeting, and report the results of that investigation to a shareholders meeting.
(4) The company auditors under paragraph (2) may at any time inspect or copy the following things, or request reports on accounting from directors and accounting advisors as well as managers or other employees:
(i) If the account books or the materials relating thereto are prepared in writing, such documents;
(ii) If an account book or material relating thereto has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; or
(5) If it is necessary for the purpose of performing duties of a company auditor under paragraph (2), a company auditor may request reports on accounting from a Subsidiary of the Stock Company, or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of the Stock Company or of its Subsidiary.
(6) The Subsidiary under the preceding paragraph may refuse the report or investigation under that paragraph if there are justifiable grounds.
(7) The provisions from Article 382 through Article 386 shall not apply to a Stock Company which has provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1).
Section 8 Board of Company Auditors
Subsection 1 Authority
Article 390 (1) Board of company auditors shall be composed of all company auditors.
(2) Board of company auditors shall perform the following duties; provided, however, that the decision in item (iii) may not preclude company auditors from exercising their authority:
(i) Preparing audit reports;
(ii) Appointing and removing full-time company auditors; and
(iii) Deciding audit policy, methods for investigating the status of the operations and financial status of a Company with Board of Company Auditors and other matters regarding the execution of the duties of company auditors.
(3) Board of company auditors shall appoint full-time company auditors from among the company auditors.
(4) If a board of company auditors requests, company auditors shall report the status of the execution of their duties to the board of company auditors at any time.
Subsection 2 Operations

(Convenor)
Article 391 A board of company auditors meeting shall be called by any company auditor.

(Calling Procedures)
Article 392 (1) To call a board of company auditors meeting, a company auditor shall dispatch the notice thereof to each company auditor no later than one week (or if a shorter period of time is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such shorter period of time) prior to the day of the board of company auditors meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the board of company auditors meeting may be held without the procedures of calling if the consent of all company auditors is obtained.

(Resolution of Board of Company Auditors Meetings)
Article 393 (1) The resolution of a board of company auditors meeting shall be made by a majority of the company auditors.
(2) With respect to the business of the board of company auditors meeting, minutes shall be prepared pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and if the minutes are prepared in writing, the company auditors present at the meeting shall sign or affix the names and seals to it.
(3) With respect to the matters recorded in an electronic or magnetic record in cases where the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in that electronic or magnetic record, an action in lieu of the signing or the affixing of names and seals prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice shall be taken.
(4) Company auditors who participate in resolutions of the board of company auditors meeting and do not have their objections recorded in the minutes under paragraph (2) shall be presumed to have agreed to such resolutions.

(Minutes)
Article 394 (1) A Company with Board of Company Auditors shall keep the minutes referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article at its head office for the period of ten years from the day of the board of company auditors meeting.
(2) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a shareholder of a Company with Board of Company Auditors, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the following requests:
(i) If the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in writing, requests for inspection or copying of such documents; and
(ii) If the minutes under the preceding paragraph have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where it is necessary for the purpose of enforcing the liability of Officers by a creditor of a Company with Company Auditor(s) and to the cases where it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company.
(4) If the court finds that the inspection or copying relating to the requests under paragraph (2) (including the case of the mutatis mutandis application under the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) is likely to cause substantial detriment to such Company with Board of Company Auditors or its Parent Company or Subsidiary, the court may not grant the permission under paragraph (2).

(Omission of Report to Board of Company Auditors)
Article 395 In cases where the directors, accounting advisors, company auditors or financial auditors have notified all company auditors of matters that are to be reported to a board of company auditors meeting, it shall be unnecessary to report such matters to a board of company auditors meeting.
Section 9 Financial Auditors

(Authority of Financial Auditors)
Article 396 (1) Financial auditors shall audit the Financial Statements and the annexed detailed statements thereof, the Provisional Financial Statements as well as the Consolidated Financial Statements of a Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of the next Chapter. In such cases, financial auditors shall prepare financial audit reports pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Financial auditors may at any time inspect and copy the following things or request reports on accounting from directors and accounting advisors as well as managers or other employees:
(i) If account books or materials relating thereto are prepared in writing, such documents; and
(ii) If an account book or material relating thereto has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, anything that is used in the manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record;
(3) Financial auditors may, if it is necessary for the purpose of performing duties of the financial auditors, request reports on accounting from a Subsidiary of the Company with Financial Auditor(s), or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of the Company with Financial Auditor(s) or of its Subsidiary.
(4) The Subsidiary under the preceding paragraph may refuse the report or investigation under that paragraph if there are justifiable grounds.
(5) Financial auditors may not employ a person listed in any of the following items in performing their duties:
(i) A person listed in item (i) or item (ii) of Article 337(3);
(ii) A person who is a director, accounting advisor, company auditor, executive officer or employee, including a manager, of a Company with Financial Auditor(s); or
(iii) A person who is in continuous receipt of remuneration from a Company with Financial Auditor(s) or its Subsidiary for operations other than the operations of the Certified Public Accountant or audit firm.
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "directors" in that paragraph shall be read as "executive officers, directors."

(Report to Company Auditors)
Article 397 (1) If financial auditors detect, during the performance of their duties, misconduct or material facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation in connection with the execution of the duties of the directors, they shall report the same to the company auditors without delay.
(2) If it is necessary for the purpose of performing their duties, company auditors may request reports on the financial auditors' audits from the financial auditors.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditors" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors."
(4) For the purpose of application of the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "company auditor" in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee" and "company auditor" in paragraph (2) shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee Member appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee."
(5) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "directors" in paragraph (1) shall be read as "executive officers or directors," "company auditors" in the same paragraph shall be read as "audit committee," and "company auditors" in paragraph (2) shall be read as "committee members of the audit committee who are appointed by the audit committee."

(Statement of Opinions of Financial Auditors at Annual Shareholders Meeting)
Article 398 (1) If a financial auditor's opinion on whether or not the statements provided for in Article 396(1) comply with laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation differs from those of the company auditors, the financial auditor (in cases where financial auditors are audit firms or tax accountant corporations, referring to the members who are to perform their duties. The same shall apply in the following paragraph) may attend the annual shareholders meeting and state their opinion.
(2) If there is a resolution of an annual shareholders meeting that requires the attendance of financial auditors, the financial auditors shall attend the shareholders meeting and state their opinions.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditors" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors or company auditors."
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraphs (1) to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "company auditor" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee or Audit and Supervisory Committee Members."
(5) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "company auditors" in that paragraph shall be read as "audit committee or its committee members."

(Involvement of Company Auditors in Decision on Remunerations for Financial Auditors)
Article 399 (1) Directors shall obtain the consent of the company auditor (if there are two or more company auditors, the majority of the company auditors) in cases where the directors fix the Remunerations for financial auditors or persons who are to temporarily perform the duties of financial auditors.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Board of Company Auditors, "company auditor (if there are two or more company auditors, the majority of the company auditors)" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of company auditors."
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraphs (1) to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, "company auditor (if there are two or more company auditors, the majority of the company auditors)" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "Audit and Supervisory Committee."
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., "company auditor (if there are two or more company auditors, the majority of the company auditors)" in that paragraph shall be read as "audit committee."
Section 9-2 Audit and Supervisory Committee
Subsection 1 Authorities, etc.

(Authorities, etc. of Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Article 399-2 (1) The Audit and Supervisory Committee shall be organized by all Audit and Supervisory Committee Members.
(2) Audit and Supervisory Committee Members shall be directors.
(3) The Audit and Supervisory Committee shall perform the following duties:
(i) Audit of execution of duties of directors (in cases of a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), directors and accounting advisors) and preparation of audit report;
(ii) Determination of the content of proposals regarding the election and dismissal of a financial auditor and the refusal to reelect a financial auditor to be submitted to a shareholders meeting; and
(iii) Determination of opinions of the Audit and Supervisory Committee prescribed in Article 342-2 (4) and Article 361 (6).
(4) If Audit and Supervisory Committee Members make the following requests to a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee with respect to the execution of their duties (limited to those related to the execution of duties of Audit and Supervisory Committee. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph), said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee may not refuse said request except in cases where it proves that the expense or debt relating to said request is not necessary for the execution of the duties of said Audit and Supervisory Committee Members:
(i) Requests for advancement of the expenses;
(ii) Request for the indemnification of the expenses paid and interests thereon from and including the day of payment; or
(iii) Requests for payment (or, in cases where such debt is not yet due, provision of reasonable security) to the creditor of a debt incurred.

(Investigations by the Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Article 399-3 (1) Audit and Supervisory Committee Members appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee may request that directors (in cases of a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), directors and accounting advisors), managers, and other employees report on matters related to the execution of their duties, or may investigate the status of the operations and financial status of the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committees at any time.
(2) If it is necessary for the purpose of performing the duties of the Audit and Supervisory Committee, Audit and Supervisory Committee Members appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee may request reports on the business from a Subsidiary of the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, or may investigate the status of the operations and financial status of its Subsidiary.
(3) The Subsidiary under the preceding paragraph may refuse the report or investigation under that paragraph if there are justifiable grounds.
(4) Audit and Supervisory Committee Members under paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) shall comply with the resolutions of the Audit and Supervisory Committee, if any, on matters regarding the collection of the report or investigation under such respective paragraphs.

(Duty to Report to Board of Directors)
Article 399-4 If Audit and Supervisory Committee Members find that directors engage in misconduct, or are likely to engage in such conduct, or that there are facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation or grossly improper facts, they shall report to that effect to the board of directors without delay.

(Duty to Report to Shareholders Meeting)
Article 399-5 If Audit and Supervisory Committee Members find that there are matters in violation with laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation or grossly improper facts with regard to proposals, documents, and other items prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice that directors intend to submit to the shareholders meeting, they shall report to that effect to a shareholders meeting.

(Enjoinment of Acts of Directors by Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Article 399-6 (1) In cases where a director engages or is likely to engage in an act outside the scope of the purpose of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, or other acts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, if such an act is likely to cause substantial detriment to said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, Audit and Supervisory Committee Members may demand that said director cease said act.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the court orders a director under the preceding paragraph to cease said act by a provisional disposition, the court shall not require the provision of security.

(Representative, etc. of a Company in Actions between a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee and Directors)
Article 399-7 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4), Article 353, and Article 364, in cases where a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee files an action against its directors (including persons who were directors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), or the directors file an action against said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, the person specified in the following items shall represent the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee depending on the category of cases listed in the following items:
(i) In cases where Audit and Supervisory Committee Members are party to the suit relating to such action: The person designated by the board of directors (in cases where the shareholders meeting designates a person to represent the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee with respect to said action, that person); and
(ii) In cases other than the case listed in the preceding item: The Audit and Supervisory Committee Member appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where directors file an action against the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, the service of complaint on the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members (excluding those filing said action) shall be effective service on said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349 (4), Article 353, and Article 364, in cases where a Stock Company listed in the following items is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, when filing an action specified in said items, Audit and Supervisory Committee Members appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee shall represent said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee with respect to said action:
(i) A Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. as prescribed in item (i) of Article 849 (2); the same shall apply in item (i) of the following paragraph and paragraph (5) (iii)): an action to enforce liabilities (limited to those for which the fact of the cause occurred by the time when the act listed in items of Article 847-2 (1) becomes effective) of directors, executive officers (including a person who was an executive officer. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), or liquidators (including a person who was a liquidator. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-2 (1); the same shall apply in paragraph (5)(iii));
(ii) An Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. (meaning an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-3 (1); the same shall apply in item (ii) of the following paragraph and item (iv) of paragraph (5)): An action to enforce specific liability (meaning an action to enforce specific liability as prescribed in paragraph (1) of said Article) of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of a Stock Company which is its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. as prescribed in paragraph (2), item (ii) of said Article and including anything that is deemed to be such a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of said Article; the same shall apply in paragraph (5), item (iv)).
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4), in cases where a Stock Company listed in the following items is a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, when making a request specified in the following items, an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee shall represent said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee:
(i) A Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc.: Request pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1) (limited to a request to file an action as prescribed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph); and
(ii) An Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.: Request pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1) (limited to the request to file an action to enforce specific liabilities as prescribed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph).
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4), in the following cases, Audit and Supervisory Committee Members shall represent the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee:
(i) In cases where a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee receives a request (limited to a request to file an action to enforce the liabilities of directors) pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1), Article 847-2 (1) or (3) (including cases where it is applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to paragraph (4) and (5) of said Article), or Article 847-3 (1) (excluding cases where said Audit and Supervisory Committee Members become the party to the suit pertaining to said action );
(ii) In cases where a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee receives a third party notice under Article 849(4) (limited to those related to actions that enforce the liability of directors) and a notice or demand (limited to those related to the settlement of a suit relating to an action that enforces the liability of directors) pursuant to the provisions of Article 850(2) (excluding cases where said Audit and Supervisory Committee Members are the party to the suit pertaining to these actions);
(iii) In cases where a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee which is a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. receives a notice (limited to those related to an action to enforce the liabilities of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc.) pursuant to the provisions of Article 849 (6); and
(iv) In cases where a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee which is an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. receives a notice (limited to those related to an action to enforce the liability of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of a Stock Company that constitutes its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc.) pursuant to the provisions of Article 849 (7).
Subsection 2 Operation

(Convenors)
Article 399-8 An Audit and Supervisory Committee shall be called by any Audit and Supervisory Committee Member.

(Calling Procedures)
Article 399-9 (1) To call an Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting, an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member shall dispatch the notice thereof to each Audit and Supervisory Committee Member no later than one week (or if a shorter period of time is prescribed by the articles of incorporation, said shorter period of time) prior to the day of the Committee meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting may be held without the procedures for calling it if the consent of all Audit and Supervisory Committee Members is obtained.
(3) If requested by the Audit and Supervisory Committee, directors (in cases of a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), directors and accounting advisors) shall attend the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting and provide explanations on the matters requested by the Audit and Supervisory Committee.

(Resolution of Audit and Supervisory Committee Meetings)
Article 399-10 (1) The resolution of an Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting shall be made by a majority of the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members present at the meeting where the majority of the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members entitled to participate in the vote are present.
(2) Audit and Supervisory Committee Members with a special interest in the resolution under the preceding paragraph may not participate in the vote.
(3) With respect to the proceedings of the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting, minutes shall be prepared pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and if the minutes are prepared in writing, the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members present at the meeting shall sign or affix the names and seals to it.
(4) With respect to the matters recorded in an electronic or magnetic record in cases where the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in that electronic or magnetic record, an action in lieu of the signing or the affixing of names and seals prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice shall be taken.
(5) Audit and Supervisory Committee Members who participate in resolutions of the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting and do not have their objections recorded in the minutes under paragraph (3) shall be presumed to have agreed to such resolutions.

(Minutes)
Article 399-11 (1) A Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee shall keep the minutes referred to in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article at its head office for a period of ten years from the day of the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting.
(2) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a shareholder of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committees, a shareholder may, with the permission of the court, make the following requests:
(i) If the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in writing, requests for inspection or copying of said documents; and
(ii) If the minutes under the preceding paragraph have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to those cases where it is necessary for the purpose of enforcing the liability of directors or accounting advisors by a creditor of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee and to the cases where it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company.
(4) If the court finds that the inspection or copying relating to the requests under paragraph (2) (including the case of the mutatis mutandis application pursuant to the preceding paragraph; the same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) is likely to cause substantial detriment to said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or its Parent Company or Subsidiary, the court may not grant the permission under paragraph (2).

(Omission of Report to Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Article 399-12 In cases where the directors, accounting advisors, financial auditors have notified all Audit and Supervisory Committee Members of matters that are to be reported to the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting, it shall be unnecessary to report such matters to the Audit and Supervisory Committee meeting.
Subsection 3 Authorities, etc. of Board of Directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee

(Authority of Board of Directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Article 399-13 (1) Board of directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee shall perform the following duties notwithstanding of provisions of Article 362:
(i) Deciding the following matters and execution of the operations of the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee:
(a) Basic management policy;
(b) The matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as those necessary for the execution of the duties of the Audit and Supervisory Committee;
(c) The development of systems necessary to ensure that the execution of the duties by the directors complies with the laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, and other systems prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as systems necessary to ensure the properness of operations of a Stock Company and of operations of a group of enterprises consisting of said Stock Company and its Subsidiaries.
(ii) Supervising the execution of duties by directors; and
(iii) Appointing and removing Representative Directors.
(2) The board of directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee shall determine matters listed in (a) through (c) of item (i) of the preceding paragraph.
(3) Board of directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee shall appoint Representative Directors from among the directors (excluding directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members).
(4) Board of directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee may not delegate the decision on the execution of the following matters and other important operations to directors:
(i) The disposal of and acceptance of transfer of important assets;
(ii) Borrowing of a significant amount;
(iii) The appointment and dismissal of an important employee including managers;
(iv) The establishment, changes or abolition of important structures including branch offices;
(v) Matters listed in item (i) of Article 676 and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as important matters regarding the solicitation of persons who subscribe Bonds; and
(vi) Exemption from liability under Article 423(1) pursuant to provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of Article 426(1).
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where a majority of directors of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee are Outside Directors, the board of directors of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee may delegate to directors the decision on execution of important operations by its resolution; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the following matters:
(i) Decisions under Article 136 or Article 137(1), and the designation under the provisions of Article 140(4);
(ii) Decisions on the matters listed in each item of Article 156(1) applied by the reading of terms under Article 165(3);
(iii) Decisions under Article 262 or Article 263(1);
(iv) Decisions on the matters listed in each item of Article 298(1);
(v) Decisions on the content of proposals to be submitted to a shareholders meeting (excluding those regarding the election and dismissal of financial auditors and the refusal to reelect financial auditors);
(vi) Approval under Article 356(1) applied by reading of terms under Article 365(1);
(vii) Designation of the directors to call the board of directors meeting pursuant to the provisions of the proviso to Article 366(1);
(viii) Designation of a person to represent the Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee pursuant to the provisions of item (i) of Article 399-7(1);
(ix) Matters listed in item (vi) of the preceding paragraph;
(x) Approvals under Article 436(3), Article 441(3) and Article 444(5);
(xi) Decisions on the matters to be decided pursuant to the provisions of Article 454(1) applied by the reading of terms under paragraph (5) of the same Article;
(xii) Decisions on the contents of contracts relating to the acts listed in each item of Article 467(1) (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of a shareholders meeting of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee);
(xiii) Decisions on the content of merger agreements (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of a shareholders meeting of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee);
(xiv) Decisions on the content of Absorption-type Company Split agreements (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of a shareholders meeting of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee);
(xv) Decisions on the content of Incorporation-type Company Split plans (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of a shareholders meeting of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee);
(xvi) Decisions on the content of Share Exchange agreements (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of a shareholders meeting of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee); and
(xvii) Decisions on the contents of Share Transfer plans.
(6) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee may stipulate in the articles of incorporation that all or part of decisions of execution of important operations (excluding matters listed in items of the preceding paragraph) to delegate directors by the resolution of the board of directors.

(Call of the Board of Directors Meeting by Audit and Supervisory Committee)
Article 399-14 At a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, even in cases where there is provision for a Convenor, the Audit and Supervisory Committee Members appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee may call the board of directors meeting.
Section 10 Nominating Committee, etc. and Executive Officers
Subsection 1 Appointment of Committee Members and Election of Executive Officers

(Appointment of Committee Members)
Article 400 (1) Each Committee, including the nominating committee, audit committee, or compensation committee (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Each Committee" in this Article, the following Article, and Article 911 (3) (xxiii) (b)) shall be composed of three or more committee members.
(2) The committee members of Each Committee shall be appointed from among the directors by resolution of the board of directors meeting.
(3) The majority of the committee members of Each Committee shall be Outside Directors.
(4) A committee member of the audit committee (hereinafter referred to as "Audit Committee Member") may not concurrently act as an executive officer or Executive Director of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. or its Subsidiary, or as an accounting advisor (if the accounting advisor is a juridical person, the member who is to perform the duties of the accounting advisor) or employee, including a manager, of a Subsidiary of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc..

(Removal of Committee Members)
Article 401 (1) The committee members of Each Committee may be removed at any time by resolution of the board of directors meeting.
(2) Where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of committee members of Each Committee provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (or, if the number of committee members provided for in the articles of incorporation is four or more, that number), a committee member who retired from office due to expiration of his/her term of office or resignation shall continue to have the rights and obligations of a committee member until a newly appointed committee member (including a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a committee member under the following paragraph) assumes his/her office.
(3) In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the court finds it necessary, it may, in response to a petition by interested persons, appoint a person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a committee member.
(4) In cases where the court has appointed the person who is to temporarily perform the duties of a committee member under the preceding paragraph, the court may prescribe the amount of the remuneration that the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall pay to that person.

(Election of Executive Officers)
Article 402 (1) A Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall have one or more executive officers.
(2) Executive officer shall be elected by resolution of the board of directors meeting.
(3) The relationship between a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. and its executive officers shall be governed by the provisions on mandate.
(4) The provisions of Article 331(1) shall apply mutatis mutandis to executive officers.
(5) A Stock Company may not provide in the articles of incorporation that the executive officers shall be shareholders; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. that is not a Public Company.
(6) An executive officer may act concurrently as a director.
(7) An executive officer's term of office shall continue until the conclusion of the first board of directors meeting called after the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year ending within one year from the time of their election; provided, however, that this does not preclude the shortening the executive officer's term of office by the articles of incorporation.
(8) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. makes any amendment in the articles of incorporation to repeal the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that Nominating Committee, etc. shall be established, the executive officer's term of office shall expire when such amendment in the articles of incorporation takes effect.

(Dismissal of Executive Officers)
Article 403 (1) Executive officers may be dismissed at any time by resolution of the board of directors meeting.
(2) An executive officer dismissed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be entitled to demand damages arising from the dismissal from the Company with Nominating Committee, etc., except in cases where there are justifiable grounds for such dismissal.
(3) The provisions from paragraph (2) through paragraph (4) of Article 402 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where there are no executive officers in office, or where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of executive officers prescribed in the articles of incorporation.
Subsection 2 Authority of Nominating Committee, etc.

(Authority of Nominating Committee, etc.)
Article 404 (1) A nominating committee shall determine the contents of proposals regarding the election and dismissal of directors (or directors and accounting advisors for a Company with Accounting Advisor(s)) to be submitted to a shareholders meeting.
(2) An audit committee shall perform the following duties:
(i) Auditing the execution of duties by Executive Officers, Etc. (meaning executive officers and directors, or, for a Company with Accounting Advisor(s), meaning executive officers, directors and accounting advisors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section) and preparing audit reports; and
(ii) Determining the contents of proposals regarding the election and dismissal of financial auditors and the refusal to reelect financial auditors to be submitted to a shareholders meeting.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 361(1) and Article 379(1) and (2), a compensation committee shall determine the contents of the Remunerations for individual Executive Officers, etc. If an executive officer acts concurrently as an employee, including a manager, of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., the same shall apply to the contents of the Remunerations for such employee, including a manager.
(4) If committee members make the following requests to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. with respect to the execution of their duties (limited to that regarding the execution of the duties of the Nominating Committee, etc. to which such committee members belong. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph), such Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may not refuse such request except in cases where it proves that the expense or debt relating to such request is not necessary for the execution of the duties of such committee members:
(i) Requests for advancement of the expenses;
(ii) Request for the indemnification of the expenses paid and interests thereon from and including the day of the payment; or
(iii) Requests for the payment (or, in cases where such debt is not yet due, provision of reasonable security) to the creditor of a debt incurred.

(Investigations by Audit Committees)
Article 405 (1) Audit Committee Members appointed by the audit committee may at any time request reports on the execution of their duties from Executive Officers, etc. and employees including managers, or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc.
(2) Audit Committee Members appointed by the audit committee may, if it is necessary for the purpose of performing duties of the audit committee, request reports on the business from a Subsidiary of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc., or investigate the status of the operations and financial status of its Subsidiary.
(3) The Subsidiary under the preceding paragraph may refuse the report or investigation under that paragraph if there are justifiable grounds.
(4) Audit Committee Members under paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) shall comply with resolutions of the audit committee meeting, if any, on matters regarding the collection of the report or investigation under such respective paragraphs.

(Duty to Report to Board of Directors)
Article 406 If Audit Committee Members find that executive officers or directors engage in misconduct, or are likely to engage in such conduct, or that there are facts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation or grossly improper facts, they shall report to that effect to the board of directors without delay.

(Enjoinment of Acts of Executive Officers, Etc. by Audit Committee Members)
Article 407 (1) In cases where an executive officer or director engages, or is likely to engage, in any act outside the scope of the purpose of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., or other acts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, if such act is likely to cause substantial detriment to such Company with Nominating Committee, etc., the Audit Committee Members may demand that such executive officer or director cease such act.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the court orders an executive officer or director under the preceding paragraph to cease such act by a provisional disposition, the court shall not require the provision of security.

(Representation of Company in Actions between Company with Nominating Committee, etc. and Executive Officers or Directors)
Article 408 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4) applied mutatis mutandis under Article 420(3), and the provisions of Article 353 and Article 364, in cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. files an action against its executive officers (including persons who were executive officers. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) or directors (including persons who were directors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), or the executive officers or directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. files an action against that Company with Committees, the persons provided for in each of the following items for the case categories listed in such items shall represent the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. in such actions:
(i) In cases where Audit Committee Members are the party to the suit relating to such action: The person designated by the board of directors (or, in cases where the shareholders meeting designates a person to represent the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. with respect to such action, that person); and
(ii) In cases other than the case listed in the preceding item: The Audit Committee Member appointed by the audit committee.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where executive officers or directors file an action against the Company with Nominating Committee, etc., the service of complaint on the Audit Committee Members (excluding those filing such action) shall be effective service on such Company with Nominating Committee, etc.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4) applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 420(3), and the provisions of Article 353 and Article 364, in cases where a Stock Company listed in the following items is a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., when filing an action prescribed in said items, the Audit Committee Members appointed by the Audit Committee shall represent said Company with Nominating Committee, etc.:
(i) A Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. as prescribed in Article 849, paragraph (2), item (i); the same applies in item (i) of the following paragraph and paragraph (5), item (iii)): an action to enforce liability (limited to those for which the fact of the cause occurred by the time when the act listed in items of Article 847-2, paragraph (1) becomes effective) of the directors, executive officers or liquidators (including a person who was a liquidator; the same applies hereinafter in this Article) of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. (meaning the Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-2 (1); the same applies hereinafter in paragraph (5), item (iii));
(ii) An Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. (meaning an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-3 (1). The same shall apply in item (ii) of the following paragraph and item (iv) of paragraph (5)): An action to enforce specific liability (meaning an action to enforce specific liability as prescribed in paragraph (1) of said Article) of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of a Stock Company which is its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc. (meaning a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, anything that is deemed to be such a Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc., pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of said Article. The same shall apply in paragraph (5), item (iv)).
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4) as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 420 (3), in cases where a Stock Company listed in the following items is a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., when making a request specified in said items, an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member appointed by the Audit and Supervisory Committee shall represent said Company with Nominating Committee, etc.:
(i) A Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from a Share Exchange, etc.: Request pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1) (limited to the request of filing an action prescribed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph); and
(ii) An Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.: Request pursuant to the provisions of Article 847 (1) (limited to the request to file an action to enforce the specific liabilities prescribed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph).
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 349(4) applied mutatis mutandis under Article 420(3), in the following cases, the Audit Committee Members shall represent the Company with Nominating Committee, etc.:
(i) In cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. receives a request (limited to requests for the filing of actions that enforce the liability of executive officers or directors) pursuant to the provisions of Article 847(1), Article 847-2 (1) or (3) (including cases applied mutatis mutandis in paragraphs (4) and (5) of said Article), or Article 847-3 (1) (excluding cases where such Audit Committee Members are the party to the suit relating to such action); or
(ii) In cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. receives a third party notice under Article 849(4) (limited to those related to actions that enforce the liability of executive officers or directors) and a notice or demand (limited to those related to the settlement of a suit relating to an action that enforces the liability of executive officers or directors) pursuant to the provisions of Article 850(2) (excluding cases where such Audit Committee Members are the party to the suit relating to these actions).
(iii) In cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. which is a Wholly Owning Parent Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc. receives a notice (limited to those related to a claim to enforce liabilities of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company Resulting from the Share Exchange, etc.) pursuant to the provisions of Article 849 (6); and
(iv) In cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. which is an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. receives a notice (limited to those related to a claim to enforce the liability of directors, executive officers, or liquidators of the Stock Company that constitutes its Wholly Owned Subsidiary Company, etc.) pursuant to the provisions of Article 849 (7).

(Methods for Decisions on Remuneration by Compensation Committee)
Article 409 (1) The compensation committee shall prescribe the policy on decisions on the content of the Remunerations for individual Executive Officers, etc.
(2) The compensation committee shall comply with the policy under the preceding paragraph in order to make decisions under the provisions of Article 404(3).
(3) In cases where the compensation committee uses what is listed in the following items as the individual Remunerations of Executive Officers, etc., it shall decide the matters provided for in each of such item as the contents thereof; provided, however, that the Remunerations for individual accounting advisors shall be that listed in item (i):
(i) Remunerations in a fixed amount: The amount for each individual person;
(ii) Remunerations the amount of which is not fixed: The specific method for calculating that amount for each individual person;
(iii) Remunerations that are not monetary: The specific contents thereof for each individual person.
Subsection 3 Operation of Nominating Committee, etc.

(Convenors)
Article 410 A Nominating Committee, etc. meeting shall be called by any committee member of such Nominating Committee, etc.

(Calling Procedures)
Article 411 (1) To call a Nominating Committee, etc. meeting, a committee member of that Nominating Committee, etc., shall dispatch the notice thereof to each committee member of such Nominating Committee, etc. no later than one week (or if a shorter period of time is prescribed by the board of directors, such shorter period of time) prior to the day of the Nominating Committee, etc. meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Nominating Committee, etc. meeting may be held without the procedures of calling if the consent of all committee members of such Nominating Committee, etc. is obtained.
(3) If requested by the Nominating Committee, etc., Executive Officers, etc. ,shall attend such Nominating Committee, etc. meeting and provide explanations on the matters requested by such Nominating Committee, etc.

(Resolution of Nominating Committee, etc. Meetings)
Article 412 (1) The resolution of a Nominating Committee, etc. meeting shall be made by a majority (in cases where a higher proportion is prescribed by the board of directors, such proportion or more) of the committee members present at the meeting where the majority (in cases where a higher proportion is prescribed by the board of directors, such proportion or more) of the committee members entitled to participate in the vote are present.
(2) Committee members with a special interest in the resolution under the preceding paragraph may not participate in the vote.
(3) With respect to the business of the Nominating Committee, etc. meeting, minutes shall be prepared pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, and if the minutes are prepared in writing, the committee members present at the meeting shall sign or affix the names and seals to it.
(4) With respect to the matters recorded in an electronic or magnetic record in cases where the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in that electronic or magnetic record, an action in lieu of the signing or the affixing of names and seals prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice shall be taken.
(5) Committee members who participate in resolutions of the Nominating Committee, etc. meeting and do not have their objections recorded in the minutes under paragraph (3) shall be presumed to have agreed to such resolutions.

(Minutes)
Article 413 (1) A Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall keep the minutes referred to in paragraph (3) of the preceding Article at its head office for the period of ten years from the day of the Nominating Committee, etc. meeting.
(2) The directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may inspect or copy anything listed in the following items:
(i) If the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared in writing, such documents; and
(ii) If the minutes under the preceding paragraph are prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, anything that is used in the manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a shareholder of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., a shareholder may, with the permission of the court, make requests for inspection or copying of the things set forth in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the minutes under paragraph (1).
(4) The provision of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where it is necessary for the purpose of enforcing the liability of committee members by a creditor of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. and where it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company.
(5) If the court finds that the inspection or copying relating to the requests under paragraph (3) (including cases of the mutatis mutandis application under the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) is likely to cause substantial detriment to such Company with Nominating Committee, etc. or its Parent Company or Subsidiary, the court may not grant the permission under paragraph (3).

(Omission of Report to Nominating Committee, etc. Meeting).
Article 414 In cases where the executive officers, directors, accounting advisors or financial auditors have notified all committee members of matters that are to be reported to a Nominating Committee, etc. meeting, it shall be unnecessary to report such matters to a Nominating Committee, etc. meeting.
Subsection 4 Authority of Directors of Companies with Nominating Committee, etc.

(Authority of Directors of Companies with Nominating Committee, etc.)
Article 415 Directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may not execute the operations of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. unless otherwise provided in this Act or any order under this Act.

(Authority of Board of Directors of Company with Nominating Committee, etc.)
Article 416 (1) The board of directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall perform the following duties notwithstanding the provisions of Article 362:
(i) Deciding on the following matters and on the execution of other operations of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc.:
(a) Basic management policy;
(b) The matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as those necessary for the execution of the duties of the audit committee;
(c) In cases where there are two or more executive officers, matters regarding the interrelationship between executive officers including the division of duties between executive officers and hierarchy of commands of executive officers;
(d) The directors to receive requests for the calling of board of directors meeting pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the following Article; or
(e) The development of systems necessary to ensure that the execution of duties by executive officers complies with laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, and other systems prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as systems necessary to ensure the properness of operations of a Stock Company and of operations of a group of enterprises consisting of said Stock Company and its Subsidiaries.
(ii) The supervision of the execution of duties by Executive Officers, etc.
(2) The board of directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. shall decide the matters listed in item (i)(a) through item (i)(e) of the preceding paragraph.
(3) The board of directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may not delegate the execution of the duties listed in each item of paragraph (1) to directors.
(4) The board of directors of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. may, by resolution of the same, delegate decisions on the execution of the operations of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. to executive officers; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the following matters:
(i) Decisions under Article 136 or Article 137(1), and the designation under the provisions of Article 140(4);
(ii) Decisions on the matters listed in each item of Article 156(1) applied by the reading of terms under Article 165(3);
(iii) Decisions under Article 262 or Article 263(1);
(iv) Decisions on the matters listed in each item of Article 298(1);
(v) Decisions on the contents of proposals to be submitted to a shareholders meeting (excluding those regarding the election and dismissal of directors, accounting advisors and financial auditors and the refusal to reelect financial auditors);
(vi) Approval under Article 356(1) applied by the reading of terms under Article 365(1) (including cases of mutatis mutandis application by the reading of terms under Article 419(2));
(vii) Designation of the directors to call the board of directors meeting pursuant to the provisions of the proviso to Article 366(1);
(viii) Appointment of the committee members pursuant to the provisions of Article 400(2) and removal of committee members pursuant to the provisions of Article 401(1);
(ix) Election of executive officers pursuant to the provisions of Article 402(2) and dismissal of executive officers pursuant to the provisions of Article 403(1);
(x) Designation of a person to represent the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. pursuant to the provisions of item (i) of Article 408(1);
(xi) Appointment of representative executive officers pursuant to the provisions of the first sentence of Article 420(1) and removal of representative executive officers pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the same Article;
(xii) Exemption from liability under Article 423(1) pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of Article 426(1);
(xiii) Approvals under Article 436(3), Article 441(3) and Article 444(5);
(xiv) Decisions on the matters to be decided pursuant to the provisions of Article 454(1) applied by the reading of terms under paragraph (5) of the same Article;
(xv) Decisions on the contents of contracts relating to the acts listed in each item of Article 467(1) (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of shareholders meeting of such Company with Nominating Committee, etc.);
(xvi) Decisions on the contents of merger agreements (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of shareholders meeting of such Company with Nominating Committee, etc.);
(xvii) Decisions on the contents of Absorption-type Company Split agreements (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of shareholders meeting of such Company with Nominating Committee, etc.);
(xviii) Decisions on the contents of Incorporation-type Company Split plans (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of shareholders meeting of such Company with Nominating Committee, etc.);
(xix) Decisions on the contents of Share Exchange agreements (excluding those which do not require approval by resolution of shareholders meeting of such Company with Nominating Committee, etc.);
(xx) Decisions on the contents of Share Transfer plans;

(Operations of Board of Directors of Company with Nominating Committee, etc.)
Article 417 (1) At a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., even in cases where there is provision for a Convenor, persons appointed by the Nominating Committee, etc. from among their committee members may call the board of directors meeting.
(2) Executive officers may demand that the directors under item (i)(d), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article call the board of directors meeting by indicating to those directors the matters that are the purpose of the board of directors meeting. In such cases, if a notice of calling of the board of directors meeting which designates as the day of the board of directors meeting a day falling within two weeks from the day of the demand is not dispatched within five days from the day of such demand, such executive officers may call the board of directors meeting.
(3) The persons appointed by the Nominating Committee, etc. from among the committee members shall report the status of the execution of the duties of such Nominating Committee, etc. to the board of directors meeting without delay.
(4) The executive officers shall report the status of the execution of their duties to the board of directors meeting at least once every three months. In such cases, executive officers may submit such reports through their agents (limited to other executive officers).
(5) If requested by the board of directors, executive officers shall attend the board of directors meeting and provide explanations on the matters requested by the board of directors.
Subsection 5 Authority of Executive Officers

(Authority of Executive Officers)
Article 418 Executive officers shall perform the following duties:
(i) Deciding on the execution of the operations of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. that were delegated to the executive officers by resolution of the board of directors meeting pursuant to the provisions of Article 416(4); and
(ii) The execution of the operations of the Company with Nominating Committee, etc.

(Executive officer's Duty to Report to Audit Committee Members)
Article 419 (1) If executive officers detect any fact likely to cause substantial detriment to the Company with Nominating Committee, etc., they shall immediately report such fact to the Audit Committee Members.
(2) The provisions of Article 355, Article 356 and Article 365(2) shall apply mutatis mutandis to executive officers. In such cases, "shareholders meeting" in Article 356(1) shall be read as "board of directors meeting" and "At a Company with Board of Directors, a director who has engaged in transactions under each item of Article 356(1)" in Article 365(2) shall be read as "An executive officer who has engaged in transactions under each item of Article 356(1)."
(3) The provisions of Article 357 shall not apply to Companies with Nominating Committee, etc.

(Representative Executive Officers)
Article 420 (1) Board of directors shall appoint representative executive officers from among the executive officers. In such cases, if there is only one executive officer, that person shall be regarded as having been appointed as the representative executive officer.
(2) A representative executive officer may be removed at any time by resolution of the board of directors meeting.
(3) The provisions of Article 349(4) and (5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to representative executive officers, the provisions of Article 352 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a person appointed by a provisional disposition order provided for in Article 56 of the Civil Provisional Remedies Act to perform the duties of executive officers or representative executive officers on behalf of the same, and the provisions of Article 401(2) through (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where there are no representative executive officers in office, or where there is a vacancy which results in a shortfall in the number of executive officers prescribed in the articles of incorporation, respectively.

(Apparent Representative Executive Officers)
Article 421 In cases where a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. gives the title of president, vice president or other title regarded as having authority to represent the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. to an executive officer who is not a representative executive officer, the Company with Committees shall be liable to third parties in good faith for the acts of such executive officer.

(Enjoinment of Acts of Executive Officers by Shareholders)
Article 422 (1) In cases where an executive officer engages, or is likely to engage, in an act outside the scope of the purpose of a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., or other acts in violation of laws and regulations or the articles of incorporation, if such act is likely to cause irreparable damage to such Company with Nominating Committee, etc., shareholders having the shares consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more) may demand that such executive officer cease such act.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. which is not a Public Company, "shareholders having the shares consecutively for the preceding six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such period or more)" in that paragraph shall be read as "shareholders."
Section 11 Liability for Damages of Officers, Etc.

(Liability of Officers, Etc. to Stock Company for Damages)
Article 423 (1) If a director, accounting advisor, company auditor, executive officer or financial auditor (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Officers, Etc.") neglects his/her duties, he/she shall be liable to such Stock Company for damages arising as a result thereof.
(2) If a director or executive officer engages in a transaction listed in item (i) of Article 356(1) in violation of the provisions of Article 356(1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under Article 419(2). The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph), the amount of the profits obtained by the director, executive officer or a third party as a result of such transaction shall be presumed to be the amount of the damages under the preceding paragraph.
(3) If a Stock Company incurs damages as a result of the transaction provided for in item (ii) or item (iii) of Article 356(1) (including cases where these provisions are applied mutatis mutandis under Article 419(2)), the following directors or executive officers shall be presumed to have neglected their duties:
(i) Directors and executive officers provided for in Article 356(1) (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under Article 419(2));
(ii) Directors and executive officers who decided that the Stock Company would undertake such transaction; or
(iii) Directors who agreed to the board of directors' resolution approving such transaction (for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., limited to cases where such transaction is a transaction between the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. and the directors or is a transaction that gives rise to a conflict of interests between the Company with Nominating Committee, etc. and the directors).
(4) In the cases listed in items (ii) or (iii) of Article 356 (1), the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply when directors (excluding those who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members) under said paragraph receive approval of the Audit and Supervisory Committee for said transactions.

(Exemption from Liability for Damages to Stock Company)
Article 424 An exemption from liability under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article may not be given without the consent of all shareholders.

(Partial Exemption from Liability)
Article 425 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if the relevant Officers, Etc. have acted in good faith and without gross negligence in performing their duties, exemption from liability under Article 423(1) may be given by resolution of a shareholders meeting (if a Stock Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. (meaning an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. as prescribed in Article 847-3 (1). The same shall apply hereinafter in this Part.), and said liabilities are specific liabilities (meaning specific liabilities as prescribed in Article 847-3 (4). The same shall apply in this Part.), the shareholders meeting of said Stock Company and said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article), to the extent of the amount obtained by subtracting the sum of the following amounts (in Article 427(1) referred to as "Minimum Liability Amount") from the amount for which they are liable:
(i) The amount obtained by multiplying the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount equivalent to the annual amount of property benefits which such Officers, Etc. have received, or are to receive, from the Stock Company as consideration for the execution of their duties while they are in the office by the numbers provided for in Sub-item (a) through (c) for the categories of Officers, Etc. listed in such Sub-item (a) through (c):
(a) Representative Directors or representative executive officers: 6;
(b) Directors (limited to those who are Executive Directors, etc.) other than Representative Directors or executive officers other than representative executive officers: 4;
(c) Directors (excluding those listed in (a) and (b)), accounting advisors, company auditors or financial auditors: 2.
(ii) In cases where such Officers, Etc. have subscribed for Share Options of such Stock Company (limited to cases listed in each item of Article 238(3)), the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount equivalent to the amount of the property benefits regarding such Share Options.
(2) In cases under the preceding paragraph, the directors (if a Stock Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., and the liabilities to be exempted pursuant to the provisions of said paragraph are specific liabilities, the directors of said Stock Company and said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.) shall disclose the following matters to the shareholders meeting under that paragraph:
(i) The facts that cause the liability and the amount of the liability for damages;
(ii) The maximum amount for which exemption may be given pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph and the grounds supporting such calculation; and
(iii) The reasons for which exemption from the liability is to be given and the amount for which exemption is to be given.
(3) At a Company with Company Auditor(s), Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, or Company with Nominating Committee, etc. in order to submit proposals regarding the exemption from liability under Article 423(1) (limited to the exemption from liability of directors (excluding those who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or Audit Committee Members) and executive officers) to a shareholders meeting, directors (if such a Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., and the liabilities to be exempted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) are specific liabilities, the directors of said companies and said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.) shall obtain the consent of the persons provided for in the following items for the Stock Company categories listed in each such item:
(i) Company with Company Auditor(s): The company auditor (each company auditors if there are two or more company auditors); and
(ii) Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee: Each Audit and Supervisory Committee;
(ii) Company with Nominating Committee, etc.: Each Audit Committee Members.
(4) In cases where a resolution under paragraph (1) is made, if the Stock Company gives any property benefits prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice including, but not limited to, retirement allowance to the Officers, Etc. in that paragraph after such resolution, the Stock Company shall obtain the approval of a shareholders meeting. The same shall apply if such Officers, Etc. exercise or transfer the Share Options under item (ii) of the same paragraph after such resolution.
(5) In cases where a resolution under paragraph (1) is made, if such Officers, Etc. possess share option certificates that certify the Share Options under the preceding paragraph, such Officers, Etc. shall deposit such share option certificates with the Stock Company without delay. In such cases, such Officers, Etc. may not demand the return of such share option certificates until after the approval under that paragraph is obtained with respect to the transfer under that paragraph.

(Provisions of Articles of Incorporation on Exemption by Directors)
Article 426 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 424, Companies with Company Auditor(s) (limited to cases where there are two or more directors), Companies with Audit and Supervisory Committee, or Companies with Nominating Committee, etc. may provide in the articles of incorporation that, in cases where the relevant Officers, Etc. have acted in good faith and without gross negligence in performing their duties, if it is found particularly necessary taking into account the relevant circumstances including, but not limited to, the details of the facts that caused the liability and the status of execution of duties by such Officers, Etc., exemption may be given with respect to the liability under Article 423(1) by the consent of a majority of the directors (excluding the directors subject to such liability) (or, for Companies with Board of Directors, by resolution of the board of directors meeting) to the extent of the amount which exemption may be given pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a proposal to amend the articles of incorporation to create provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph (limited to provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that directors (excluding those who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or Audit Committee Members) and executive officers may be exempted from the liability) is submitted to a shareholders meeting, to cases where the consent of directors with respect to exemption from liability under the provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph (limited to exemption from liability of directors (excluding those who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or Audit Committee Members) and executive officers) is to be obtained, and to the cases where a proposal regarding such exemption from liability is submitted to the board of directors. In this case, "directors (if such a Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., and the liabilities to be exempted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) are specific liabilities, the directors of said companies and said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.)" in paragraph (3) of said Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "directors."
(3) If consent (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, a resolution of the board of directors meeting) to the effect that Officers, Etc. shall be exempted from the liability under the provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) has been given, the directors shall, without delay, give public notice, or give notice to shareholders, to the effect that any objections to the matters listed in each item of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article or to the exemption from liability ought to be stated within a specified period of time; provided, however, that such period may not be shorter than one month.
(4) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph to a Stock Company that is not a Public Company, "give public notice, or give notice to shareholders" in that paragraph shall be read as "give notice to shareholders."
(5) If a Stock Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., when public notice or notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) (limited to those related to the exemption of specific liabilities) is made, the directors of said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. shall make public notice or notify shareholders without delay of the matters listed in the items of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article and to the effect that any objections to exempt liabilities shall be stated within the specified period; provided, however, that said period may not be shorter than one month.
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provision of the preceding paragraph to an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. that is not a Public Company, "make public notice or notify shareholders" in said paragraph shall be deemed to be replaced with "notify shareholders."
(7) If shareholders having not less than three hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who are Officers, Etc. subject to the liability referred to in paragraph (3)) state objections during the period provided for in that paragraph (if a Stock Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., when the liabilities to be exempted according to the provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), if shareholders having not less than three-hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where a lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of voting rights of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who are Officers, Etc. subject to the liability referred to in paragraph (3)) of said Stock Company or shareholders having not less than three-hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, said proportion) of voting rights of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who are Officers, Etc. subject to the liability referred to in paragraph (3)) of said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc. state objections set forth in paragraphs (3) or (5) during the period set forth in said paragraphs respectively), the Stock Company may not effect the exemption pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of paragraph (1).
(8) The provisions of paragraph (4) and paragraph (5) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where exemption from liability is given pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of paragraph (1).

(Agreement Limiting Liability)
Article 427 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 424, a Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation that the Stock Company may enter into agreements with directors (excluding those are Executive Directors, etc.), accounting advisors, company auditors or financial auditors (hereinafter in this Article and item (xxv) of Article 911 (3) referred to as "Non-Executive Directors, etc.") to the effect that, if such Non-Executive Directors, etc. have acted in good faith and without gross negligence in performing their duties, the liability of the Non-Executive Directors, etc. under Article 423(1) shall be limited to either an amount specified by the Stock Company in advance within the limit of the amount provided for in the articles of incorporation, or the Minimum Liability Amount, whichever is higher.
(2) If Non-Executive Directors, etc. who have entered into agreements under the preceding paragraph assume the office of Executive Director, etc. of such Stock Company, such agreements shall become ineffective from then on.
(3) The provisions of Article 425(3) shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a proposal to amend the articles of incorporation to create provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of paragraph (1) (limited to the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that agreements may be entered into with directors (excluding those who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members or Audit Committee Members) prescribed in that paragraph) is submitted to a shareholders meeting. In this case, "directors (if such a Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., and the liabilities to be exempted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) are specific liabilities, the directors of said companies and said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.)" in paragraph (3) of such Article shall be deemed to be replaced with "directors."
(4) If a Stock Company that entered into agreements under paragraph (1) has come to know that it has suffered damages as a result of Non-Executive Directors, etc. who were the counterparties to such agreements neglecting their duties, the Stock Company shall disclose the following matters at the first shareholders meeting (if the Stock Company has an Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc., and said damages are related to specific liabilities, shareholders meeting of said Stock Company and said Ultimate, Wholly Owning Parent Company, etc.) called thereafter:
(i) Matters listed in item (i) and (ii) of Article 425(2);
(ii) The contents of such agreements and reasons for entering into such agreements; and
(iii) The amount for which it was arranged that such Non-Executive Directors, etc. would be exempted from liability for damages in Article 423(1).
(5) The provisions of Article 425(4) and (5) shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where it has been arranged pursuant to agreements under paragraph (1) that Non-Executive Directors, etc. shall not be liable for damages in excess of the limit provided for in that paragraph.

(Special Provision on Transactions carried out by Director for Himself/Herself)
Article 428 (1) A director or executive officer who has carried out transactions under item (ii) of Article 356(1) (including cases of mutatis mutandis application under Article 419(2)) (limited to transactions carried out for himself/herself) may not be exempted from the liability under Article 423(1) for the reason that the neglect of his/her duties was due to grounds not attributable to such directors or executive officers.
(2) The provisions of the preceding three Articles shall not apply to the liability in the preceding paragraph.

(Liability for Damages of Officers, Etc. to Third Parties)
Article 429 (1) If Officers, Etc. are in bad faith or with gross negligence in performing their duties, such Officers, Etc. shall be liable to a third party for damages arising as a result thereof.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall also apply if the persons listed in the following items carry out the acts provided for in each such item; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such persons prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(i) Directors and executive officers: The following acts:
(a) The giving of false notice with respect to important matters, notice of which shall be given when soliciting persons to subscribe for shares, Share Options, Bonds or Bonds with Share Option, or the making of false statements or records with respect to materials used for explanations regarding the business of the relevant Stock Company and other matters for the purpose of such solicitation;
(b) The making of false statements or records with respect to important matters to be specified or recorded in Financial Statements and business reports as well as the annexed detailed statements thereof and Provisional Financial Statements;
(c) The false registration; and
(d) The false public notice (including the measures provided for in Article 440(3));
(ii) Accounting advisors: The making of false statements or records with respect to important matters to be specified or recorded in Financial Statements or in the annexed detailed statements accompanying them, Provisional Financial Statements and accounting advisor's reports;
(iii) Company auditors, Audit and Supervisory Committee Members, and Audit Committee Members: The making of false statements or records with respect to important matters to be specified or recorded in audit reports;
(iv) Financial auditor: The making of false statements or records with respect to important matters to be specified or recorded in financial audit reports;

(Joint and Several Liabilities of Officers, Etc.)
Article 430 In cases where Officers, Etc. are liable for damages arising in the Stock Company or a third party, if other Officers, Etc. are also liable, such persons shall be joint and several obligors.

Chapter V Accounting
Section 1 Accounting Principle
Article 431 The accounting for a Stock Company shall be subject to the business accounting practices generally accepted as fair and appropriate.
Section 2 Account Books
Subsection 1 Account Books

(Preparation and Retention of Account Books)
Article 432 (1) A Stock Company shall prepare accurate account books in a timely manner pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A Stock Company shall retain its account books and important materials regarding its business for ten years from the time of the closing of the account books.

(Request to Inspect Account Books)
Article 433 (1) Shareholders having not less than three hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the votes of all shareholders (excluding shareholders who may not exercise their votes on all matters which may be resolved at a shareholders meeting) or shareholders having not less than three hundredths (3/100) (or, in cases where lesser proportion is prescribed in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the Issued Shares (excluding Treasury Shares) may make the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company. In such cases, the reasons for such requests shall be disclosed.
(i) If the account books or materials relating thereto are prepared in writing, the requests for inspection or copying of such documents;
(ii) If an account book or material relating thereto has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(2) If a request referred to in the preceding paragraph is made, the Stock Company may not refuse the request unless it is found that any of the following apply:
(i) The shareholder who makes such request (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Requestor") makes the request for a purpose other than for investigation related to the securing or exercising of his/her right;
(ii) The Requestor makes the request for the purpose of interfering with the execution of the operations of such Stock Company and prejudicing the common benefit of the shareholders;
(iii) The Requestor operates or engages in business which is, in substance, in competition with the operations of such Stock Company;
(iv) The Requestor makes the request in order to report facts which he/she may learn by inspecting or copying the account books or materials relating thereto to third parties for profit; or
(v) The Requestor is a person who has reported facts which he/she learned by inspecting or copying the account books or materials relating thereto to third parties for profit during the last two years.
(3) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of a Stock Company, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the request listed in each item of paragraph (1) with respect to the account books or materials relating thereto. In such cases, the reasons for such request shall be disclosed.
(4) The court may not grant the permission referred to in the preceding paragraph if there are any of the facts provided for in each item of paragraph (2) with respect to the Member of the Parent Company referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(Order to Submit Account Books)
Article 434 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order the parties to a suit to submit account books, in whole or in part.
Subsection 2 Financial Statements, etc.

(Preparation and Retention of Financial Statements, etc.)
Article 435 (1) A Stock Company shall prepare a balance sheet as at the day of its formation pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A Stock Company shall prepare Financial Statements (meaning balance sheets, profit and loss statements and other statements prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as necessary and appropriate in order to indicate the status of the assets and profits and losses of a Stock Company) and business reports for each business year and annexed detailed statements accompanying them pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) Financial Statements and business reports and annexed detailed statements accompanying them may be prepared as electronic or magnetic records.
(4) A Stock Company shall retain its Financial Statements and the annexed detailed statements accompanying them for ten years from the time of preparation of the Financial Statements.

(Audit of Financial Statements, etc.)
Article 436 (1) At Companies with Company Auditor(s) (including Stock Companies the articles of incorporation of which provide that the scope of the audit shall be limited to an audit related to accounting, and excluding the Companies with Financial Auditor(s)), the Financial Statements, business reports, and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article shall be audited by company auditors pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) At Companies with Financial Auditor(s), the documents listed in the following items shall be audited by the persons listed in each such item pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice:
(i) The Financial Statements and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article: company auditors (or Audit and Supervisory Committee for a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and audit committees for Companies with Nominating Committee, etc.) and financial auditors;
(ii) The business reports and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article: Company auditors (or Audit and Supervisory Committee for a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and audit committees for Companies with Nominating Committee, etc.);
(3) At Companies with Board of Directors, the Financial Statements, business reports, and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article (or, in cases where the provisions of paragraph (1) or the preceding paragraph apply, those which have been audited as provided for in paragraph (1) and the preceding paragraph) shall be approved by the board of directors.

(Provision of Financial Statements, etc. to Shareholders)
Article 437 At Companies with Board of Directors, directors shall, when giving notice to call annual shareholders meetings, provide to shareholders pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice the Financial Statements and business reports that have been approved as provided for in paragraph (3) of the preceding paragraph (in cases where the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2) of the same Article apply, including audit reports and financial audit reports).

(Provision of Financial Statements, etc. to Annual Shareholders Meetings)
Article 438 (1) At Stock Companies listed in the following items, directors shall submit or provide the Financial Statements and business reports provided for in each such item to annual shareholders meetings:
(i) Companies with Company Auditor(s) provided for in Article 436(1) (excluding Companies with Board of Directors): Financial Statements and business reports that have been audited pursuant to Article 436(1);
(ii) Companies with Financial Auditor(s) (excluding Companies with Board of Directors): Financial Statements and business reports that have been audited pursuant to Article 436(2);
(iii) Companies with Board of Directors: Financial Statements and business reports that have been approved pursuant to Article 436(3); and
(iv) Stock Companies other than those listed in the preceding three items: Financial Statements and business reports under Article 435(2).
(2) Financial Statements that have been submitted or provided pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be approved by the annual shareholders meeting.
(3) Directors shall report the contents of the business reports submitted or provided pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) to the annual shareholders meeting.

(Special Provision on Companies with Financial Auditor(s))
Article 439 With respect to Companies with Financial Auditor(s), in cases where the Financial Statements that have been approved pursuant to Article 436(3) satisfy the requirements prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as statements that accurately indicate the status of the assets and profits and losses of a Stock Company in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article shall not apply. In such cases, directors shall report the contents of such Financial Statements to the annual shareholders meeting.

(Public Notice of Financial Statements)
Article 440 (1) A Stock Company shall give public notice of its balance sheet (or, for a Large Company, its balance sheet and profit and loss statement) without delay after the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, with respect to a Stock Company for which the Method of Public Notice is a method listed in item (i) or (ii) of Article 939(1), it shall be sufficient to give public notice of a summary of the balance sheet provided for in the preceding paragraph.
(3) A Stock Company referred to in the preceding paragraph may, without delay after the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, take measures to make the information contained in the balance sheet provided for in paragraph (1) available to the general public continually by electronic or magnetic means until the day on which five years have elapsed from the day of the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting. In such cases, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to Stock Companies that shall submit their securities reports to the Prime Minister pursuant to the provisions of Article 24(1) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act.

(Provisional Financial Statements)
Article 441 (1) Stock Companies may prepare the following documents (hereinafter referred to as "Provisional Financial Statements") pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice in order to grasp the financial status of such Stock Company as at a certain day (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Provisional Account Closing Day") included in the business year immediately following the Most Recent Business Year:
(i) A balance sheet as at the Provisional Account Closing Day; and
(ii) A profit and loss statement for the period from the first day of the business year that includes the Provisional Account Closing Day to the Provisional Account Closing Day.
(2) At Companies with Company Auditor(s) or Companies with Financial Auditor(s) provided for in Article 436(1), Provisional Financial Statements shall be audited by company auditors or financial auditors (or, for Companies with Audit and Supervisory Committee, by Audit and Supervisory Committee and financial auditors, and for Companies with Nominating Committee, etc., by the audit committee and financial auditors) pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) At Companies with Board of Directors, Provisional Financial Statements (or, in cases where the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply, the statements audited under that paragraph) shall be approved by the board of directors.
(4) At Stock Companies listed in the following items, the Provisional Financial Statements provided for in each such item shall be approved by a shareholders meeting; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Provisional Financial Statements satisfy the requirements prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as statements that accurately indicate the status of the assets and profits and losses of a Stock Company in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation:
(i) Companies with Company Auditor(s) or Companies with Financial Auditor(s) provided for in Article 436(1) (in each case excluding Company with Board of Directors): Provisional Financial Statements that have been audited pursuant to paragraph (2);
(ii) Companies with Board of Directors: Provisional Financial Statements that have been approved pursuant to the preceding paragraph; and
(iii) Stock Companies other than those listed in the preceding two items: Provisional Financial Statements under paragraph (1).

(Keeping and Inspection of Financial Statements, Etc.)
Article 442 (1) Stock Companies shall keep the things listed in the each of the following items (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Financial Statements, Etc.") at its head office for the period provided for in each such item:
(i) Financial Statements and business reports for each business year and annexed detailed statements thereof (in cases where the provisions of Article 436(1) or (2) apply, including audit reports or financial audit reports): Five years from the day one week (or, for Companies with Board of Directors, two weeks) prior to the day of the annual shareholders meeting (or, in cases provided for in Article 319(1), from the day when the proposal under that paragraph is made); and
(ii) Provisional Financial Statements (in cases where the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article apply, including audit reports and financial audit reports): Five years from the day when the Provisional Financial Statements are prepared.
(2) A Stock Company shall keep copies of the Financial Statements, Etc. listed in the following items at its branch offices for the period provided for in each such item; provided, however, that this shall not apply to the cases where the Financial Statements, Etc. have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record and the Stock Company adopts the measures prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as measures enabling its branch offices to respond to the request listed in item (iii) and item (iv) of the following paragraph:
(i) Financial Statements, Etc. listed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph: Three years from the day one week (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, two weeks) prior to the day of the annual shareholders meeting (or, in cases provided for in Article 319(1), from the day when the proposal under that paragraph is made); and
(ii) Financial Statements, Etc. listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph: Three years from the day when the Provisional Financial Statements under that item are prepared.
(3) The shareholders and creditors may submit the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Stock Company; provided, however, that the fees designated by such Stock Company are required to be paid in order to submit the requests listed in item (ii) or (iv):
(i) If the Financial Statements, Etc. are prepared in writing, requests for inspection of such documents or copies of such documents;
(ii) Requests for a transcript or extract of the document referred to in the preceding item;
(iii) If the Financial Statements, Etc. have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect anything that is used in the manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; or
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding item by an electronic or magnetic means that the Stock Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
(4) If it is necessary for the purpose of exercising the rights of a Member of the Parent Company of a Stock Company, he/she may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the Financial Statements, Etc. of such Stock Company; provided, however, that, in order to make the requests listed in item (ii) or (iv) of that paragraph, the fees designated by such Stock Company are required to be paid.

(Order to Submit Financial Statements, etc.)
Article 443 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order the parties to a suit to submit Financial Statements and the annexed detailed statements accompanying them, in whole or in part.
Subsection 3 Consolidated Financial Statements
Article 444 (1) A Company with Financial Auditor(s) may, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, prepare Consolidated Financial Statements (meaning statements prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as necessary and appropriate in order to indicate the status of the assets and profits and losses of a group of enterprises comprised of such Company with Financial Auditor(s) and its Subsidiaries. The same shall apply hereinafter) for each business year.
(2) Consolidated Financial Statements may be prepared as an electronic or magnetic record.
(3) An entity that is a Large Company as at the last day of a business year and shall submit a securities report to the Prime Minister pursuant to the provisions of Article 24(1) of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act shall prepare Consolidated Financial Statements for such business year.
(4) Consolidated Financial Statements shall be audited by the company auditors (or, Audit and Supervisory Committee for a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., by the audit committee) and financial auditors pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(5) In cases where a Company with Financial Auditor(s) is a Company with Board of Directors, the consolidated financial statements audited as provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be approved by the board of directors.
(6) In cases where a Company with Financial Auditor(s) is a Company with Board of Directors, directors shall, when giving notice to call annual shareholders meetings, provide to shareholders, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, Consolidated Financial Statements that have been approved as provided for in the preceding paragraph.
(7) At Companies with Financial Auditor(s) listed in the following items, directors shall submit or provide the Consolidated Financial Statements provided for in each such item to the annual shareholders meetings. In such cases, the contents of the Consolidated Financial Statements provided for in each such item and the results of the audit under paragraph (4) shall be reported to the annual shareholders meeting:
(i) A Company with Financial Auditor(s) which is a Company with Board of Directors: Consolidated Financial Statements approved as provided for in paragraph (5);
(ii) A Company with Financial Auditor(s) other than that listed in the preceding item: Consolidated Financial Statements audited as provided for in paragraph (4).
Section 3 Amounts of Stated Capital, etc.
Subsection 1 General Provisions

(Amounts of Stated Capital and Amounts of Reserves)
Article 445 (1) Unless it is otherwise provided for in this Act, the amount of stated capital of a Stock Company shall be the amount of properties contributed by persons who become shareholders at the incorporation or share issue.
(2) The amount not exceeding half of the amount of the contribution under the preceding paragraph may not be recorded as stated capital.
(3) The amount not recorded as stated capital pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be recorded as capital reserves.
(4) If a Stock Company pays dividends of surplus, it shall record an amount equivalent to one tenth of the amount of the deduction from surplus as a result of the payment of such dividends of surplus as capital reserves or retained earnings reserves (hereinafter referred to as "Reserves"), pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(5) The amount to be recorded as stated capital or Reserves at mergers, Absorption-type Company Splits, Incorporation-type Company Splits, Share Exchanges or Share Transfers shall be prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Amounts of Surplus)
Article 446 The amount of the surplus of a Stock Company shall be the amount obtained by subtracting the sum of the amounts listed in item (v) through (vii) from the sum of the amounts listed in item (i) through (iv):
(i) The amount obtained by subtracting the sum of the amounts listed in Sub-item (c) through (e) from the sum of the amounts listed in Sub-item (a) through (b) as at the last day of the Most Recent Business Year:
(a) The amount of assets;
(b) The sum of the book value of Treasury Shares;
(c) The amount of debt;
(d) The sum of the amount of stated capital and Reserves;
(e) The sum of the amounts, other than those listed in Sub-item (c) and (d), recorded in each account title prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(ii) In cases where Treasury Shares are disposed of after the last day of the Most Recent Business Year, the amount obtained by subtracting the book value of such Treasury Shares from the amount of the value received in exchange for such Treasury Shares;
(iii) In cases where the amount of stated capital is reduced after the last day of the Most Recent Business Year, the amount of such reduction (excluding the amount under item (ii), paragraph (1) of the following Article);
(iv) In cases where the Reserves are reduced after the last day of the Most Recent Business Year, the amount of such reduction (excluding the amount under item (ii) of Article 448(1));
(v) In cases where Treasury Shares are canceled pursuant to the provisions of Article 178(1) after the last day of the Most Recent Business Year, the amount of the book value of such Treasury Shares;
(vi) The sum of the following amounts in cases where dividend of surplus is paid after the last day of the Most Recent Business Year:
(a) The total book value of the Dividend Property referred to in item (i) of Article 454(1) (excluding the book value of such Dividend Property assigned to shareholders who exercised the Rights to Demand Distribution of Monies provided for in item (i), paragraph (4) of that paragraph);
(b) The sum of the amounts of the money delivered to shareholders who exercised the Rights to Demand Distribution of Monies provided for in item (i) of Article 454(4); and
(c) The sum of the amounts of money paid to shareholders of Disqualified Shares provided for in Article 456.
(vii) The sum of the amounts, other than those listed in the preceding two items, recorded in each account title prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
Subsection 2 Reductions, etc. in Amount of Stated Capital
Division 1 Reductions, etc. in Amount of Stated Capital

(Reductions in Amount of Stated Capital)
Article 447 (1) A Stock Company may reduce the amount of its stated capital. In such cases, the following matters shall be decided by resolution of a shareholders meeting:
(i) The amount by which the stated capital is reduced;
(ii) If all or part of the amount by which the stated capital is reduced is to be appropriated to Reserves, a statement to such effect and the amount to be appropriated to Reserves;
(iii) The day on which the reduction in the amount of stated capital takes effect.
(2) The amount under item (i) of the preceding paragraph may not exceed the amount of stated capital as at the day under item (iii) of that paragraph.
(3) In cases where a Stock Company reduces the amount of stated capital concurrently with a share issue, if the amount of stated capital after the day on which such reduction in the amount of stated capital takes effect is not less than the amount of stated capital before such day, for the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1), "resolution of a shareholders meeting" in that paragraph shall be read as "decision of the directors (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, resolution of the board of directors)."

(Reductions in Amount of Reserves)
Article 448 (1) A Stock Company may reduce the amount of its Reserves. In such cases, the following matters shall be decided by resolution of a shareholders meeting:
(i) The amount by which the Reserves are reduced;
(ii) If all or part of the amount by which the Reserves are reduced is to be appropriated to the stated capital, a statement to such effect and the amount to be appropriated to the stated capital;
(iii) The day on which the reduction in the amount of the Reserves takes effect.
(2) The amount under item (i) of the preceding paragraph may not exceed the amount of the Reserves as at the day under item (iii) of that paragraph.
(3) In cases where a Stock Company reduces the amount of the Reserves concurrently with a share issue, if the amount of the Reserves after the day on which such reduction in the amount of the Reserves takes effect is not less than the amount of the Reserves before such day, for the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1), "resolution of a shareholders meeting" in that paragraph shall be read as "decision of the directors (or, for a Company with Board of Directors, resolution of the board of directors)."

(Objection of Creditors)
Article 449 (1) In cases where a Stock Company reduces the amount of its stated capital or Reserves (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Stated Capitals, Etc.") (excluding cases where the whole of the amount by which the Reserves are reduced is appropriated to the stated capital), creditors of such Stock Company may state their objections to the reduction in the amount of the Capitals, Etc.; provided, however, that this shall not apply to cases where only the amount of the Reserves is reduced and all of the following apply:
(i) That matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article are decided at the annual shareholders meeting; and
(ii) That the amount referred to in item (i), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article does not exceed the amount calculated in a manner prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the deficit as at the day of the annual shareholders meeting referred to in the preceding item (or, in cases provided for in the first sentence of Article 439, the day when the approval under Article 436(3) is given).
(2) In cases where creditors of a Stock Company may state their objections pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, such Stock Company shall give public notice of the matters listed below in the official gazette and shall give notices inviting objections separately to each known creditor, if any; provided, however, that the period under item (iii) may not be less than one month:
(i) The details of such reduction in the amount of Capitals, Etc.;
(ii) The matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the matters regarding the Financial Statements of such Stock Company; and
(iii) A statement to the effect that creditors may state their objections within a certain period of time.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if a Stock Company gives public notice under that paragraph by Method of Public Notice listed in item (ii) or (iii) of Article 939(1) in accordance with the provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph in addition to the official gazette, the Stock Company is not required to give separate notices under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(4) In cases where creditors do not raise any objections within the period under item (iii) of paragraph (2), such creditors shall be deemed to have approved such reduction in the amount of the Capitals, Etc.
(5) In cases where creditors raise objections within the period under item (iii) of paragraph (2), the Stock Company shall make payment or provide equivalent security to such creditors, or entrust equivalent property to a Trust Company, Etc. (meaning Trust Companies and financial institutions that engage in trust business (referring to financial institutions approved under Article 1(1) of the Act on the Concurrent Undertaking of Trust Business by Financial Institutions (Act No. 43 of 1943)). The same shall apply hereinafter) for the purpose of making such creditors receive the payment; provided, however, that this shall not apply if there is no risk of harm to such creditors by such reduction in the amount of Capitals, Etc.
(6) The actions listed in the following items shall take effect on the day provided for in each such item; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the procedures pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) through the preceding paragraph have not been completed:
(i) Reduction in the amount of stated capital: The day under item (iii) of Article 447(1); and
(ii) Reduction in the amount of the Reserves: The day under item (iii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(7) A Stock Company may change the day provided for in each item of the preceding paragraph at any time before such day.
Division 2 Increases in Amount of Stated Capital, etc.

(Increases in Amount of Stated Capital)
Article 450 (1) A Stock Company may increase the amount of its stated capital by reducing the amount of its surplus. In such cases, the following matters shall be decided:
(i) The amount by which the surplus is reduced;
(ii) The day on which the increase in the amount of stated capital takes effect;
(2) Decisions on the matters listed in each of the items of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(3) The amount under item (i) of paragraph (1) may not exceed the amount of surplus as at the day under item (ii) of that paragraph.

(Increase in Amount of Reserves)
Article 451 (1) A Stock Company may increase the amount of its Reserves by reducing the amount of its surplus. In such cases, the following matters shall be decided:
(i) The amount by which the surplus is reduced;
(ii) The day on which the increase in the amount of the Reserves takes effect;
(2) Decisions on the matters listed in the items of the preceding paragraph shall be made by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(3) The amount under item (i) of paragraph (1) may not exceed the amount of surplus as at the day under item (ii) of that paragraph.
Division 3 Other Appropriation of Surplus
Article 452 A Stock Company may, by resolution of a shareholders meeting, make the appropriation of its surplus, including, but not limited to, the disposition of loss and funding of voluntary reserves (excluding those provided for in the preceding Division and those which dispose of the property of the Stock Company, including, but not limited to, dividends of surplus). In such cases, the Stock Company shall decide on the amount of such appropriation of surplus and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
Section 4 Dividends of Surplus

(Dividends of Surplus to Shareholders)
Article 453 A Stock Company may distribute dividends of surplus to its shareholders (excluding such Stock Company).

(Decisions on Matters regarding Dividends of Surplus)
Article 454 (1) Whenever a Stock Company intends to distribute dividends of surplus pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article, it shall decide the following matters by resolution of a shareholders meeting:
(i) The kind and total book value of the Dividend Property (excluding the Shares, Etc. of such Stock Company);
(ii) The matters regarding the assignment of the Dividend Property to shareholders;
(iii) The day on which such distribution of dividend of surplus takes effect.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if a Stock Company issues two or more classes of shares with different features as to dividends of surplus, the Stock Company may decide the following matters as the matters listed in item (ii) of that paragraph in accordance with the features of such classes of shares:
(i) If there is any arrangement that no Dividend Property is assigned to the shareholders of a certain class of shares, a statement to such effect and such class of shares;
(ii) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding item, if there is any arrangement that each class of shares shall be treated differently with respect to assignment of Dividend Property, a statement to such effect and the details of such different treatment.
(3) The decisions on the matters listed in item (ii) of paragraph (1) shall provide that the Dividend Property is assigned in proportion to the number of the shares (or, in cases where there are decisions on the matters listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, the number of the shares of each class) held by the shareholders (excluding the relevant Stock Company and shareholders of the class of shares referred to in item (i) of the preceding paragraph).
(4) If the Dividend Property consists of property other than monies, the Stock Company may decide the following matters by resolution of a shareholders meeting; provided, however, that the last day of the period referred to in item (i) shall be the day that is or precedes the day referred to in item (iii) of paragraph (1):
(i) If Right to Demand Distribution of Monies (meaning the right to demand that the Stock Company deliver monies in lieu of such Dividend Property. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Chapter) is granted to shareholders, a statement to such effect and the period during which the Right to Demand Distribution of Monies may be exercised; and
(ii) If there is any arrangement that no Dividend Property shall be assigned to shareholders who hold less than a certain number of shares, a statement to such effect and that number.
(5) A Company with Board of Directors may provide in the articles of incorporation that it may distribute a dividend of surplus only once during a business year by resolution of the board of directors (limited to that where the Dividend Property consists of monies. It is referred to as "Interim Dividend" hereinafter in this Chapter). For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to the Interim Dividend in such cases, "shareholders meeting" in that paragraph shall be read as "board of directors."

(Exercise of Rights to Demand Distribution of Monies)
Article 455 (1) In the cases provided for in item (i) of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, the Stock Company shall notify shareholders of the matters listed in that item no later than 20 days prior to the last day of the period referred to in that item.
(2) A Stock Company shall pay to shareholders who have exercised the Right to Demand Distribution of Monies, in lieu of the Dividend Property assigned to such shareholders, the monies equivalent to the value of such Dividend Property. In such cases, the amounts provided for in each of the following items for the case categories listed in each such item shall be the value of such Dividend Property:
(i) In cases where such Dividend Property consists of property with a market price: The amount calculated in a manner prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of such Dividend Property;
(ii) In cases other than those listed in the preceding item: The amount determined by the court in response to a petition by the Stock Company.

(Treatment where Minimum Number of Shares is Prescribed)
Article 456 In cases where the number referred to in item (ii) of Article 454(4) (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Minimum Number of Shares") is prescribed, a Stock Company shall pay to shareholders having shares in a number less than the Minimum Number of Shares (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Disqualified Shares") monies equivalent to the amount obtained by multiplying the amount prescribed as the value of the Dividend Property assigned to shareholders having shares in the Minimum Number of Shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article by the ratio of the number of such Disqualified Shares to the Minimum Number of Shares.

(Methods of Delivery of Dividend Property)
Article 457 (1) The Dividend Property (including monies paid pursuant to the provisions of Article 455(2) and monies paid pursuant to the provisions of the preceding Article. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) shall be delivered at the address of the shareholders (including Registered Pledgees of Shares. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Article) which have been entered or recorded in the shareholder register, or at any other place of which the shareholders have notified the Stock Company (in paragraph (3) referred to as "Address, Etc.").
(2) The cost of the delivery of Dividend Property pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be borne by the Stock Company; provided, however, that, if such cost increases due to reasons attributable to shareholders, such increased amount shall be borne by the shareholders.
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to the delivery of Dividend Property to shareholders who do not have Address, Etc. in Japan.

(Exclusion from Application)
Article 458 The provisions of Article 453 through the preceding Article shall not apply in cases where the amount of the net assets of the Stock Company is less than 3,000,000 yen.
Section 5 Special Provision on Organs that Decide Dividends of Surplus

(Provisions of Articles of Incorporation that Board of Directors Determines Dividends of Surplus)
Article 459 (1) A Company with Financial Auditor(s) (excluding Companies for which the last day of the term of office of directors (directors other than directors who are Audit and Supervisory Committee Members for a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee) falls on a day after the day of the conclusion of the annual shareholders meeting for the last business year ending within one year from the time of their election, and Companies with Company Auditor(s) that are not Companies with Board of Company Auditors) may provide in the articles of incorporation that the board of directors (for matters listed in item (ii), limited to the board of directors under Article 436(3)) may decide the following matters:
(i) The matters listed in each item of Article 156(1) in cases other than cases where a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 160(1) is made;
(ii) The matters listed in item (i) and (iii) of Article 448(1) in cases that fall under item (ii) of Article 449(1);
(iii) The matters listed in the second sentence of Article 452; and
(iv) The maters listed in each item of Article 454(1) and each item of paragraph (4) of that Article; provided, however, that the cases where the Dividend Property consists of property other than monies and no Right to Demand Distribution of Monies are granted to shareholders are excluded.
(2) The provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be effective only in cases where the Financial Statements for the Most Recent Business Year satisfy the requirements prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as accurately indicating the status of the assets and profits and losses of a Stock Company in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of item (i) of Article 449(1) in cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1), "annual shareholders meeting" in that item shall be read as "annual shareholders meeting or board of directors under Article 436(3)."

(Restriction on Rights of Shareholders)
Article 460 (1) In cases where there is a provision in the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a Stock Company may provide in the articles of incorporation that the matters listed in each item of that paragraph shall not be decided by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(2) The provisions of the articles of incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be effective only in cases where the Financial Statements for the Most Recent Business Year satisfy the requirements prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as accurately indicating the status of the assets and profits and losses of a Stock Company in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation.
Section 6 Liability related to Dividends of Surplus

(Restriction on Dividends)
Article 461 (1) The total book value of the Monies, etc. (excluding shares of the relevant Stock Company. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section) delivered to shareholders as a result of the following acts may not exceed the Distributable Amount as at the day on which such act takes effect:
(i) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company in response to a demand under item (i)(c) or (2)(c) of Article 138;
(ii) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company based on a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 156(1) (limited to acquisitions of shares by such Stock Company in the cases provided for in Article 163 or Article 165(1));
(iii) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company based on a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 157(1);
(iv) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 173(1);
(v) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company based on a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 176(1);
(vi) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 197(3);
(vii) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 234(4) (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2)); or
(viii) Dividend of surplus.
(2) The "Distributable Amount" provided for in the preceding paragraph shall mean the amount obtained by subtracting the sum of the amounts listed in item (iii) through (vi) from the sum listed in item (i) and item (ii) (the same shall apply hereinafter in this Section):
(i) The amount of surplus;
(ii) The amounts listed below in cases where the approval under Article 441(4) (or the approval under paragraph (3) of that Article in the cases provided for in the proviso to that paragraph) is obtained for the Provisional Financial Statements:
(a) The sum of the amounts recorded in each account title prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of profits during the period under item (ii) of Article 441(1); and
(b) In cases where Treasury Shares are disposed of during the period under item (ii) of Article 441(1), the amount of the value received in exchange for such Treasury Shares.
(iii) The book value of Treasury Shares;
(iv) In cases where Treasury Shares are disposed of after the last day of the Most Recent Business Year, the amount of the value received in exchange for such Treasury Shares;
(v) In the cases provided for in item (ii), the sum of the amounts recorded in each account title prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of losses during the period under item (ii) of Article 441(1); and
(vi) Other than those listed in the preceding three items, the sum of the amounts recorded in each account title prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Liability related to Dividends of Surplus)
Article 462 (1) In cases where a Stock Company carries out an act listed in any item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article in violation of the provisions of that paragraph, persons who received Monies, etc. as a result of such act, as well as any Executives (meaning Executive Directors (or, for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., executive officers. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) and other persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as persons involved, in performing their duties, in the execution of the operations by such Executive Directors. The same shall apply hereinafter in this Section) who performed duties regarding such act and, in cases where such act is any of the acts listed below, the persons provided for in each such item shall be jointly and severally liable to such Stock Company for payment of monies in an amount equivalent to the book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to the persons who were delivered such Monies, etc.:
(i) The acts listed in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following persons:
(a) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 156(1) is passed by a shareholders meeting (limited to cases where the total amount of the Monies, etc. under item (ii) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Shareholders Meeting (meaning persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as directors who submitted proposals to such shareholders meeting. The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) relating to such shareholders meeting;
(b) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 156(1) is passed by a board of directors meeting (limited to cases where the total amount of the Monies, etc. under item (ii) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Board of Directors Meeting (meaning persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as directors who submitted proposals to such board of directors meeting (or, for a Company with Nominating Committee, etc., directors or executive officers). The same shall apply hereinafter in this paragraph) relating to such board of directors meeting;
(ii) The acts listed in item (iii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following persons:
(a) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 157(1) is passed by a shareholders meeting (limited to cases where the total amount under item (iii) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Shareholders Meeting relating to such shareholders meeting;
(b) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 157(1) is passed by a board of directors meeting (limited to cases where the total amount under item (iii) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution),the Proposing Directors at Board of Directors Meeting relating to such board of directors meeting;
(iii) The acts listed in item (iv), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: the Proposing Directors at Shareholders Meeting relating to the shareholders meeting under Article 171(1) (limited to such shareholders meeting in cases where the total amount of Consideration for Acquisition under item (i) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution);
(iv) The acts listed in item (vi), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following persons:
(a) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of Article 197(3) is passed by a shareholders meeting (limited to cases where the total amount under item (ii) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Shareholders Meeting relating to such shareholders meeting;
(b) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of Article 197(3) is passed by a board of directors meeting (limited to cases where the total amount under item (ii) of that paragraph decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Board of Directors Meeting relating to such board of directors meeting;
(v) The acts listed in item (vii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following persons:
(a) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of Article 234(4) (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2)) is passed by a shareholders meeting (limited to cases where the total amount under item (ii) of Article 234(4) (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2)) decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Shareholders Meeting relating to such shareholders meeting;
(b) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of the second sentence of Article 234(4) (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2)) is passed by a board of directors meeting (limited to cases where the total amount under item (ii) of Article 234(4) (including the cases where applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2)) decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Board of Directors Meeting relating to such board of directors meeting;
(vi) The acts listed in item (viii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article: The following persons:
(a) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 454(1) is passed by a shareholders meeting (limited to cases where the book value of the Dividend Property decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Shareholders Meeting relating to such shareholders meeting;
(b) In cases where a resolution relating to a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 454(1) is passed by a board of directors meeting (limited to cases where the book value of the Dividend Property decided by such resolution exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day of such resolution), the Proposing Directors at Board of Directors Meeting relating to such board of directors meeting.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, Executives and the persons provided for in each item of that paragraph shall not be liable under such paragraph in cases where such persons prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(3) An exemption from the obligations assumed by Executives and the persons provided for in each item of paragraph (1) pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph may not be given; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where all shareholders consent to the exemption from such obligations to the extent of the Distributable Amount as at the time of the act listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.

(Restrictions on Remedy against Shareholders)
Article 463 (1) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, shareholders without knowledge with respect to the fact that the total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the acts listed in each item of Article 461(1) exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day when such act takes effect shall not be obligated to respond to the remedy that the Executives who made the payment of monies under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or the persons provided for in each item of that paragraph have against such shareholders, with respect to the Monies, etc. which such shareholders received.
(2) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, creditors of a Stock Company may have the shareholders who are liable pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph pay monies equivalent to the book value of the Monies, etc. they have received (or, in cases where such value exceeds the amount that the Stock Company owes to such creditors, such amount).

(Liability where Shares Are Acquired in Response to Exercise of Appraisal Rights)
Article 464 (1) In cases where a Stock Company acquires shares in response to a demand for appraisal pursuant to the provisions of Article 116(1) or Article 182-4 (1), if the amount of the monies paid to the shareholders who made such demands exceeds the Distributable Amount as at the day when such payment is made, the Executives who performed duties in relation to the acquisition of such shares shall be jointly and severally liable to the Stock Company for payment of such excess amount; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such persons prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties.
(2) Exemption from the obligations under the preceding paragraph may not be given without the consent of all shareholders.

(Liability in Cases of Deficit)
Article 465 (1) In cases where a Stock Company carries out the acts listed in any of the following items, if the sum of the amounts listed in item (iii), (iv) and (vi) of Article 461(2) when approval under Article 438(2) (or, in cases provided for in the first sentence of Article 439, approval under Article 436(3)) is obtained with respect to the Financial Statements for the business year that contains the day on which such act is carried out (or, if the business year immediately preceding such business year is not the Most Recent Business Year, the business year immediately preceding such business year) exceeds the amount listed in item (i) of that paragraph, the Executives who performed duties in relation to the acts listed in each such item shall be jointly and severally liable to such Stock Company for payment of such excess amount (or, in cases where such excess amount exceeds the amount listed in each such item, the amount listed in each such item); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such Executives prove that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(i) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company in response to a demand under item (i)(c) or (ii)(c) of Article 138: The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the purchase of such shares;
(ii) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company based on a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 156(1) (limited to acquisitions of shares by such Stock Company in cases provided for in Article 163 or Article 165(1)): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the acquisition of such shares;
(iii) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company based on a decision pursuant to the provisions of Article 157(1): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the acquisition of such shares;
(iv) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 167(1): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the acquisition of such shares;
(v) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 170(1): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the acquisition of such shares;
(vi) The acquisition of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 173(1): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the acquisition of such shares;
(vii) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company based on a demand pursuant to the provisions of Article 176(1): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the purchase of such shares;
(viii) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 197(3): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to shareholders as a result of the purchase of such shares;
(ix) The purchase of shares of such Stock Company pursuant to the provisions of Article 234(4): The total book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to the persons provided for in each item of paragraph (1) of that Article as a result of the purchase of such shares;
(a) Article 234(4): The persons listed in each item of Article 234(1)
(b) Article 234(4) applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to Article 235(2): The shareholders
(x) Distribution of dividends of surplus (excluding those listed in Sub-item (a) through (c) below): The sum of the amounts listed in Sub-item (a) through (c) in item (vi) of Article 446 with respect to such distribution of dividend of surplus;
(a) Distribution of dividends of surplus in cases where the matters listed in each item of Article 454(1) are decided at an annual shareholders meeting (or, in cases provided for in the first sentence of Article 439, an annual shareholders meeting or a board of directors meeting under Article 436(3));
(b) Distribution of dividends of surplus in cases where the matters listed in each item of Article 454(1) are decided at a shareholders meeting for the purpose of deciding the matters listed in each item of Article 447(1) (limited to the cases where the amount under item (i) of that paragraph (or, if there are monies to be paid to shareholders of Disqualified Shares pursuant to the provisions of Article 456, the aggregate amount thereof) does not exceed the amount under item (i) of Article 447(1) and there is no provision with respect to the matters listed in item (ii) of that paragraph);
(c) Distribution of dividends of surplus in cases where the matters listed in each item of Article 454(1) are decided at a shareholders meeting for the purpose of deciding the matters listed in each item of Article 448(1) (limited to the cases where the amount under item (i) of that paragraph (or, if there are monies to be paid to shareholders of Disqualified Shares pursuant to the provisions of Article 456, the aggregate amount thereof) does not exceed the amount under item (i) of Article 448(1) and there is no provision with respect to the matters listed in item (ii) of that paragraph);
(2) Exemption from the obligations under the preceding paragraph may not be given without the consent of all shareholders.

Chapter VI Changes in Articles of Incorporation
Article 466 A Stock Company may change the articles of incorporation by the resolution of a shareholders meeting after its incorporation.

Chapter VII Business Transfer, etc.

(Approvals of Transfer, etc. of Business)
Article 467 (1) In cases where a Stock Company intends to commit any of the following acts, it must obtain the approval of the contracts relating to such acts by the resolution of the shareholders meeting no later than the day immediately preceding the day when such act takes effect (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Effective Day"):
(i) The transfer of the entire business;
(ii) The transfer of significant part of the business (excluding the transfer in which the book value of the assets to be transferred to others by such transfer does not exceed one fifth (1/5) (or, in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the total assets of such Stock Company);
(ii) -2 The transfer of all or part of shares or equity interests of the Subsidiary (limited to transfers in cases corresponding to all of the following):
(a) In cases where the book value of shares or equity interests to be transferred by said transfer exceeds one fifth (1/5) (in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the total assets of said Stock Company; and
(b) In cases where said Stock Company does not have the majority of the total votes of said Subsidiary on the Effective Day.
(iii) The acceptance of transfer of entire business of another Company (hereinafter in this Article and the next Article including Foreign Corporations and other juridical persons);
(iv) The entering into, changing or termination of contracts for the lease of the entire business, contracts for the entrustment of the management of the entire business, contracts for sharing with others the entirety of profit and loss of business and other contracts equivalent to the above;
(v) The acquisition at any time within two years after the incorporation of such Stock Company (hereinafter in this item limited to the Stock Company that was incorporated by the method listed in each item of paragraph (1) of Article 25) of assets of such Stock Company that existed prior to such incorporation and continues to be used for its business; provided, however, that the cases where the proportion of the amount listed in Sub-item (a) to the amount listed in Sub-item (b) does not exceed one fifth (1/5) (or, in cases where any lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) shall be excluded:
(a) The total book value of the assets that are issued as the consideration for such assets;
(b) The amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the net assets of such Stock Company.
(2) In cases where the act listed in item (iii) of the preceding paragraph is committed, if the assets transferred to the Stock Company which commits such act include shares of such Stock Company, directors must explain the matters regarding such shares at a shareholders meeting under that paragraph.

(Cases where Approval of Business Transfer, etc. is not Required)
Article 468 (1) The provisions of the preceding Article shall not apply in cases where other party to the contracts relating to the acts listed in items (i) through (iv) of paragraph (1) of that Article (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as " Business Transfer, etc.") is the Special Controlling Company (hereinafter, in cases where nine tenths (9/10) (or, in cases where any proportion higher than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or more of the voting rights of all shareholders of a Stock Company are held by other Company, and by Stock Companies all of the Issued Shares in which are held by such other Company and other juridical persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as entities equivalent to the above, referring to such other Company) of the Stock Company that effects such Business Transfer, etc.
(2) The provisions of the preceding Article shall not apply if, in cases where the act listed in item (iii) of paragraph (1) of that Article is carried out, the proportion of the amount listed in item (i) to the amount listed in item (ii) does not exceed one fifth (1/5) (or, in cases where any lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion):
(i) The total book value of the assets that are issued as the consideration for all business of such other Company;
(ii) The amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the net assets of such Stock Company.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if shareholders that hold the shares (limited to those that entitle the shareholders to exercise voting rights at a shareholders meeting under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article) in the number prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice notify the Stock Company that carries out the act listed in item (iii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article to the effect that such shareholders dissent from such act, within two weeks from the day of the notice under the provisions of paragraph (3) of the following Article or the public notice under paragraph (4) of that Article, such Stock Company must obtain the approval of the contract relating to such act by resolution of a shareholders meeting no later than the day immediately preceding the Effective Day.

(Dissenting Shareholders' Appraisal Rights)
Article 469 (1) In cases where Business Transfer, etc. is to be effected (excluding the following cases), dissenting shareholders may demand that the Stock Company effecting the Business Transfer, etc. purchase, at a fair price, the shares that they hold.
(i) In cases where the act listed in item (i) of Article 467 (1) is performed, when the resolution of a shareholders meeting under item (iii) of Article 471 is passed simultaneously with the resolution of a shareholders meeting under said paragraph; and
(ii) Cases prescribed in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article (excluding the cases prescribed in paragraph (3) of said Article).
(2) The dissenting shareholders provided for in the preceding paragraph means the shareholders provided for in each of the following items in the cases listed in the same items:
(i) In cases where a resolution of a shareholders meeting (including a General Meeting of Class Shareholders) is required to effect the Business Transfer, etc. : The following shareholders:
(a) Shareholders who gave notice to such Stock Company to the effect that they dissented from such Business Transfer, etc. prior to such shareholders meeting and who dissented from such Business Transfer, etc. at such shareholders meeting (limited to those who can exercise voting rights at such shareholders meetings);
(b) Shareholders who cannot exercise voting rights at such shareholders meetings.
(ii) In cases other than those prescribed in the preceding item: All shareholders (excluding said Special Controlling Company in the cases prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article).
(3) A Stock Company that intends to effect the Business Transfer, etc. must give notice to its shareholders (excluding said Special Controlling Company in the cases prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article) to the effect that it intends to effect the Business Transfer, etc. (or, in the cases provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 467, to the effect that the Stock Company will carry out the act listed in item (iii), paragraph (1) of that Article and of the matters regarding shares under paragraph (2) of that Article), no later than twenty days prior to the Effective Day.
(4) A public notice may be substituted for the notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph in the following cases:
(i) In cases where the Stock Company which effects the Business Transfer, etc. is a Public Company;
(ii) In cases where the Stock Company which effects the Business Transfer, etc. receives the approval of the contract relating to the Business Transfer, etc. by the resolution of a shareholders meeting under paragraph (1) of Article 467.
(5) To make a demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as the "Exercise of Appraisal Rights"), a dissenting shareholder must indicate the number of shares with regard to which the shareholder is Exercising Appraisal Rights (or, for a Company with Classes of Shares, the classes of the shares and the number of shares for each class), between twenty days prior to the Effective Day and the day immediately preceding the Effective Day.
(6) When intending to Exercise Appraisal Rights pertaining to shares for which share certificates have been issued, shareholders of said shares shall submit share certificates representing those shares to the Stock Company that effects said Business Transfer, etc.; provided, however, that this shall not apply to a person who makes a request pursuant to the provisions of Article 223 with regard to said share certificates.
(7) Shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights may withdraw their demands for appraisal only with the approval of the Stock Company that effects the Business Transfer, etc.
(8) The demands of the shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights lose effect if the Business Transfer, etc. is canceled.
(9) The provisions of Article 133 shall not apply to shares pertaining to the Exercise of Appraisal Rights.

(Determination of the Price of Shares)
Article 470 (1) If a shareholder Exercises Appraisal Rights and an agreement determining the price of shares is reached between the shareholder and the Stock Company effecting the Business Transfer, etc., the Stock Company must pay that price within sixty days from the Effective Day.
(2) If no agreement deciding the price of shares is reached within thirty days from the Effective Day, the shareholders or the Stock Company under the preceding paragraph may file a petition for the court to determine the price within thirty days after the expiration of that period.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (7) of the preceding Article, in the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the petition under that paragraph is not made within sixty days after the Effective Day, shareholders Exercising Appraisal Rights may withdraw their demands for appraisal at any time after the expiration of such period.
(4) Stock Companies under paragraph (1) must also pay interest on the price determined by the court which shall be calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the day of the expiration of the period referred to in that paragraph.
(5) The Stock Company under paragraph (1) may pay to shareholders the amount that said Stock Company considers to be a fair price until the determination of the share price.
(6) A share purchase connected with the Exercise of Appraisal Rights becomes effective on the Effective Day.
(7) If a shareholder Exercises Appraisal Rights with respect to shares for which share certificates are issued, the Share Certificate-Issuing Company must pay the price of the shares relating to the Exercise of the Appraisal Rights in exchange for the share certificates.

Chapter VIII Dissolution

(Grounds for Dissolution)
Article 471 A Stock Company shall dissolve on the grounds listed below:
(i) The expiration of the duration provided for in the articles of incorporation;
(ii) The grounds for dissolution provided for in the articles of incorporation;
(iii) A resolution of a shareholders meeting;
(iv) Merger (but only if the Stock Company disappears in the merger);
(v) A ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures; or
(vi) Judgment that orders the dissolution pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 824 or paragraph (1) of Article 833.

(Deemed Dissolution of Dormant Companies)
Article 472 (1) In cases where the Minister of Justice gives a public notice to a dormant Company (hereinafter in this Article referring to a Stock Company for which twelve years have elapsed from the day when a registration regarding such Stock Company was last effected) in Official Gazette to the effect that the dormant Company should submit a notice to the effect that it has not abolished its business pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to the register office that has jurisdiction over the area where dormant Company's head office is located within two months, if that dormant Company fails to submit that notice, the dormant Company shall be deemed to have dissolved upon expiration of that two month period; provided, however, that this shall not apply if any registration regarding such dormant Company is effected during such period.
(2) If the public notice has been given under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the register office must issue a notice to such effect to dormant Companies.

(Continuation of Companies)
Article 473 In cases where a Stock Company dissolves on the grounds listed in item (i) through item (iii) of Article 471 (including the cases where Stock Companies are deemed to have dissolved under the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article), the Stock Company may continue in existence by resolution of a shareholders meeting until the completion of the liquidation under the provisions of the following Chapter (in cases where the Stock Company is deemed to have dissolved pursuant to the provisions of that paragraph, limited to the completion within three years from the time of the deemed dissolution).

(Restrictions on Mergers and Other Transactions of Dissolved Stock Companies)
Article 474 In cases where a Stock Company has dissolved, such Stock Company may not carry out the following acts:
(i) Merger (but only if the Stock Company survives the merger);
(ii) Succession by Absorption-type Company Split to some or all of the rights and obligations held by another Company with respect to such Company's business.

Chapter IX Liquidation
Section 1 General Provisions
Subsection 1 Commencement of Liquidation

(Causes of Commencement of Liquidation)
Article 475 A Stock Company must go into liquidation in the cases listed below, subject to the provisions of this Chapter:
(i) In cases where the Stock Company has dissolved (excluding the cases where Stock Companies have dissolved on the grounds listed in item (iv) of Article 471 and cases where it dissolved as a result of the ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures and such bankruptcy procedures have not ended);
(ii) In cases where a judgment allowing a claim seeking invalidation of the incorporation of a Stock Company has become final and binding; or
(iii) In cases where a judgment allowing a claim seeking invalidation of the Share Transfer has become final and binding.

(Capacity of Liquidating Stock Companies)
Article 476 Stock Companies that go into liquidation under the provisions of the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as "Liquidating Stock Companies") shall be deemed to remain in existence until the liquidation is completed, to the extent of the purpose of the liquidation.
Subsection 2 Structures for Liquidating Stock Companies
Division 1 Establishment of Structures Other Than Shareholders Meetings
Article 477 (1) A Liquidating Stock Company must have one or more liquidators.
(2) A Liquidating Stock Company may have a board of liquidators, a Company Auditor, a board of Company Auditors or a board of Company Auditors as prescribed by the articles of incorporation.
(3) A Liquidating Stock Company the articles of incorporation of which provide that a board of Company Auditors shall be established must establish a board of liquidators.
(4) A Liquidating Stock Company that was a Public Company or a Large Company when it fell under a case listed in each item of Article 475 must establish a company auditor.
(5) A Liquidating Stock Company that was a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee when it fell under a case listed in each item of Article 475 and to which the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply, a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member shall be the company auditor.
(6) A Liquidating Stock Company that was a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. when it fell under a case listed in each item of Article 475 and to which the provisions of paragraph (4) apply, an Audit Committee Member shall be the company auditor.
(7) The provisions of Section 2 of Chapter IV shall not apply to Liquidating Stock Companies.
Division 2 Assumption of Office and Dismissal of Liquidators and Resignation of Company Auditors

(Assumption of Office of Liquidators)
Article 478 (1) The following persons shall become liquidators of a Liquidating Stock Company:
(i) A director (excluding cases where persons listed in the following item or in item (iii) exist);
(ii) A person prescribed by the articles of incorporation;
(iii) A person who is appointed by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(2) In the absence of a liquidator under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the court shall appoint the liquidator in response to the petition by the interested parties.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, with respect to a Liquidating Stock Company that has dissolved on the grounds listed in item (vi) of Article 471, the court shall appoint the liquidator in response to a petition by the interested parties or the Minister of Justice or ex officio.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2), with respect to a Liquidating Stock Company that has fallen under the cases listed in item (ii) or item (iii) of Article 475, the court shall appoint the liquidator in response to a petition by the interested parties.
(5) For the purpose of application of the provisions of item (i) of paragraph (1) to a Liquidating Stock Company that was a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee when it fell under a case listed in each item of Article 475, "director" in said item shall be read as "director other than a director who is an Audit and Supervisory Committee Member."
(6) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of item (i) of paragraph (1) to a Liquidating Stock Company that was a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. when it fell under a case listed in each item of Article 475, the word "director" in said item shall be read as "director who is not an Audit Committee Member."
(7) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 335 (3), at a Company with Board of Company Auditors that is a Liquidating Stock Company, which was a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or a Company with Nominating Committee, etc. when it fell under the case listed in each item of Article 475, company auditors shall be three or more and half or more of them shall correspond to all of the following requirements:
(i) A person who has not been a director (excluding Outside Director), accounting advisor (if the accounting advisor is a juridical person, the member who is in charge of its affairs. The same shall apply in the following item) or executive officer, manager, or other employee of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or Company with Nominating Committee, etc. or its Subsidiary for ten years before assuming the office;
(ii) In cases where a person who has been an Outside Director or company auditor of a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or Company with Nominating Committee, etc. or its Subsidiary at the time within ten years before assuming the office, the person has not been a director (excluding Outside Director), accounting advisor or executive officer, manager, or other employee of said Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or Company with Nominating Committee, etc. or its Subsidiary for ten years before assuming the office of said Outside Director or company auditor; and
(iii) Requirements listed in (c) through (e) of Article 2 (xvi).
(8) The provisions of Article 330 and paragraph (1) of Article 331 shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators, and the provisions of paragraph (5) of that Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to Companies with Board of Liquidators (hereinafter referring to Liquidating Stock Companies that establish a board of liquidators or Liquidating Stock Companies that must establish a board of liquidators under the provisions of this Act), respectively. In such cases, "directors" in that paragraph shall be read as "liquidators."

(Dismissal of Liquidators)
Article 479 (1) Liquidators (excluding those appointed by the court pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of the preceding Article) may be dismissed at any time by resolution of a shareholders meeting.
(2) If there are substantial grounds, the court may dismiss a liquidator in response to the petition by the following shareholders:
(i) Shareholders (excluding the following shareholders) who have held, for the consecutive period of past six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period), not less than three hundredths (3/100) of the voting rights of all shareholders (excluding the following shareholders) (or, in cases where a lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion):
(a) Shareholders who cannot exercise voting rights on proposals to the effect that liquidators be dismissed; or
(b) Shareholders that are the liquidators related to such petition.
(ii) Shareholders (excluding the following shareholders) who have held, for the consecutive period of six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period), not less than three hundredths (3/100) of the Issued Shares (excluding the shares held by the following shareholders) (or, in cases where a lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion):
(a) A shareholder who is the relevant Liquidating Stock Company; or
(b) Shareholders that are the liquidators relating to such petition.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the items of the preceding paragraph to Liquidating Stock Companies that are not Public Companies, the words "have held, for the consecutive period of past six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period)," in those provisions shall be read as "hold."
(4) The provisions of paragraphs (1) through (3) of Article 346 shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators.

(Resignation of Company Auditors)
Article 480 (1) In cases where Liquidating Stock Companies effect any of the following changes in the articles of incorporation, Company Auditors of such Liquidating Stock Companies shall resign when such change in the articles of incorporation takes effect:
(i) Any change in the articles of incorporation to abolish the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that Company Auditors shall be established; or
(ii) Any change in the articles of incorporation to abolish the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that the scope of the audit by the Company Auditors shall be limited to accounting audit.
(2) The provisions of 336 shall not apply to Company Auditors of Liquidating Stock Companies.
Division 3 Liquidators' Duties

(Liquidators' Duties)
Article 481 Liquidators shall perform the following duties:
(i) The conclusion of current business;
(ii) The collection of debts and the performance obligations; and
(iii) The delivery of the residual assets.

(Execution of Business)
Article 482 (1) A liquidator shall execute the business of the Liquidating Stock Companies (hereinafter in this Article excluding Companies with Board of Liquidators).
(2) In cases where there are two or more liquidators, the business of the Liquidating Stock Company shall be determined by a majority of the liquidators, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the liquidators cannot delegate the determination on the following matters to individual liquidators:
(i) The appointment or dismissal of a manager;
(ii) The establishment, relocation and abolition of branch offices;
(iii) The matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of Article 298 (including the case where such items are applied mutatis mutandis under Article 325);
(iv) The development of the system necessary to ensure that the execution of the duties by the liquidators comply with the laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, and other systems prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the systems that are necessary to ensure the proper operations of a Liquidating Stock Company; or
(4) The provisions of Articles 353 through 357 (excluding paragraph (3)), Article 360 and Article 361(1) and (4) shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators (as to the provisions of these Articles, excluding liquidators appointed by the court under the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 478). In such cases, "paragraph (4) of Article 349" in Article 353 shall be read as "paragraph (4) of Article 349 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (6) of Article 483," "representative director" in Article 354 shall be read as "representative liquidator (referring to the representative liquidator provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 483)," and "a Company with Company Auditor(s) or a Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee or a Company with Nominating Committee, etc." in paragraph (3) of Article 360 shall be read as "a Company with Company Auditor(s)."

(Representatives of Liquidating Stock Companies)
Article 483 (1) A liquidator or liquidators shall represent the Liquidating Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where representative liquidators (hereinafter referring to liquidators who represent the Liquidating Stock Company) or other persons who represent the Liquidating Stock Company are otherwise prescribed.
(2) In cases where there are two or more liquidators referred to in the main clause of the preceding paragraph, each liquidator shall represent the Liquidating Stock Company individually.
(3) A Liquidating Stock Company (excluding a Company with Board of Liquidators) may appoint representative liquidators from among the liquidators under the articles of incorporation, or through the appointment by the liquidators (hereinafter in this paragraph excluding those that are appointed by the court pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 478) from among themselves pursuant to the applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation, or by the resolution of the shareholders meeting.
(4) In cases where directors become liquidators pursuant to the provisions of item (i), paragraph (1) of Article 478, if representative directors are already specified, such representative directors shall act as the representative liquidators.
(5) In cases where the court appoints liquidators pursuant to the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 478, it may prescribe representative liquidators from among those liquidators.
(6) The provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of Article 349 and Article 351 shall apply mutatis mutandis to representative liquidators, and the provisions of Article 352 shall apply mutatis mutandis to persons who are appointed by the provisional disposition order provided for in Article 56 of the Civil Provisional Remedies Act to perform the duties of liquidators or representative liquidators on behalf of them, respectively.

(Commencement of Bankruptcy Procedures for Liquidating Stock Companies)
Article 484 (1) In cases where it has become clear that the assets of a Liquidating Stock Company are not sufficient to fully discharge its debts, liquidators must immediately file a petition for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures.
(2) In cases where a Liquidating Stock Company has become subject to the ruling for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures, if liquidators have transferred their administration to the trustee in bankruptcy, they shall have completed their duties.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the Liquidating Stock Company has already made payments to creditors or distributions to shareholders, the trustee in bankruptcy may retrieve the same.

(Remuneration for Liquidators Appointed by the Court)
Article 485 In cases where the court has appointed the liquidator under the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 478, the court may prescribe the amount of the remuneration that the Liquidating Stock Companies shall pay to such liquidator.

(Liquidators' Liability to Liquidating Stock Companies for Damages)
Article 486 (1) If a liquidator fails to discharge his/her duties, he/she shall be liable to compensate such Liquidating Stock Companies for any losses arising as a result.
(2) If a liquidator engages in any transaction listed in item (i), paragraph (1) of Article 356 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482 in violation of the provisions of the paragraph (1) of Article 356, the amount of the profit obtained by the liquidator or a third party as a result of such transaction shall be presumed to be amount of the losses under the preceding paragraph.
(3) If a Liquidating Stock Company suffers loss as a result of the transaction provided for in item (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 356 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482, the following liquidators shall be presumed to have failed to discharge their duties:
(i) Liquidators provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 356 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482;
(ii) Liquidators who decided that the Liquidating Stock Companies would undertake such transaction; or
(iii) Liquidators who agreed to the board of liquidators' resolution to approve such transaction.
(4) The provisions of Article 424 and paragraph (1) of Article 428 shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators' liability under paragraph (1). In such cases, the words "item (ii), paragraph (1) of Article 356 (including the cases where such item is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 419)" in paragraph (1) of Article 428 shall be read as "item (ii), paragraph (1) of Article 356 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482."

(Liquidators' Liability to Third Parties)
Article 487 (1) If liquidators were in bad faith or with gross negligence in discharging their duties, such liquidators shall be liable to compensate losses arising in a third party as a result thereof.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall also apply if the liquidators commit the acts provided for in the following items; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such liquidators have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(i) The giving of false notice with respect to important matters, the notice of which must be given when soliciting persons to subscribe for shares, Share Options, Bonds or Bonds with Share Options or making of false statement or records with respect to materials used for the explanation regarding the business of such Liquidating Stock Company and other matters for the purpose of such solicitation;
(ii) The making of false statements or records with respect to important matters to be stated or recorded in the property inventory of provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 492 as well as the balance sheet and administration report in paragraph (1) of Article 494 and the annexed detailed statements accompanying them.
(iii) Registering a false registration; or
(iv) Giving false public notice.

(Joint and Several Liabilities of and Company Auditors)
Article 488 (1) In cases where liquidators or Company Auditors are liable to compensate losses arising in the Liquidating Stock Companies or a third party, if other liquidators or Company Auditors are also liable, such persons shall be joint and several obligors.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the provisions of Article 430 shall not apply.
Division 4 Board of Liquidators

(Authority of Board of Liquidators)
Article 489 (1) Board of liquidators shall be organized by all liquidators.
(2) Board of liquidators shall perform the following duties:
(i) Deciding the execution of the business of the Company with Board of Liquidators;
(ii) Supervising the execution of the duties by liquidators; and
(iii) Appointing and removing representative liquidators.
(3) Board of liquidators must appoint representative liquidators from among the liquidators; provided, however, that this shall not apply if there are other representative liquidators.
(4) Board of liquidators may remove representative liquidators it appointed and persons who became representative liquidators pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of Article 483.
(5) If the court has prescribed representative liquidators under the provisions of paragraph (5) of Article 483, the board of liquidators cannot select or remove the representative liquidators.
(6) Board of liquidators cannot delegate the decisions on the execution of important business such as the following matters to the liquidators:
(i) The disposal and acceptance of transfer of important assets;
(ii) The taking out of substantial loans;
(iii) The appointment and dismissal of managers or other important employees;
(iv) The establishment, change or closure of branch offices and other important structures;
(v) The matters listed in item (i) of Article 676 and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as important matters regarding the solicitation of persons to subscribe for Bonds;
(vi) The development of systems necessary to ensure that the execution of the duties by the liquidators comply with the laws and regulations and the articles of incorporation, and other systems prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the systems necessary to ensure the proper business of a Liquidating Stock Company; or
(7) The following liquidators shall execute the business of the Company with Board of Liquidators:
(i) A representative liquidator; and
(ii) A liquidator other than a representative liquidator who is appointed by the resolution of the board of liquidators as the liquidator who is to execute the business of a Company with Board of Liquidators.
(8) The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 363, Article 364 and Article 365 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Company with Board of Liquidators. In such cases, in paragraph (2) of Article 363, the words "each item of the preceding paragraph" shall be read as "each item of paragraph (7) of Article 489," the words "director" shall be read as "liquidator," and the words "board of directors" shall be read as "board of liquidators"; in Article 364, the words "Article 353" shall be read as "Article 353 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482," and the words "board of directors" shall be read as "board of liquidators"; in paragraph (1) of Article 365, words "Article 356" shall be read as "Article 356 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482," and the words "board of directors" shall be read as "board of liquidators"; and in paragraph (2) of Article 365, the words "each item of paragraph (1) of Article 365" shall be read as "each item of paragraph (1) of Article 365 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of Article 482," the word "director" shall be read as "liquidator," and the words "to the board of directors" shall be read as "to the board of liquidators."

(Operations of Board of Liquidators)
Article 490 (1) A board of liquidators meeting shall be convened by each liquidator; provided, however, that, if the liquidator who convenes the board of liquidators meeting is prescribed by the articles of incorporation or the board of liquidators, such liquidator shall convene the meeting.
(2) In the case provided for in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, liquidators other than the liquidator prescribed under the provision of the proviso to that paragraph (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Convener") may request the Convener that the Convener convene the board of liquidators meeting by indicating to the Convener the matters that are the purpose of the board of liquidators meeting.
(3) In cases where the Convener fails to send, within five days from the day of the request under the provisions of preceding paragraph, any notice of convocation of a board of liquidators meeting that specifies a day falling within two weeks from the day of that request as the day of the board of liquidators meeting, the liquidators who made that request may convene the board of liquidators meeting.
(4) The provisions of Article 367 and Article 368 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the convocation of the board of liquidators meeting at a Company with Board of Liquidators. In such cases, in paragraph (1) of Article 367, "a Company with Company Auditor(s), Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee and Company with Nominating Committee, etc." shall be read as "a Company with Company Auditor(s)," and "any director" shall be read as "any liquidator"; in paragraph (2) of said Article, "to the directors (or to the Convener in the case provided for in the proviso to paragraph (1) of the preceding Article)" shall be read as "to the liquidators (or to the Convener provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 490 in the case provided for in the proviso to paragraph (1) of that Article)"; in paragraph (3) and paragraph (4) of said Article, "paragraph (3) of the preceding Article" shall be read as "paragraph (3) of Article 490"; in paragraph (1) of Article 368, "each director" shall be read as "each liquidator"; and in paragraph (2) of said Article, "directors (or" shall be read as "liquidators (or," and "directors and" shall be read as "liquidators and."
(5) The provisions of Article 369 through Article 371 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the resolution of board of liquidators in Companies with Board of Liquidators. In such cases, in paragraph (1) of Article 369, the words "of the directors" shall be read as "of the liquidators"; in paragraph (2) of said Article, "Directors" shall be read as "Liquidators"; in paragraph (3) of said Article, "directors and" shall be read as "liquidators and"; in paragraph (5) of said Article, "Directors who" shall be read as "Liquidators who"; in Article 370, "directors submit" shall be read as "liquidators submit" and "directors (" shall be read as "liquidators ("; in paragraph (3) of Article 371, "a Company with Company Auditor(s), Company with Audit and Supervisory Committee, and Company with Nominating Committee, etc." shall be read as "a Company with Company Auditor(s)"; and in paragraph (4) of said Article, "officers or executive officers" shall be read as "liquidators or Company Auditors."
(6) The provisions of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 372 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the report to board of liquidators at a Company with Board of Liquidators. In such cases, in paragraph (1) of Article 372, the words "the directors, accounting advisors, company auditors or financial auditors" shall be read as "liquidators or company auditors," "directors (" shall be read as "liquidators (" and "directors and" shall be read as "liquidators and"; and in paragraph (2) of Article 372, the words "paragraph (2) of Article 363" shall be read as "paragraph (2) of Article 363 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (8) of Article 489";
Division 5 Application of Provisions regarding Directors and Others
Article 491 With respect to Liquidating Stock Companies, out of the provisions in Chapter II (excluding Article 155), Chapter III, Section 1 of Chapter IV, paragraph (2) of Article 335, paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 343, paragraph (3) of Article 345 applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (4) of that Article, Article 359, Section 7 and Section 8 of Chapter IV and Chapter VII, provisions regarding directors, representative directors, board of directors or Company with Board of Directors shall apply to liquidators, representative liquidators, board of liquidators or Company with Board of Liquidators as provisions regarding liquidators, representative liquidators, board of liquidators or Company with Board of Liquidators, respectively.
Subsection 3 Property Inventories

(Preparation of Inventory of Property)
Article 492 (1) Liquidators (or, for Companies with Board of Liquidators, liquidators listed in each item of paragraph (7) of Article 489) must investigate the current status of the assets of the Liquidating Stock Companies and prepare, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, the inventory of property and the balance sheet as of the day when the Liquidating Stock Companies has fallen under any of the cases listed in each item of Article 475 (hereinafter in this Article and following Article referred to as "Inventory of Property"), without delay after assuming the office.
(2) At a Company with Board of Liquidators, the Inventory of Property must be approved by the board of liquidators.
(3) Liquidators must submit or provide the Inventory of Property (or, in cases where the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply, the Inventory of Property approved under that paragraph) to the shareholders meeting and obtain the approval of the same.
(4) A Liquidating Stock Company must retain its Inventory of Property from the time of the preparation of such Inventory of Property until the registration completion of the liquidation at the location of its head office.

(Order to Submit Inventory of Property)
Article 493 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order the parties to a lawsuit to submit the Inventory of Property, in whole or in part.

(Preparation and Retention of Balance Sheet)
Article 494 (1) A Liquidating Stock Company must prepare a balance sheet and administration report for each liquidation year (referring to each one year period starting on the day immediately following the day when the Liquidating Stock Companies has fallen under any of the cases listed in each item of Article 475 or the anniversary of that day of the subsequent years (or, in cases where such anniversary does not exist, the immediately preceding day)) as well as annexed detailed statements to accompany them, as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) The balance sheet, administration reports, and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in the preceding paragraph may be prepared as electronic or magnetic records.
(3) A Liquidating Stock Company must retain its balance sheet under paragraph (1) and the annexed detailed statements accompanying it from the time of the preparation of such balance sheet until the registration of the completion of the liquidation at the location of its head office.

(Audit of Balance Sheet)
Article 495 (1) Companies with Company Auditors (including Liquidating Stock Companies which have the provisions of the articles of incorporation to the effect that the scope of the audit shall be limited to accounting audit) must have the balance sheet, administration reports, and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article audited by Company Auditors pursuant to the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) Companies with Board of Liquidators must have the balance sheet, administration report, and annexed detailed statements accompanying them which are referred to in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (or, in cases where the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply, those which have been audited as provided for in the preceding paragraph) approved by the board of liquidators.

(Keeping and Inspection of Balance Sheet)
Article 496 (1) Liquidating Stock Companies must keep the balance sheet and administration report regarding each liquidating administrative year provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 494, as well as annexed detailed statements accompanying them (including, in cases where the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article apply, audit reports, hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Balance Sheet") at its head office from the day preceding the day of the annual shareholders meeting (or, in the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 319, from the day when the proposal under that paragraph is submitted) until the registration of the completion of the liquidation at the location of its head office.
(2) Shareholders and creditors may make the following request at any time during the business hours of the Liquidating Stock Company; provided, however, that the expense prescribed by such Liquidating Stock Company must be paid in order to make the request listed in item (ii) or item (iv):
(i) If the Balance Sheet is prepared in writing, request to inspect such documents;
(ii) A request for the issuance of a transcript or extract of the documents referred to in the preceding item;
(iii) If the Balance Sheet has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record; or
(iv) A request to be provided with the information recorded in the electronic or magnetic record referred to in the preceding item by an electronic or magnetic means that the Liquidating Stock Company has designated, or a request to be issued a document showing that information.
(3) If it is necessary for a Member of the Parent Company of a Liquidating Stock Company to exercise such member's rights, such member may, with the permission of the court, make the requests listed in each item of the preceding paragraph with respect to the Balance Sheet of such Liquidating Stock Company; provided, however, that the expenses prescribed by such Liquidating Stock Company must be paid in order to make the requests listed in item (ii) or item (iv) of that paragraph.

(Provision of Balance Sheet to Annual Shareholders Meeting)
Article 497 (1) At Liquidating Stock Company listed in the following items, liquidators must submit or provide the Balance Sheet and administration reports provided for in each such item to the annual shareholders meeting:
(i) Companies with Company Auditors (excluding Companies with Board of Liquidators) provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 495: The Balance Sheets and administration reports that have been audited under that paragraph;
(ii) Companies with Board of Liquidators: The Balance Sheets and administration reports that have been approved pursuant to paragraph (2) of Article 495; and
(iii) Liquidating Stock Companies other than those listed in the preceding two items: The Balance Sheets and administration reports under paragraph (1) of Article 494.
(2) Balance Sheets that have been submitted or provided pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must be approved by the annual shareholders meeting.
(3) Directors must report the contents of the administration reports submitted or provided pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) to the annual shareholders meeting.

(Order to Submit Balance Sheet)
Article 498 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order the parties to a lawsuit to submit Balance Sheets under paragraph (1) of Article 194 and the annexed detailed statements accompanying them, in whole or in part.
Subsection 4 Performance of Obligations

(Public Notices to Creditors)
Article 499 (1) A Liquidating Stock Company must, without delay after having fallen under each item of Article 475, give public notice in the Official Gazette to the creditors of such Liquidating Stock Companies to the effect that creditors should state their claims during a certain period of time and must give such notices separately to each known creditor, if any; provided, however, that such period cannot be less than two months.
(2) The public notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must contain a notation to the effect that such creditors shall be excluded from the liquidation unless they state their claims during such period of time.

(Restrictions on Performance of Obligations)
Article 500 (1) A Liquidating Stock Company cannot perform its obligations during the period of time under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. In such cases, a Liquidating Stock Company cannot be exempted from the liability arising from its failure to perform.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, even during the period of time under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a Liquidating Stock Company may, with the permission of the court, perform its obligations relating to claims of minor claims, claims secured by security interests over the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company, or other claims unlikely to be detrimental to other creditors even if performed. In such cases, if there are two or more liquidators, the petition for such permission must be made with the consent of all of the liquidators.

(Performance of Obligations relating to Conditional Claims)
Article 501 (1) A Liquidating Stock Company may perform its obligations relating to conditional claims, claims of indeterminate duration or other claims of indeterminable amount. In such cases, a petition for the appointment of an appraiser must be filed to the court in order to have such claims evaluated.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, a Liquidating Stock Company must perform its obligations relating to the claims under that paragraph in accordance with the evaluations by the appraiser under that paragraph.
(3) Any expense for the procedures for the appointment of the appraiser under paragraph (1) shall be borne by the Liquidating Stock Company. The same shall apply to the expense for the summonses and questions for the purpose of the appraiser's appraisal.

(Restrictions on Distribution of Residual Assets before Performance of Obligations)
Article 502 A Liquidating Stock Company cannot distribute its property to its shareholders until after performance of the obligations of such Liquidating Stock Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where assets regarded as necessary for the performance of obligations relating to a claim that is the subject of dispute as to its existence or otherwise or as to its amount have been withheld.

(Exclusion from Liquidation)
Article 503 (1) Creditors of a Liquidating Stock Company (excluding known creditors) who fail to state their claims during the period under paragraph (1) of Article 499 shall be excluded from the liquidation.
(2) Creditors who are excluded from the liquidation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may demand the performance with respect to the residual assets that are not distributed.
(3) In cases where residual assets of a Liquidating Stock Company have been distributed to some shareholders, the assets necessary for the distribution to shareholders other than such shareholders in the same proportion as that applied for the distribution received by such shareholders shall be deducted from the residual assets under the preceding paragraph.
Subsection 5 Distribution of Residual Assets

(Determination of Matters regarding Distribution of Residual Assets)
Article 504 (1) If a Liquidating Stock Company intends to distribute its residual assets, it must prescribe the following matters by decision of liquidators (or, for a Company with Board of Liquidators, by resolution of the board of liquidators):
(i) Kind of residual assets; and
(ii) Matters regarding the allotment of residual assets to shareholders.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if two or more classes of shares with different features as to the distribution of residual assets are issued, the Liquidating Stock Company may prescribe the following matters as the matters listed in item (ii) of that paragraph in accordance with the features of such classes of shares:
(i) If there is any arrangement that no residual assets will be allotted to the shareholders of a certain class of shares, a statement to that effect and such class of shares;
(ii) In addition to the matter listed in the preceding item, if there is an arrangement that each class of shares shall be treated differently with respect to allotment of residual assets, a statement to that effect and the details of such different treatment.
(3) The provisions regarding the matters listed in item (ii) of paragraph (1) must stipulate that the residual assets will be allotted in proportion to the number of the shares (or, in cases where there is a provision with respect to the matters listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph, the number of the shares of each class) held by the shareholders (excluding the relevant Liquidating Stock Company and shareholders of the class of shares referred to in item (i) of the preceding paragraph).

(Cases where Residual Assets Consist of Property Other Than Monies)
Article 505 (1) If residual assets consist of property other than monies, shareholders shall have the right to demand distribution of monies (hereinafter in this Article referring to the rights to demand that the Liquidating Stock Company deliver monies in lieu of such residual assets). In such cases, the Liquidating Stock Company must prescribe the following matters by resolution of liquidators (or, for a Company with Board of Liquidators, by resolution of board of liquidators):
(i) The period during which rights to demand distribution of monies can be exercised; and
(ii) If there is any arrangement that no residual assets shall be allotted to shareholders who hold less than certain number of shares, a statement to that effect and that number.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Liquidating Stock Company must notify the shareholders of the matters listed in item (i) of that paragraph no later than 20 days prior to the last day of the period referred to such item.
(3) A Liquidating Stock Company must pay to shareholders who exercised rights to demand distribution of monies, in lieu of the residual assets allotted to such shareholders, monies equivalent to the value of such residual assets. In such cases, the amount provided for in each of the following items for the case categories listed in each such item shall be the value of such residual assets:
(i) In cases where such residual assets consist of property with a market price: The amount calculated in a manner prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the market price of such residual assets;
(ii) In cases other than those listed in the preceding item: The amount determined by the court in response to the petition by the Liquidating Stock Company.

(Treatment in case Base Number of Shares is Provided)
Article 506 In cases where the number in item (ii), paragraph (1) of the preceding Article (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Minimum Number of Shares") is prescribed, a Liquidating Stock Company must pay to the shareholders who hold shares in a number less than the Minimum Number of Shares (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Below Minimum Shareholding") the monies equivalent to the amount which is obtained by multiplying the amount prescribed as the value of the residual assets allotted to the shareholders who hold shares in the Minimum Number of Shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article by the ratio of the number shares in such Below Minimum Shareholding to the Minimum Number of Shares.
Subsection 6 Conclusion of Liquidation
Article 507 (1) If the administration of a liquidation has concluded, the Liquidating Stock Company must prepare the settlement of accounts pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice without delay.
(2) At a Company with Board of Liquidators, the settlement of accounts must be approved by the board of liquidators.
(3) Liquidators must submit or provide the settlement of accounts (or, in cases where the provisions of the preceding paragraph apply, the settlement of accounts approved under that paragraph) to the shareholders meeting and obtain the approval of the same.
(4) If the approval is given under the preceding paragraph, an exemption shall be deemed to have been given for the liquidators' liability for failure to perform their duties; provided, however, that this shall not apply if there has been misconduct regarding the execution of the liquidators' duties.
Subsection 7 Retention of Accounting Materials
Article 508 (1) A Liquidator (or, for a Company with Board of Liquidators, the liquidators listed in each item of paragraph (7) of Article 489) must retain the books of the Liquidating Stock Company as well as any material data regarding the business and liquidation of the same (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Accounting Materials") for a period of ten years from the time of the registration of the completion of the liquidation at the location of head office of the Liquidating Stock Company.
(2) The court may, in response to the petition by the interested parties, appoint a person to act on behalf of the liquidator in the preceding paragraph in retaining the Accounting Materials. In such cases, the provisions of that paragraph shall not apply.
(3) The person appointed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must retain the Accounting Materials for a period of ten years from the time of the registration of the completion of the liquidation at the location of head office of the Liquidating Stock Company.
(4) Expenses regarding the procedures for the appointment under the provisions of paragraph (2) shall be borne by the Liquidating Stock Company.
Subsection 8 Exceptions to Application
Article 509 (1) The provisions listed below shall not apply to Liquidating Stock Companies:
(i) Article 155;
(ii) In Chapter V, Subsection 2 (excluding paragraph (4) of Article 435, paragraph (3) of Article 440, Article 442 and Article 443) and Subsection 3 of Section 2 as well as Section 3 through Section 5; and
(iii) In Chapter IV and Chapter V of Part V, portions relating to the procedures of Share Exchange and Share Transfer.
(2) The provisions of Chapter II, Section 4-2 shall not apply to cases where a Subject Company is a Liquidating Stock Company.
(3) A Liquidating Stock Company may acquire the shares of such Liquidating Stock Company, limited to cases where acquisition is effected without consideration or in other cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
Section 2 Special Liquidations
Subsection 1 Commencement of Special Liquidations

(Cause of Commencement of Special Liquidation)
Article 510 If the court finds that the grounds listed below exist with respect to a Liquidating Stock Company, it shall order such Liquidating Stock Company to commence special liquidation in response to the filing under the provisions of Article 514:
(i) The existence of circumstances prejudicial to the implementation of the liquidation; or
(ii) The suspicion that the Liquidating Stock Company is insolvent (hereinafter in this Article and in paragraph (2) of the following Article referring to the status where the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company is not sufficient to fully discharge its debts).

(Petition for Commencement of Special Liquidation)
Article 511 (1) Creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors or shareholders may file a petition for the commencement of special liquidation.
(2) If it is suspected that a Liquidating Stock Company is insolvent, liquidators must file a petition for the commencement of the special liquidation.

(Order to Suspend Other Procedures)
Article 512 (1) In cases where a petition is filed for the commencement of a special liquidation, if the court finds it necessary, it may, at the petition of the creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors, or shareholders, or ex officio, order that the following procedures or process be suspended until a decision is reached with respect to the petition for the commencement of special liquidation; provided, however, that, with respect to the bankruptcy procedures listed in item (i), this shall be limited to cases where the ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures has not yet been issued, and with respect to the procedures listed in item (ii) or the disposition listed in item (iii), this shall be limited to cases where the creditors petitioning for such procedures or the persons carrying out the process are not likely to suffer undue loss:
(i) Bankruptcy procedures in respect of the Liquidating Stock Company; or
(ii) Procedures for a compulsory execution, provisional attachment or provisional disposition (excluding those based on general liens or other claims that have general priority) that is already being effected in respect of the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company.
(iii) A disposition effected in the same way as a disposition of assets due to national tax delinquency, which is based on a claim in respect of foreign taxes subject to mutual assistance (meaning foreign taxes subject to mutual assistance as prescribed in Article 11, paragraph (1) of the Act on Special Provisions of the Income Tax Act, the Corporation Tax Act, and the Local Tax Act Attendant upon the Enforcement of Tax Treaties (Act No. 46 of 1969; in Article 518-2 and 571, paragraph (4) referred to as the "Act on Special Provisions for the Enforcement of Tax Treaties"); hereinafter the same shall apply), and which is already being effected against the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company (in Article 515, paragraph (1) referred to as a "Disposition of Assets Due to Foreign Tax Delinquency").
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall also apply if an immediate appeal as referred to in paragraph (5) of Article 890 is filed against a ruling to dismiss the petition for the commencement of special liquidation.

(Restrictions on Withdrawal of Petition for Commencement of Special Liquidation)
Article 513 A person who filed a petition for the commencement of special liquidation may withdraw such petition limited to if it is before the order to commence special liquidation. In such cases, the permission of the court must be obtained if it is after an order to suspend has been issued pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a provisional order has been issued pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 540 or a disposition has been effected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 541.

(Order to Commence Special Liquidation)
Article 514 In cases where a petition for the commencement of special liquidation has been filed, if the court finds that there are grounds that warrant the commencement of special liquidation, the court shall order the commencement of special liquidation, except in cases falling under any of the following:
(i) If no advance has been made for the expense for the special liquidation procedures;
(ii) If it is clear that there is no expectation of the completion of the liquidation, even by special liquidation;
(iii) If it is clear that invoking the special liquidation is contrary to the general interest of creditors; or
(iv) If the petition for the commencement of special liquidation has been filed with improper purpose, or the petition was otherwise not filed in good faith.

(Suspension of Other Procedures)
Article 515 (1) If an order to commence special liquidation is issued, a petition may not be filed for commencement of bankruptcy procedures, a compulsory execution, provisional attachment, provisional disposition or Disposition of Assets Due to Foreign Tax Delinquency, against the assets of a Liquidating Stock Company, nor for property disclosure procedures (limited to those in response to a petition under paragraph (1) of Article 197 of the Civil Execution Act (Act No. 4 of 1979); hereinafter the same shall apply in this paragraph), and any bankruptcy procedures (limited to those in respect of which a ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures has not yet been issued), compulsory execution, provisional attachment, or provisional disposition procedures, or Disposition of Assets Due to Foreign Tax Delinquency already being effected against the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company, as well as any property disclosure procedures, shall be suspended; provided, however, that this shall not apply with respect to a compulsory execution, provisional attachment, provisional disposition, or property disclosure procedures pursuant to general liens or other claims that have general priority.
(2) If an order to commence special liquidation has become final and binding, any procedures or dispositions suspended pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall become ineffective in relation to the procedures for the special liquidation.
(3) If an order to commence special liquidation is issued, the period of prescription shall not be completed with respect to the claims of creditors of the Liquidating Stock Company (excluding general liens and other claims that have general priority, claims arising against the Liquidating Stock Company due to special liquidation procedures, and claims against the Liquidating Stock Company for expenses in connection with special liquidation procedure; hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Agreement Claims") until the day on which two months have elapsed since the day of the registration of the rescission of the commencement of special liquidation or since the day of the registration of conclusion of special liquidation provided for in item (ii) or item (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 938.

(Order to Suspend Procedures to Enforce Security Interests)
Article 516 In cases where the court issues an order to commence special liquidation, the court may, in response to a petition by the liquidators, Company Auditors, creditors or shareholders or ex officio, prescribing a reasonable period of time, order the suspension of procedures to enforce a security interest if the court finds that it suits the general interests of the creditors and those who petitioned for the procedures to enforce the security interest (hereinafter in this Article referring to procedures to enforce the security interest the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company, procedures to enforce charge on whole company assets or compulsory execution procedures based on the general liens and other claims that have general priority that have already been enforced against the assets of the Liquidating Stock Company) are not likely to suffer undue loss.

(Prohibition of Set-offs)
Article 517 (1) Creditors who hold Agreement Claims (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Agreement Claim Creditors") may not effect set-offs in the cases listed below:
(i) If such creditors assumed debts owed to the Liquidating Stock Company after the commencement of special liquidation;
(ii) If such creditor assumed debts owed to the Liquidating Stock Company after the Liquidating Stock Company became unable to pay its debts (hereinafter in this Subsection referring to the status under which, due to its lack of capacity to pay, the Liquidating Stock Company is generally and continuously unable to pay debts that are due) by entering into contracts with the Liquidating Stock Company under which assets of the Liquidating Stock Company are to be disposed of for the purpose of offsetting obligations the creditors assume under the contract exclusively against the Agreement Claims or by entering into contracts under which the creditors assume obligations of a person who owes the obligations to the Liquidating Stock Company, and creditors had the knowledge at the time of executing such contracts that the Liquidating Stock Company was unable to pay debts;
(iii) If, in cases where they assumed debts after suspension of payment, they had the knowledge at the time of such assumption of debt that payments had been suspended; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Liquidating Stock Company was not insolvent at the time of such suspension of payments; or
(iv) If, in cases where such creditors assumed debts after the commencement of special liquidation, they had the knowledge at the time of such assumption that the petition for commencement of special liquidation had been filed.
(2) The provisions of item (ii) through item (iv) of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in cases where the assumption of debt pursuant to the provisions of those provisions is based on any of the causes listed below:
(i) Statutory causes;
(ii) Causes in existence before the Agreement Claim Creditors acquired the knowledge that the Liquidating Stock Company was unable to pay debts, or the petition for suspension of payments or commencement of special liquidation had been filed; or
(iii) Causes that accrued one year or more before the petition for the commencement of special liquidation was filed.
Article 518 (1) Creditors who owe debts to a Liquidating Stock Company cannot effect the set-off in the cases listed below:
(i) If such creditors acquired Agreement Claims of others after the commencement of special liquidation;
(ii) If, in cases where such creditors acquired Agreement Claims after Liquidating Stock Company became unable to pay debts, they had the knowledge that the Liquidating Stock Company was unable to pay debts at the time of the acquisition of the Agreement Claims;
(iii) If, in cases where such creditors acquired Agreement Claims after the suspension of payment, they had the knowledge that there was suspension of payment at the time of the acquisition of the same; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Liquidating Stock Company was not unable to pay debts at the time of such suspension of payment;
(iv) If, in cases where such creditors acquired Agreement Claims after the petition for commencement of special liquidation, they had the knowledge that the commencement of special liquidation had been filed at the time of the acquisition of the Agreement Claims.
(2) The provisions under items (ii) through (iv) of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in cases where the acquisition of the Agreement Claims provided for in those provisions is based on any of the causes listed below:
(i) Statutory causes;
(ii) Causes in existence before the persons who assumed debts owed to the Liquidating Stock Company acquired the knowledge that the Liquidating Stock Company was unable to pay debts, or that a petition for suspension of payments or commencement of special liquidation was filed; or
(iii) Causes that accrued one year or more before the petition for the commencement of special liquidation was filed; or
(iv) Contracts between the persons who assume debts owed to the Liquidating Stock Company and the Liquidating Stock Company.

(Participation in Procedures by Parties with a Claim in Respect of Foreign Taxes Subject to Mutual Assistance)
Article 518-2 In order to participate in special liquidation procedures based on a claim in respect of foreign taxes subject to mutual assistance, an Agreement Claim Creditor holding such a claim must obtain a decision to implement mutual assistance as prescribed in paragraph (1) of Article 11 of the Act on Special Provisions for the Enforcement of Tax Treaties.
Subsection 2 Supervision and Investigations by the Court

(Supervision by the Court)
Article 519 (1) If an order to commence special liquidation is issued, the liquidation of the Liquidating Stock Company shall be subject to supervisions by the court.
(2) If the court finds it necessary, it may seek a statement of opinion with respect to procedures for the special liquidation of such Liquidating Stock Company from the government agency that supervises the business of the Liquidating Stock Company, or entrust the investigations to the same.
(3) The government agency under the preceding paragraph may state its opinion with respect to the procedures for special liquidation of such Liquidating Stock Company to the court.

(Investigations by the Court)
Article 520 The Court may at any time order a Liquidating Stock Company to report the status of its administration of the liquidation and assets, or otherwise conduct investigations that are necessary for the supervision of the liquidation.

(Submission of Inventory of Property to the Court)
Article 521 In cases where an order to commence special liquidation is issued, the Liquidating Stock Company must, without delay after the approval under paragraph (3) of Article 492 is given, submit the Inventory of Property (hereinafter referring to the Inventory of Property provided for in that paragraph); provided, however, that, if the Inventory of Property has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a document showing the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record must be submitted to the court.

(Order to Investigate)
Article 522 (1) If the court finds it necessary after the commencement of special liquidation considering the status of the assets of a Liquidating Stock Company, it may effect the disposition ordering that the matters listed below be investigated by investigators (hereinafter in Article 533 referred to as "Investigation Order") in response to a petition by liquidators, Company Auditors, creditors who have claims equivalent to one tenth or more of the total amount of the claims of creditors that have stated their claims and other creditors known to the Liquidating Stock Company, or shareholders who have held, for the consecutive period of past six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period), not less than three hundredths (3/100) of the voting rights of all shareholders (excluding the shareholders that cannot exercise voting rights on all matters on which resolutions can be passed at the shareholders meeting; or, in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or shareholders who have held, for the consecutive period of past six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period), not less than three hundredths (3/100) of the Issued Shares (excluding treasury shares; or, in cases where a lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) or ex officio:
(i) Circumstances that resulted in the commencement of special liquidation;
(ii) Status of the business and assets of the Liquidating Stock Company;
(iii) Whether or not it is necessary to issue the provisional order pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 540; or
(iv) Whether or not it is necessary to issue the provisional order pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 542;
(v) Whether or not it is necessary to make the Ruling Evaluating Subject Officers' Liability provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 545; or
(vi) Other matters necessary for special liquidation specified by the court.
(2) The amounts of the claims in relation to which creditors who hold security interest (limited to special liens, pledges, mortgages or rights of retention provided for in the provisions of this Act or Commercial Code) with respect to the assets of a Liquidating Stock Company are entitled to payment by exercising those security interests shall not be included in the amount of the claims under the preceding paragraph.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) to Liquidating Stock Companies that are not Public Companies, the words "have held, for the consecutive period of six months or more (or, in cases where a shorter period is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such period)," in that paragraph shall be read as "hold."
Subsection 3 Liquidators

(Liquidators' Duty of Fairness and Good Faith)
Article 523 In cases where special liquidation is commenced, liquidators shall assume the duty to perform the liquidation administration in fairness and good faith in relation to creditors, the Liquidating Stock Company and shareholders.

(Dismissal of Liquidators)
Article 524 (1) The court may dismiss liquidators in response to the petition by creditors or shareholders or ex officio if the liquidators do not perform the liquidation administration properly or there otherwise are significant grounds to do so.
(2) The court shall appoint liquidators if there is any vacancy in the office of liquidator.
(3) Even in cases where there are liquidators in office, the court may appoint additional liquidators if the court finds it necessary.

(Liquidators' Agents)
Article 525 (1) If necessary, liquidators may appoint one or more liquidators' agents at their own responsibility to cause them perform the duties of the liquidators.
(2) Permission of the court must be obtained with respect to the appointment of agents of liquidators under the preceding paragraph.

(Remuneration of Liquidators)
Article 526 (1) Liquidators may receive advance payment of the expense, and remuneration determined by the court.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators' agents.
Subsection 4 Supervisor

(Appointment of Supervisors)
Article 527 (1) The court may appoint one or more supervisors and grant to such supervisors the authority to give consent in lieu of the permission under paragraph (1) of Article 535.
(2) Juridical persons may act as supervisors.

(Supervision over Supervisors)
Article 528 (1) The court shall supervise supervisors.
(2) The court may dismiss supervisors in response to the petition by interested parties or ex officio if the supervisors fail to supervise the management of the business and assets of the Liquidating Stock Company properly or there otherwise are significant grounds to do so.

(Performance of Duties by Two or more Supervisors)
Article 529 If there are two or more supervisors, they shall perform their duties jointly; provided, however, that they may perform their duties individually or divide their duties, with the permission of the court.

(Investigations by Supervisors)
Article 530 (1) Supervisors may at any time ask liquidators and Company Auditors of a Liquidating Stock Company and employees, including managers, to provide a report on the business, or investigate the status of the business and property of the Liquidating Stock Company.
(2) Supervisors may, when it is necessary to perform their duties, ask Subsidiaries of a Liquidating Stock Company to provide reports on the business, or investigate the status of the business and assets of Subsidiaries of the Liquidating Stock Company.

(Supervisors' Duty of Care)
Article 531 (1) Supervisors must perform their duties with due care of a prudent manager.
(2) If supervisors fail to exercise the due care under the preceding paragraph, those supervisors shall be jointly and severally liable to compensate losses arising in interested parties.

(Remunerations of Supervisors)
Article 532 (1) Supervisors may receive advance payment of the expense, and remunerations determined by the court.
(2) Supervisors must obtain the permission of the court if, after their appointment, they transfer, or transferred claims owed by the Liquidating Stock Company or shares in the Liquidating Stock Company.
(3) Supervisors cannot receive payment of expense or remuneration if they engage in the acts provided for in the preceding paragraph without the permission under the preceding paragraph.
Subsection 5 Investigators

(Appointment of Investigators)
Article 533 In cases where the court issues an Investigation Order, it must appoint one or more investigating members in such Investigation Order, and prescribe the matters that the investigators ought to investigate and the period in which the investigators are to report the outcome of the investigation to the court.

(Mutatis Mutandis Application of Provisions on Supervisors)
Article 534 The provisions of the preceding Subsection (excluding paragraph (1) of Article 527 and proviso to Article 529) shall apply mutatis mutandis to supervisors.
Subsection 6 Restrictions on Acts of Liquidating Stock Companies

(Restrictions on Acts of Liquidating Stock Companies)
Article 535 (1) In cases where an order is issued for the commencement of special liquidation, a Liquidating Stock Company must obtain the permission of the court in order to carry out the acts listed below; provided, however, that, if supervisors are appointed under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 527, consent of the supervisors must be obtained in lieu of that permission:
(i) The disposal of an asset (excluding the act listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the following Article);
(ii) The taking out of a loan;
(iii) The filing of an action;
(iv) A settlement or the entering in an arbitration agreement (referring to the arbitration agreement provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 2 of the Arbitration Act (Act No. 138 of 2003));
(v) A waiver of rights; or
(vi) Other acts designated by the court.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the permission under that paragraph is not required with respect to the act listed in items (i) through (v) of that paragraph in the cases listed below:
(i) If the act is related to an act that involves the amount equivalent to or less than the amount provided for in the Supreme Court Rules; or
(ii) If, in addition to the act listed in the preceding item, the act relates to an act for which the court has held that the permission under the preceding paragraph is not required.
(3) Any act committed without the permission under paragraph (1) or consent of supervisors in lieu thereof shall be ineffective; provided, however, that the above provision may not be asserted against a third party in good faith.

(Restrictions on Transfer, etc. of Business)
Article 536 (1) In cases where an order for commencement of special liquidation is issued, if a Liquidating Stock Company intends to carry out any act listed below, it must obtain the permission of the court:
(i) Transfer of the entire business; or
(ii) Transfer of significant part of the business (excluding the transfer in which the book value of the assets to be transferred by such transfer does not exceed one fifth (1/5) (or, in cases where any lower proportion is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the total amount of the assets of such Stock Company);
(iii) Transfer of all or part of shares or equity interests of the Subsidiary (limited to transfer in cases falling under all of the following):
(a) In cases where the book value of shares or equity interests to be transferred by said transfer exceeds one-fifth (1/5) (in cases where any proportion less than that is provided for in the articles of incorporation, such proportion) of the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the total assets of said Liquidating Stock Company; and
(b) In cases where said Liquidating Stock Company does not have a majority of the total votes of said Subsidiary on the Effective Day.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the acts committed without the permission under the preceding paragraph.
(3) The provisions of Chapter VII (excluding item (v), paragraph (1) of Article 467) shall not apply to the cases of special liquidation.

(Restrictions on Performance of Obligations)
Article 537 (1) In cases where an order is issued for commencement of special liquidation, a Liquidating Stock Company must perform obligations to Agreement Claim Creditors in proportion to the amount of their claims.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Liquidating Stock Company may, with the permission of the court, perform its obligations relating to minor claims, claims secured by security interests, or other claims that are unlikely to be detrimental to other creditors even if performed in excess of the proportion of the amount of the claims.

(Method of Conversion into Cash)
Article 538 (1) A Liquidating Stock Company may convert its assets into cash pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Execution Act and other laws and regulations on compulsory execution procedures. In such cases, the provisions of item (i), paragraph (1) of Article 535 shall not apply.
(2) A Liquidating Stock Company may convert the assets that underlie the security interest provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522 (hereinafter in this Article and in the following Article simply referred to as "Security Interest") into cash pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Execution Act and other laws and regulations on compulsory execution procedures. In such cases, a person who holds such Security Interest (hereinafter in this Article and in the following Article simply referred to as "Security Interest Holder") may not refuse the conversion into cash.
(3) In the cases of the preceding two paragraphs, the provisions of Article 63 and Article 129 of the Civil Execution Act (including the cases where those provisions are applied mutatis mutandis under that act and other laws and regulations on compulsory execution procedures) shall not apply.
(4) If, in the case of paragraph (2), the amount that the Security Interest Holder is to receive is not fixed yet, the Liquidating Stock Company must deposit the proceeds separately. In such cases, the security interest shall exist with respect to the proceeds so deposited.

(Designating Periods for Disposition by Security Interest Holders)
Article 539 (1) If Security Interest Holders have the right to dispose of the assets that underlie the security interest without relying on the method prescribed by the Act, the court may, in response to the petition by the Liquidating Stock Company, specify the period during which the Security Interest Holders ought to effect the disposition.
(2) Security Interest Holders shall lose their right under the preceding paragraph if they do not effect disposition during the period under the preceding paragraph.
Subsection 7 Dispositions Necessary to Supervise Liquidation

(Provisional Order regarding Assets of Liquidating Stock Company)
Article 540 (1) In cases where an order is issued for commencement of special liquidation, if the court finds it necessary to supervise the liquidation, the court may, in response to a petition by the creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors or shareholders or ex officio, order a provisional disposition prohibiting the disposal of the property of the Liquidating Stock Company, or issue any other necessary provisional orders.
(2) Even during the period from the time when a petition for commencement of special liquidation is filed to the time when a ruling is handed down on such petition, if the court finds it necessary, the court may, at the petition of the creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors or shareholders or ex officio, issue a provisional orders under the provisions of the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply if an immediate appeal in paragraph (5) of Article 890 is filed against the ruling to dismiss the petition for the commencement of special liquidation.
(3) In cases where the court issues a provisional order under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs that prohibits the Liquidating Stock Company from paying its creditors or taking any other action to extinguish its obligations to them, the creditors may not, in relation to the special liquidation, assert the validity of any payment or other action extinguishing those obligations which is in contravention of that provisional order; provided, however, that this is limited to if the creditor knows that the provisional order has been issued at the time of that action.

(No Entry in Shareholder Register)
Article 541 (1) In cases where an order is issued for commencement of special liquidation, if the court finds that it is necessary to supervise the liquidation, the court, at the petition of the creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors or shareholders or ex officio, may prohibit a Liquidating Stock Company from entering or recording in the shareholder register any Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Shareholder Register.
(2) Even during the period from the time when a petition for commencement of special liquidation is filed to the time when a ruling is handed down on such petition, if the court finds it necessary, the court may, in response to the petitions by the creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors or shareholders or ex officio, effect the disposition under the provisions of the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply if immediate appeal under paragraph (5) of Article 890 is filed against the ruling to dismiss the petition for the commencement of special liquidation.

(Provisional Order on Property of Officers)
Article 542 (1) In cases where an order for commencement of special liquidation is issued, if the court finds it necessary to supervise the liquidation, the court may, with respect to rights to seek damages pursuant to the liability of the incorporators, Directors at Incorporation, Company Auditors at Incorporation, Officers, etc. provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 423 or liquidators (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Subject Officers"), in response to the petition by the Liquidating Stock Company or ex officio, effect provisional orders against the assets of such Subject Officers.
(2) Even during the period from the time when a petition for commencement of special liquidation is filed to the time when a ruling is made with respect to such petition, if the court finds it urgently necessary, the court may, at the petition of the Liquidating Stock Company or ex officio, issue a provisional order under the provisions of the preceding paragraph. The same shall apply if immediate appeal in paragraph (5) of Article 890 is filed against the ruling to dismiss a petition for the commencement of special liquidation.

(Prohibition of Exemptions from Liability of Officers)
Article 543 In cases where an order is issued for commencement of special liquidation, if the court finds it necessary to supervise the liquidation, the court may, in response to the petitions by the creditors, liquidators, Company Auditors or shareholders or ex officio, effect the disposition that prohibits the exemption of liability of the Subject Officers.

(Rescission of Exemption from Liability of Officers)
Article 544 (1) If an order is issued for commencement of special liquidation, a Liquidating Stock Company may rescind the exemption of liability of Subject Officers effected within one year prior to or after the time when the petition for commencement of special liquidation was filed. The same shall apply with respect to the exemption from the liability of Subject Officers that effected for improper purpose.
(2) The rights of rescission under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be exercised by filing an action or defense.
(3) The rights of rescission under the provisions of paragraph (1) cannot be exercised when two years have lapsed from the day when the order was issued for the commencement of special liquidation. The same shall apply if twenty years have elapsed from the day when Subject Officers was exempted from liability.

(Ruling Evaluating Subject Officers' Liability)
Article 545 (1) In cases where an order is issued for commencement of special liquidation, if the court finds it necessary, the court may, in response to the petition by the Liquidating Stock Company or ex officio, pass judgment evaluating the rights to seek damages pursuant to the liability of the Subject Officers (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Ruling Evaluating Subject Officers' Liability")
(2) In cases where the court commences procedures of the Ruling Evaluating Subject Officers' Liability ex officio, it must make the determination to that effect.
(3) If the petition under paragraph (1) is filed or the ruling in the preceding paragraph is made, for the purpose of the nullification of the prescription, it shall be deemed that a judicial claim has been made.
(4) The procedures for the Ruling Evaluating Subject Officers' Liability (excluding those after the Ruling Evaluating Subject Officers' Liability) shall end if the special liquidation is ended.
Subsection 8 Creditors Meetings

(Convocation of Creditors Meetings)
Article 546 (1) Creditors meetings may be convened whenever it is required to implement special liquidation.
(2) A creditors meeting shall be convened by the Liquidating Stock Company, except in cases where convened pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) of the following Article.

(Demand for Convocation of Meeting by Creditors)
Article 547 (1) Agreement Claim Creditors who have Agreement Claims equivalent to one tenth or more of the total amount of the Agreement Claims of Agreement Claim Creditors that have stated their claims and other Agreement Claim Creditors known to the Liquidating Stock Company may demand, by disclosing the matters that are the purpose of the creditors meeting and the reasons of the convocation, that the Liquidating Stock Company convene a creditors meeting.
(2) The amount of the Agreement Claims in relation to which Agreement Claim Creditors who hold security interest provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522 with respect to the assets of a Liquidating Stock Company are entitled by exercising their security interest shall not be included in the amount of the Agreement Claims under the preceding paragraph.
(3) In the following cases, Agreement Claim Creditors who made the demand pursuant under the provisions of paragraph (1) may convene the creditors meeting with the permission of the court:
(i) In cases where the convocation procedure is not effected without delay after the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1); or
(ii) In cases where a notice for the convocation of the creditors meeting that specifies a day falling within six weeks from the day of the demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) as the day of the creditors meeting, is not sent.

(Determination to Call Creditors Meetings)
Article 548 (1) A person calling a creditors meeting (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Convener") must decide the following matters in cases where he/she calls a creditors meeting:
(i) The date, time and place of the creditors meeting;
(ii) The matters that are the purpose of the creditors meeting;
(iii) If it is to be arranged that Agreement Claim Creditors who do not attend the creditors meeting may exercise their voting rights by electronic or magnetic means, a statement to that effect;
(iv) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding three items, any matters prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) In cases where a Liquidating Stock Company calls a creditors meeting, such Liquidating Stock Company must decide with respect to each Agreement Claim whether or not voting rights can be exercised at the creditors meeting and the amount of the same.
(3) In cases where a person other than a Liquidating Stock Company calls a creditors meeting, such Convener must demand that the Liquidating Stock Company decide the matters provided for in the preceding paragraph. In such a case, if that demand is made, the Liquidating Stock Company must decide the matters provided for in that paragraph.
(4) An Agreement Claim Creditor holding a security interest provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522 with respect to the property of a Liquidating Stock Company shall have no voting rights as regards the amount of the Agreement Claim for which it is entitled to receive payment upon the exercise of its security interest.
(5) An Agreement Claim Creditor shall have no voting rights as regards a claim in respect of foreign taxes subject to mutual assistance.

(Notice of Convocation of Creditors Meetings)
Article 549 (1) In order to convene a creditors meeting, the Convener must give the written notice thereof to Agreement Claim Creditors who stated their claims and other Agreement Claim Creditors known to the Liquidating Stock Company and the Liquidating Stock Company, no later than two weeks prior to the day of the creditors meeting.
(2) In lieu of the sending of the written notice referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Convener may send the notice by electronic or magnetic means with the approval of the Agreement Claim Creditors in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Cabinet Order. In such cases, such Convener shall be deemed to have sent the written notice under such paragraph.
(3) The notice under the preceding two paragraphs must state or record the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to Agreement Claim Creditors that stated their claims and other Agreement Claim Creditors known to the Liquidating Stock Company that hold general liens and other claims that have general priority, claims that have arisen in relation to the Liquidating Stock Company for procedures for special liquidation or rights to seek reimbursement of expenses of procedures for special liquidation from the Liquidating Stock Company.

(Issuance of Reference documents for Creditors Meetings and Voting Card)
Article 550 (1) The Convener must, when giving a notice under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, issue to the Agreement Claim Creditors that stated their claims and other Agreement Claim Creditors known to the Liquidating Stock Company, documents stating the matters provided for under the provisions of paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of Article 548 with respect to the Agreement Claims held by such Agreement Claim Creditors and maters of reference for the exercising the voting rights (in the following paragraph referred to as "Reference documents for Creditors Meeting") as well as the document to be used by the Agreement Claim Creditors to exercise the voting rights (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Voting Card") as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) If the Convener issues notices by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article to the Agreement Claim Creditors that have given the consent referred to in that paragraph, the Convener may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in that document, in lieu of delivering the Creditors Meeting reference documents and Voting Card under the provisions of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that, if requested by an Agreement Claim Creditor, the Convener must deliver such documents to such Agreement Claim Creditor.
Article 551 (1) In cases where the matters listed in item (iii), paragraph (1) of Article 548 are prescribed, when using electronic or magnetic means to notify the Agreement Claim Creditors that have given the consent referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 549, the Convener must use that electronic or magnetic means to provide the Agreement Claim Creditors with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card.
(2) In cases where the matters listed in item (iii), paragraph (1) of Article 548 are prescribed, if an Agreement Claim Creditor who has not given the consent under paragraph (2) of Article 549 makes a request, no later than one week prior to the day of the creditors meeting, to be provided with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card by electronic or magnetic means, the Convener must use electronic or magnetic means to immediately provide that Agreement Claim Creditor with that information, pursuant to Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Direction of Creditors Meeting)
Article 552 (1) Creditors meeting shall be directed by the court.
(2) If a Convener intends to call a creditors meeting, the Convener must notify the court in advance of the matters listed in each item of paragraph (1) of Article 548 and the matters provided for under the provisions of paragraph (2) of paragraph (3) of that Article.

(Treatment of Voting Rights under Objections)
Article 553 If, with respect to matters prescribed for each Agreement Claim pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) of Article 548, persons who hold such Agreement Claims or other Agreement Claim Creditors state their objections at a creditors meeting, the court shall prescribe the same.

(Resolutions of Creditors Meetings)
Article 554 (1) In order to adopt a matter to be resolved at a resolution at a creditors meeting, all of the following consents must be obtained:
(i) The consent of a majority of the voting rights holders present at the meeting (hereinafter in this Subsection and following Subsection referring to the Agreement Claim Creditors that can exercise voting rights); and
(ii) The consent of persons who hold the voting rights in excess of half of the total voting rights of the voting rights holders present at the meeting.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of item (i), paragraph (1) of Article 558, if any voting rights holder exercised only some of the voting rights he/she holds as a consent to the matters under the preceding paragraph under the provisions of paragraph (1) of that Article (excluding the cases where his/her remaining voting rights were not exercised), for each such voting rights holder, "one" shall be added to the number of the voting rights holders who attended the meeting, and "one" shall be added to the number of the voting rights holders who gave their consent, respectively.
(3) Creditors meeting cannot pass resolutions with respect to matters other than the matters listed in item (ii), paragraph (1) of Article 548.

(Proxy Voting)
Article 555 (1) Agreement Claim Creditors may exercise voting rights by proxy. In such cases, such Agreement Claim Creditors or proxy must submit to the Convener a document which certifies the power of representation.
(2) The grant of the power of representation under the preceding paragraph must be made for each creditors meeting.
(3) Agreement Claim Creditors or proxy referred to in paragraph (1) may, in lieu of submitting a document which certifies the power of representation, use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in that document, with the approval of the Convener and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, such Agreement Claim Creditors or proxies shall be deemed to have submitted such document.
(4) In cases where the Agreement Claim Creditors are the persons who gave consent under paragraph (2) of Article 549, the Convener may not refuse providing the approval under the preceding paragraph without a justifiable ground.

(Voting in Writing)
Article 556 (1) Agreement Claim Creditors who do not attend the creditors meeting may exercise their voting rights in writing.
(2) The exercise of voting rights in writing shall be effected by entering necessary matters on the Voting Card and submitting the Voting Card to the Convener by the time prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) Voting rights holders who exercised the voting rights in writing pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have been present at the creditors meeting for the purpose of the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 554 and paragraph (1) of Article 567.

(Voting by Electronic or Magnetic Means)
Article 557 (1) The exercise of voting rights by electronic or magnetic means shall be effected by using electronic or magnetic means to provide the Convener with the information that is required to be entered in the proxy card no later than the time prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, with the approval of the Convener and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(2) In cases where the Agreement Claim Creditors are the persons who gave consent under paragraph (2) of Article 549, the Convener may not refuse providing the approval under the preceding paragraph without justifiable grounds.
(3) Voting rights holders who exercised the voting rights by electronic or magnetic means pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be deemed to have been present at the creditors meeting for the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 554 and paragraph (1) of Article 567.

(Inconsistent Voting)
Article 558 (1) Agreement Claim Creditors may exercise the voting rights they hold without maintaining consistency. In such cases, the Agreement Claim Creditors must notify the Convener to such effect and of the reason thereof no later than three days prior to the day of the creditors meeting.
(2) If an Agreement Claim Creditor referred to in the preceding paragraph is not a person who holds the Agreement Claims on behalf of others, the Convener may reject the inconsistent exercise of the voting rights held by such Agreement Claim Creditor under the provisions of that paragraph.

(Attendance of Creditors who Hold Security Interest)
Article 559 Creditors meetings or Conveners may demand that the following creditors are present at the meeting and hear their opinions. In such cases, a resolution must be passed to that effect at a creditors meeting:
(i) Creditors that hold security interest provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522; and
(ii) Creditors who hold general liens and other claims that have general priority, claims that have arisen in relation to the Liquidating Stock Company for the procedures for special liquidation or rights to seek from the Liquidating Stock Company reimbursement of expense for the procedures for special liquidation.

(Resolution for Postponement or Continuation)
Article 560 In cases where there is a resolution for the postponement or continuation of the creditors meeting, the provisions of Article 548 (excluding paragraph (4)) and Article 549 shall not apply.

(Minutes)
Article 561 The Convener must prepare minutes with respect to the business of the creditors meeting, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Report to Creditors Meeting of Outcome of Liquidators' Investigations)
Article 562 In cases where an order is issued for the commencement of special liquidation, if the liquidators provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 492 have completed the investigations of the current status of the property of the Liquidating Stock Companies and have prepared the Inventory of Property (hereinafter in this Article referring to the Inventory of Property provided for in that paragraph), the Liquidating Stock Company must, without delay, convene the creditors meeting and report to such creditors meeting the outcome of the investigations of the status of the operations and assets of the Liquidating Stock Companies as well as the summary of the Inventory of Property, and state its opinions regarding the policy and prospect of the implementation of the liquidation; provided, however, that this shall not apply if the Liquidating Stock Company regards it as appropriate to make the creditors aware of the content of the matters to be reported and such opinions by means other than the statement of the report and opinions to the creditors meeting.
Subsection 9 Agreements

(Offer of Agreements)
Article 563 A Liquidating Stock Company may offer an agreement to the creditors meeting.

(Terms and Conditions of Agreements)
Article 564 (1) Terms and conditions regarding the change of some or all of the rights of Agreement Claim Creditors (excluding the security interest provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522) must be provided for in the Agreements.
(2) The terms and conditions that change some or all of the rights of Agreement Claim Creditors must prescribe reductions of debts and extensions of terms and other general standards for the change in rights.

(Change in Rights under Agreements)
Article 565 Any changes of rights under an agreement must be equal as between Agreement Claim Creditors; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where Agreement Claim Creditors that will suffer detriment have given consent, in cases where the equality will not be compromised even if it is otherwise provided with respect to minor Agreement Claims, or in other cases where the equality will not be compromised even if there are differences as between Agreement Claim Creditors.

(Participation of Creditors Holding Security Interest)
Article 566 If a Liquidating Stock Company regards it as necessary in preparing a draft agreement, it may seek the participation of the following creditors:
(i) Creditors that hold security interest provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522; and
(ii) Creditors that hold general liens and other claims that have general priority.

(Requirements for Adoption of Agreements)
Article 567 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 554, in order to adopt an agreement at a creditors meeting, all of the following consents must be obtained:
(i) The consent of a majority of the voting rights holders present at the meeting; and
(ii) The consent of persons who hold the voting rights in excess of two thirds (2/3) of the total voting rights of the voting rights holders.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 554 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the application of the provisions of item (i) of the preceding paragraph.

(Petition Seeking Approval of Agreements)
Article 568 If an agreement is adopted, the Liquidating Stock Company must petition the court for approval of the agreement without delay.

(Ruling Approving or Rejecting Agreements)
Article 569 (1) In cases where a petition under the preceding Article is filed, the court shall hand down the ruling approving the agreement except for the cases under the following paragraph.
(2) The court shall hand down a ruling rejecting the agreement in cases falling under any of the following:
(i) If the procedures for special liquidation or the agreement violates any provisions of the act, and such deficiency cannot be remedied; provided, however, that this shall not apply if, in cases where the procedures for special liquidation violates provisions of the acts, the degree of such violation is minor;
(ii) If there is no prospect that the agreement will be fulfilled;
(iii) If the agreement was established by unlawful means; or
(iv) If the agreement is contrary to the general interest of the creditors.

(Time of Effectuation of Agreements)
Article 570 Agreements shall take effect upon finalization of the rulings to approve.

(Scope of Effectiveness of Agreements)
Article 571 (1) An agreement shall be effective on behalf of, and shall bind, the Liquidating Stock Company and all Agreement Claim Creditors.
(2) An agreement shall not affect security interests provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 522 held by creditors provided for in that paragraph, rights that Agreement Claim Creditors hold jointly with guarantors of the Liquidating Stock Company or otherwise with the Liquidating Stock Company, against persons owing obligations, or collateral provided by persons other than the Liquidating Stock Company for the benefit of the Agreement Claim Creditors.
(3) When a ruling approving an agreement becomes final and binding, rights of Agreement Claim Creditors shall be changed pursuant to the provisions of the agreement.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the effect of a change of rights under the provisions of the agreement as regards a claim in respect of foreign taxes subject to mutual assistance may be asserted only in relation to the mutual assistance under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 11 of the Act on Special Provisions for Enforcement of Tax Treaties.

(Change of Details of Agreements)
Article 572 The details of an agreement may be changed if it is necessary for the implantation of the agreement. In such cases, the provisions of Article 563 through the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Subsection 10 Completion of Special Liquidation

(Rulings on Conclusion of Special Liquidation)
Article 573 After the commencement of special liquidation, the court shall hand down a ruling on the conclusion of the special liquidation in response to petitions by liquidators, Company Auditors, creditors, shareholders, or investigators in the cases listed below:
(i) If the special liquidation has been completed; or
(ii) If the special liquidation is no longer necessary.

(Ruling for Commencement of Bankruptcy Procedures)
Article 574 (1) After the commencement of special liquidation, if the court finds, in the cases listed below, facts on the part of the Liquidating Stock Company that constitute cause for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures, the court must make ex officio the ruling for commencement of bankruptcy procedures in accordance with the Bankruptcy Act:
(i) If there is no prospect of an agreement;
(ii) If there is no prospect that the agreement will be implemented; or
(iii) If reliance on the special liquidation is contrary to the general interest of the creditors.
(2) After the commencement of special liquidation, if the court finds, in the cases listed below, facts on the part of the Liquidating Stock Company that constitute cause for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures, the court may make an ex officio ruling for commencement of bankruptcy procedures in accordance with the Bankruptcy Act:
(i) If an agreement is not adopted; or
(ii) If a ruling to reject an agreement has become final and binding;
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of item (iv), paragraph (1) and items (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (2) of Article 71, item (iv), paragraph (1) and items (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (2) of Article 72, Article 160 (excluding item (i) of paragraph (1)), Article 162 (excluding item (ii) of paragraph (1)), paragraph (2) of Article 163, paragraph (1) of Article 164 (including the cases where that paragraph is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (1) of that Article), Article 166, and paragraph (2) of Article 167 (including the cases where that paragraph is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 170) of the Bankruptcy Act in cases where a ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures has been made under the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, the petition for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures shall be deemed to have been filed at the time when the petition in each of the following items for the case categories listed in each such items were filed:
(i) In cases where there was a petition for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures before the petition for the commencement of special liquidation in bankruptcy procedures that became ineffective because the order to commence special liquidation becoming final and binding: Such petition for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures;
(ii) In cases other than the cases listed in the preceding item: The petition for the commencement of special liquidation
(4) If a ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures is handed down under the provisions of paragraph (1) or paragraph (2), claims that have arisen in relation to the Liquidating Stock Company for the procedures for special liquidation and rights to seek reimbursement of expense regarding the procedures for special liquidation from the Liquidating Stock Company shall constitute preferred claims against the bankrupt's estate.
Part III Companies without Share

Chapter I Incorporation

(Preparation of Articles of Incorporation)
Article 575 (1) In order to incorporate an General Partnership Company, Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Membership Company"), persons who intend to be its members must prepare articles of incorporation which must be signed by or record the names of and be affixed with the seals, of all members.
(2) The articles of incorporation in the preceding paragraph may be prepared as an electronic or magnetic record. In such cases, measures prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice must be taken in lieu of signing, or the recording of names and affixing of seals, with respect to the data recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.

(Matters Required to Be Specified or Recorded in the Articles of Incorporation)
Article 576 (1) Articles of incorporation of Membership Companies must specify or record the following matters:
(i) Purposes;
(ii) Trade name;
(iii) Location of the head office;
(iv) Names and addresses of the members
(v) Whether the members are members with unlimited liability or members with limited liability; and
(vi) Subject matter invested by the members (limited to the Monies, etc. if they are members with limited liability) and the value and standard of evaluation of the same.
(2) If the Membership Company to be incorporated is a General Partnership Company, a statement that all of the members are members with unlimited liability must be specified or recorded as the matter listed in item (v) of the preceding paragraph.
(3) If the Membership Company to be incorporated is a Limited Partnership Company, a statement that some of the members are members with unlimited liability and other members are members with limited liability must be stated or recorded as the matter listed in item (v) of paragraph (1).
(4) If the Membership Company to be incorporated is a Limited Liability Company, a statement that all of the members are members with limited liability must be stated or recorded as the matter listed in item (v) of paragraph (1).
Article 577 In addition to those provided for in the preceding Article, articles of incorporation of a Membership Company may state or record matters which, under the provisions of this Act, will not become effective unless provided for in the articles of incorporation, or other matters which do not violate any provision of this Act.

(Performance of Contributions as at Incorporation of Limited Liability Companies)
Article 578 In cases where a Membership Company to be incorporated is a Limited Liability Company, persons who intend to be members of such Limited Liability Company must pay in the entire sum of monies relating to their partnership contribution or deliver the entire property, other than monies, relating to their contribution after the preparation of the articles of incorporation but before the registration of the incorporation of the Limited Liability Company; provided, however, that, if the consent of all persons who intend to be members of the Limited Liability Company is obtained, this shall not preclude them from carrying out registration, recording or other acts necessary to assert the creation or transfer of rights against third parties after the incorporation of the Limited Liability Company.

(Incorporation of Membership Companies)
Article 579 A Membership Company shall be incorporated by the registration of the incorporation at the location of its head office.

Chapter II Members
Section 1 Responsibility of Members

(Responsibility of Members)
Article 580 (1) Members shall be jointly and severally liable for the performance of obligations of the Membership Company in the cases listed below:
(i) In cases where the obligations of such Membership Company cannot be fully performed with the assets of the same; or
(ii) In cases where compulsory execution against the assets of such Membership Company has not been successful (except for the cases where the members have proven that such Membership Company has financial resources to pay and that the compulsory execution can be effected at ease).
(2) Members with limited liability shall be liable for the performance of the obligations of the Membership Company to the extent of the value of their investment (excluding the value of the contributions already performed to the Membership Company).

(Members' Defenses)
Article 581 (1) In cases where members are liable for the performance of the obligations of a Membership Company, the members may assert defenses against the creditors of such Membership Company that the Membership Company may raise against such creditors.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if a Membership Company has a right to set-off, right to rescind or right to terminate against its creditors, the members may refuse the performance of obligations to such creditors.

(Members' Liability in relation to Contributions)
Article 582 (1) In cases where a member provides monies as the subject matter of a contribution, if he/she fails to effect such contribution, such member must compensate the loss in addition to the payment of interest on such contribution.
(2) In cases where a member provides claims as the subject matter of a contribution, if the obligor of such claims fails to perform the obligations when they become due, such member shall be liable for the performance of the same. In such cases, such member must compensate the loss in addition to the payment of interest on such obligations.

(Special Provision in case of Members' Liability Change)
Article 583 (1) In cases where a member with limited liability has become a member with unlimited liability, the person who has become such member with unlimited liability shall also be liable as a member with unlimited liability for the performance of the obligations of the Membership Company that arose before such person became a member with unlimited liability.
(2) Even in cases where a member with limited liability (excluding members of Limited Liability Company) reduce the value of the contributions, such members with limited liability shall be liable to the extent of his/her pre-existing liability for the obligations of the Membership Company that arose before the registration to that effect.
(3) Even in cases where a member with unlimited liability has become a member with limited liability, the person who has become such a member with limited liability shall be liable as a member with unlimited liability for the performance of the obligations of the Membership Company that arose before the registration to such effect.
(4) The liability under the preceding two paragraphs to the creditors of the Membership Company who do not make their claims, or do not give an advance notice of their claims, within two years from the day of such registration shall be extinguished when two years have elapsed from the day of the registration in the preceding two paragraphs.

(Capacity to Act of Minors Permitted to Become Members with Unlimited Liability)
Article 584 A minor who is permitted to become a member with unlimited liability of a Membership Company shall be deemed to be a person with capacity to act regarding any act committed in his/her capacity as a member.
Section 2 Transfers of Equity Interests

(Transfer of Equity Interest)
Article 585 (1) A member cannot transfer all or part of his/her equity interests to others without the approval of all other members.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a member with limited liability who does not execute business may transfer some or all of his/her equity interests to others if the approval of all other members who execute the business is obtained.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 637, if a change in the articles of incorporation arises in conjunction with the transfer of equity interests of any member with limited liability who does not execute the business, the change in the articles of incorporation due to the transfer of that equity interest may be effected with the consent of all members who execute the business.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not preclude the provisions to the contrary in the articles of incorporation.

(Liability of Members who Transfer Entire Equity Interests)
Article 586 (1) A member who transferred all of his/her equity interests to others shall be liable to the extent of his/her pre-existing liability for the obligations of the Membership Company that arose before the registration to that effect.
(2) Liability in the preceding paragraph to the creditors of the Membership Company who do not state their claims or do not give an advance notice of their claims, within two years from the day of such registration shall be extinguished when two years have elapsed from the day of the registration in that paragraph.
Article 587 (1) Membership Companies may not accept the transfer of some or all of their own equity interests.
(2) In cases where a Membership Company has acquired any equity interest in such Membership Company, such equity interest shall be extinguished when such Membership Company acquires the same.
Section 3 Liability for Mistaken Acts

(Liability of Members with Limited Liability for Acts Mistaken as Acts of Members with Unlimited Liability)
Article 588 (1) If a member with limited liability of a Limited Partnership Company engages in an act that causes such member with limited liability to be mistaken as a member with unlimited liability, such member with limited liability shall assume the same liability as that assumed by a member with unlimited liability in relation to persons who transact with the Limited Partnership Company based on such mistaken belief.
(2) If a member with limited liability of a Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company engages in an act that causes mistake as to the extent of the liability of such member with limited liability(excluding that in the preceding paragraph), such member with limited liability shall assume the liability to perform the obligations of such Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company in relation to persons who transact with the Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company on the bases of such mistaken belief, to the extent of the liability so mistaken.

(Responsibility for Acts Mistaken as Acts of Members)
Article 589 (1) If a person who is neither a member of a General Partnership Company nor Limited Partnership Company engages in an act that causes such person to be mistaken as a member with unlimited liability, such person shall assume the same liability as that assumed by a member with unlimited liability in relation to persons who transact with the General Partnership Company or Limited Partnership Company on the bases of such mistaken belief.
(2) If a person who is a member in neither a Limited Partnership Company nor Limited Liability Company engages in an act that causes such person to be mistaken as a member with limited liability, such person shall assume liability to perform the obligations of such Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company in relation to persons who transact with the Limited Partnership Company or Limited Liability Company on the bases of such mistaken belief the to the extent of the liability so mistaken.

Chapter III Administration
Section 1 General Provisions

(Execution of Business)
Article 590 (1) A member shall execute the business of the Membership Company, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(2) In cases where there are two or more members, the business of the Membership Company shall be determined by a majority of the members, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, each member may perform the ordinary business of the Membership Company individually; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where other members raise objections before the completion of the same.

(Where Articles of Incorporation Provide for Members who Execute Business)
Article 591 (1) In cases where members who execute the business are provided for in the articles of incorporation, if there are two or more members who execute the business, the business of the Membership Company shall be determined by a majority of the members who execute the operations, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation. For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (3) of the preceding Article to such cases, "member(s)" in that paragraph shall be read as "member(s) who execute(s) the business."
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in the cases provided for in that paragraph, the appointment and dismissal of managers shall be determined by a majority of the members; provided, however, that this shall not preclude the provision to the contrary in the articles of incorporation.
(3) In cases where members who execute the business are provided for in the articles of incorporation, if all members who execute the operations leave the Company, such provisions of the articles of incorporation shall become ineffective.
(4) In cases where members who execute the business are provided for in the articles of incorporation, members who execute the business may not resign without justifiable grounds.
(5) Members who execute the business under the preceding paragraph may be dismissed with the unanimous consent of other members, limited to cases where there are justifiable grounds.
(6) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not preclude the provision to the contrary in the articles of incorporation.

(Members' Investigations regarding Status of Business and Assets of Membership Company)
Article 592 (1) In cases where members who execute the business are provided for in the articles of incorporation, each member may investigate the status of the business and assets of the Membership Company even if he/she does not have the rights to execute the business of the same.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not preclude provision to the contrary in the articles of incorporation; provided, however, that even the articles of incorporation may not provide to the effect of restricting the carrying out of investigations by members provided for in that paragraph at the end of the business year or if there are significant grounds to do so.
Section 2 Members who Execute Business

(Relationship between Members Executing Business and Membership Company)
Article 593 (1) Members who execute the business shall have the duty to perform their duties with due care of a prudent manager.
(2) Members who execute the business must perform their duties for the Membership Company in a loyal manner in compliance with the laws and regulations and articles of incorporation.
(3) Members who execute the business must report the status of the execution of their duties whenever there are requests by the Membership Company or other members, and must report the progress and outcome of their duties without delay after those duties end.
(4) The provisions of Article 646 through 650 of the Civil Code shall apply mutatis mutandis to the relationship between members who execute the business and the Membership Company. In such cases, "mandated business" in paragraph (1) of Article 646, paragraph (2) of Article 648, Article 649 and Article 650 shall be deemed to be replaced with "their duties," and "mandate" in paragraph (3) of Article 648 of the same Code shall be deemed to be replaced with "duties in the preceding paragraph."
(5) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not preclude provision to the contrary in the articles of incorporation.

(Non-Competition)
Article 594 (1) Members who execute the business may not carry out the following acts without the approval of all members other than such members; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the articles of incorporation provide otherwise:
(i) Carrying out, for themselves or for a third party, any transaction which is in the line of business of the Membership Company; or
(ii) Becoming directors, executive officers or members who execute the business of a Company the purpose of which is a business that is similar to the business of the Membership Company.
(2) If members who execute the business carry out any act listed in item (i) of the preceding paragraph in violation of the provisions of that paragraph, the amount of the profit obtained by such members who execute such business or any third party as a result of such act shall be presumed to be amount of the loss suffered by the Membership Company.

(Restrictions on Transactions involving Conflict of Interest)
Article 595 (1) In the following cases, members who execute the business must obtain the approval of a majority of the members other than such members with respect to such transactions; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the articles of incorporation provide otherwise:
(i) If members who execute the business intend to engage in a transaction with the Membership Company for themselves or on behalf of a third party; or
(ii) If a Membership Company intends to guarantee the debt of members who execute the business or otherwise to engage in a transaction with any person other than members that will results in the conflict of interest between the Membership Company and such members.
(2) The provisions of Article 108 of the Civil Code shall not apply to transactions under item (i) of the preceding paragraph that have received the approval under that paragraph.

(Liability of Members who Execute Operations to Membership Company for Damages)
Article 596 If members who execute the business fail to perform their duties, they shall be jointly and severally liable to the Membership Company for losses arising as a result.

(Liability of Members with Limited Liability who Execute Business to Membership Company for Damages)
Article 597 If members with limited liability who execute the business was in bad faith or with gross negligence in discharging their duties, such members with limited liability shall be jointly and severally liable to compensate losses arising in a third party as a result.

(Special Provisions where Juridical Persons are Members Executing Business)
Article 598 (1) In cases where juridical persons act as members who execute the business, such juridical persons must appoint persons who are to perform the duties of members who execute such business and notify other members of the names and addresses of such persons.
(2) The provisions from Article 593 through the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the persons who are to perform the duties of members appointed under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Representatives of Membership Companies)
Article 599 (1) A member or members who execute the business shall represent the Membership Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where members or other persons who represent the Membership Companies are otherwise designated.
(2) In cases where there are two or more members who execute the business referred to in the main clause of the preceding paragraph, each member who executes the business shall represent the Membership Company individually.
(3) A Membership Company may appoint members who represent the Membership Company from among the members who execute the business pursuant to the articles of incorporation, or through the appointment by the members themselves pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation.
(4) Members who represent the Membership Company shall have authority to do all judicial and non-judicial acts in connection with the operations of the Membership Company.
(5) No limitation on the authority under the preceding paragraph may be asserted against a third party in good faith.

(Liability for Damages Caused by Acts of Members who Represent Membership Companies)
Article 600 A Membership Company shall be liable to compensate losses that members who represent the Membership Company or other representatives caused to third parties in the performance of their duties.

(Representation of Company in Claims between Membership Companies without Share and Members)
Article 601 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (4) of Article 599, in cases where a Membership Company files an action against any of its members, or any of the members files an action against that Membership Company, if there is no representative of the Membership Company with respect to such action (excluding the relevant member), the representative of the Membership Company in such action may be determined by a majority of the members other than such member.
Article 602 Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 599, in cases where a member requests that the Membership Company file an action to enforce the liability of a member, if the Membership Company fails to file such action within 60 days after the day of such request, such member making the request may represent the Membership Company with respect to such action; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the purpose of such action is to seek unlawful gains of such member or a third party or to inflict losses on such Membership Company.
Section 3 Persons who Perform Duties on behalf of Members Executing Business
Article 603 (1) A person who is appointed by a provisional disposition order provided for in Article 56 of the Civil Provisional Remedies Act to act on behalf of members who execute the business or members who represent the Membership Company, in carrying out of the duties of the same, must obtain the permission of the court in order to engage in any act which does not belong to the ordinary business of the Membership Company, unless otherwise provided for in the provisional disposition order.
(2) An act of a person who acts on behalf of members who execute the business or members who represent the Membership Company in carrying out duties of the same that is performed in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be ineffective; provided, however, that the Membership Company may not assert that ineffectiveness against a third party in good faith.

Chapter IV Admission and Withdrawal of Members
Section 1 Admission of Members

(Admission of Members)
Article 604 (1) A Membership Company may admit a new member.
(2) Admission of members of a Membership Company shall take effect when a change relating to such member is effected in the articles of incorporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where a Limited Liability Company admits a new member, if the person who intends to become the new member has not performed all or a part of the payment or delivery relating to the contribution at the time of the change in the articles of incorporation in that paragraph, such person shall become a member of the Limited Liability Company when such payment or delivery has been completed.

(Responsibility of Admitted Members)
Article 605 A member that is admitted after the incorporation of a Membership Company shall also be liable for the performance of obligations of the Membership Company that arose before such admission.
Section 2 Withdrawal of Members

(Voluntary Withdrawal)
Article 606 (1) In cases where the duration of a Membership Company is not provided by the articles of incorporation, or in cases where the articles of incorporation provide that the Membership Company shall continue to exist for the life of a particular member, each member may withdraw at the end of the business year. In such cases, each member must give advance notice of withdrawal to the Membership Company more than six months in advance.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph do not preclude the Membership Company from provision to the contrary in the articles of incorporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, if there are any unavoidable grounds, any member may withdraw at any time.

(Statutory Withdrawal)
Article 607 (1) Other than as provided for in the preceding Article, paragraph (1) of Article 609, Article 642 and Article 845, members shall withdraw on the grounds listed below:
(i) Grounds provided for in the articles of incorporation having arisen;
(ii) The consent of all members;
(iii) Death;
(iv) Merger (but only if the member that is a juridical person disappears in the merger);
(v) A ruling to commence bankruptcy procedures;
(vi) Dissolution (excluding that resulting from the grounds listed in the preceding two items);
(vii) Being subject to a decision for commencement of guardianship; or
(viii) Removal.
(2) A Membership Company can provide to the effect that no member shall withdraw due to some or all of the grounds listed in items (v) through (vii) of the preceding paragraph.

(Special Provision in case of Inheritances and Mergers)
Article 608 (1) A Membership Company may provide in its articles of incorporation that if one of its members dies or disappears as a result of a merger, the heirs or other general successors of such member may succeed to the equity interest of such member.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 604, in cases where the provisions in the preceding paragraph are prescribed in the articles of incorporation, a general successor in that paragraph (limited to general successors that are not a member) shall become a member holding equity interest in that paragraph at the time when the general successor succeeds to such equity interest.
(3) In cases where there is a provision in paragraph (1) in the articles of incorporation, the Membership Company shall be deemed to have effected the change in the articles of incorporation relating to the general successor in that paragraph when such general successor has succeeded to the equity interest under that paragraph.
(4) In cases where there are two or more general successors (limited to general successors that have succeeded to a partnership interest by inheritance and have not performed all or part of the payment in or delivery relating to the partnership contribution) in paragraph (1), each general successor shall be jointly and severally liable for the performance of such payment in or delivery relating to the contribution.
(5) In cases where there are two or more general successors (limited to those who have succeeded to equity interest by inheritance) under paragraph (1), each general successor may not exercise his/her rights with respect to the interest which he/she has succeeded to unless he/she designates one person who exercises the rights with respect to such equity interest; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Membership Company gives its consent to the exercise of such rights.

(Forcing of Members to Withdraw by Creditors that have attached Equity Interest)
Article 609 (1) A creditor that has attached the equity interest of a member may force such member to withdraw at the end of the business year. In such cases, such creditor must give advance notice thereof to the Membership Company and such member more than 6 months in advance.
(2) The advance notice under the second sentence of the preceding paragraph shall become ineffective if the member in that paragraph performs such member's obligations to the creditor in that paragraph or has provided appropriate security.
(3) A creditor who gives the advance notice under the second sentence of paragraph (1) may petition the court for the disposition necessary to preserve the rights to claim the refund of the equity interest.

(Deemed Changes of Articles of Incorporation upon Withdrawal of Members)
Article 610 In cases where a member withdraws pursuant to the provisions of Article 606, paragraph (1) of Article 607, paragraph (1) of the preceding Article or paragraph (2) of Article 642 (including the cases where a member is deemed to have withdrawn under the provisions of Article 845), a Membership Company shall be deemed to have effected a change in the articles of incorporation to abolish the provisions of the articles of incorporation relating to such member.

(Refund of Equity Interest in Conjunction with Withdrawal)
Article 611 (1) A member that has withdrawn may receive the refund of his/her equity interest; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where a general successor of such member becomes a member under the provisions of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Article 608.
(2) Accounting as between a member that has withdrawn and the Membership Company must be effected in accordance with the status of the assets of the Membership Company as at the time of the withdrawal.
(3) The equity interest of a withdrawn member may be refunded in monies regardless of the kind of his/her contribution.
(4) With respect to matters not completed yet as at the time of the withdrawal, accounting may be effected after the completion of the same.
(5) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) and the preceding paragraph in cases where a member withdraws due to removal, the words "the time of the withdrawal" in those provisions shall be read as "the time of the filing of an action seeking removal."
(6) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Membership Company must also pay interest calculated at the rate of 6% per annum from and including the day of the time of the filing of an action seeking removal.
(7) Attachment on the equity interest of a member shall be also effective to the rights seeking the refund of the equity interest.

(Liability of Withdrawn Members)
Article 612 (1) A member that has withdrawn shall be liable for the obligations of the Membership Company that arose before the registration of the withdrawal to the extent of the member's pre-existing liability.
(2) The liability under the preceding paragraph shall be extinguished when two years have elapsed from the day of the registration under the preceding paragraph in relation to the creditors of the Membership Company who do not state their claims, or do not give an advance notice of their claims within two years from the day of such registration.

(Demand for Change of Trade Names)
Article 613 In cases where a Membership Company uses the family name or first and family names, or the corporate name, of a member in its trade name, such member that has withdrawn may demand that such Membership Company discontinue the use of such family name or first name and family names, or corporate name.

Chapter V Accounting
Section 1 Accounting Principles
Article 614 Accounting of a Membership Company shall be subject to the corporate accounting practices that are generally accepted as fair and appropriate.
Section 2 Accounting Books

(Preparation and Retention of Accounting Books)
Article 615 (1) A Membership Company must prepare accurate accounting books in a timely manner as prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A Membership Company must retain its accounting books and important materials regarding its business for ten years from the time of the closing of the accounting books.

(Order to Submit Accounting Books)
Article 616 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order the parties to a lawsuit to submit the accounting books, in whole or in part.
Section 3 Financial Statements

(Preparation and Retention of Financial Statements)
Article 617 (1) A Membership Company must prepare a balance sheet as of the day of its incorporation pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A Membership Company must prepare financial statements (hereinafter in this Chapter referring to balance sheet and other statements that are prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to be necessary and appropriate in order to indicate the status of the property of a Membership Company) for each business year pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) Financial statements may be prepared as electronic or magnetic records.
(4) A Membership Company must retain its financial statements for ten years from the time of the preparation of the same.

(Inspection of Financial Statements)
Article 618 (1) Members of a Membership Company may submit the following requests at any time during the business hours of such Membership Company:
(i) If the financial statements are prepared in writing, request for inspection or copying of such documents; or
(ii) If the financial statements have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not preclude provision to the contrary in the articles of incorporation; provided, however, that even the articles of incorporation may not provide to the effect of restricting the submission of requests listed in each item of that paragraph at the end of the business year by members.

(Order to Submit Financial Statements)
Article 619 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order the parties to a lawsuit to submit financial statements, in whole or in part.
Section 4 Reductions in Stated Capital
Article 620 (1) A Membership Company may reduce the amount of its stated capital to compensate for losses.
(2) The amount by which the stated capital will be reduced under the provisions of the preceding paragraph cannot exceed the amount calculated in a manner prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the losses.
Section 5 Distribution of Profit

(Distribution of Profits)
Article 621 (1) Members may demand that the Membership Company distribute its profit.
(2) A Membership Company may prescribe matters regarding the method for demanding the distribution of the profit and other matters on the distribution of profit in the articles of incorporation.
(3) Attachment on the equity interest of a member shall be also effective against the right to demand the distribution of the profits.

(Proportion of Distribution of Profits and Losses among Members)
Article 622 (1) If there is no provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the proportion of the distribution of profits and losses, those proportions shall be determined in accordance with the value of each member's contribution.
(2) If provisions with respect to the proportions of the distribution of either profit or loss alone are provided in the articles of incorporation, it shall be presumed that such proportion is common to distributions of profits and distributions of losses.

(Responsibility of Members with Limited Liability regarding Distribution of Profit)
Article 623 (1) In cases where the book value of the Monies, etc. delivered by a Membership Company to a member with limited liability by the distribution of profit (hereinafter in this paragraph referred to as "Distributed Amount") exceeds the amount of the profit as at the day when such distribution of profit takes place (hereinafter in this Chapter referring to the amount calculated in a manner prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the profit of a Membership Company), members with limited liability who received such distribution of profit shall be jointly and severally liable to such Membership Company for the payment of monies equivalent to such Distributed Amount.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 580 to the members that received the distribution of profit under the preceding paragraph in the cases provided for in that paragraph, words "to the extent of the value of their investment (excluding the value of the contributions to the Membership Company already performed)" in that paragraph (2) of Article 580 shall be read as "to the extent of the sum of the value of their investment (excluding the value of the contributions to the Membership Company already performed) and the amount by which the Distributed Amount under paragraph (1) of Article 623 exceeds the amount of the profit under that paragraph."
Section 6 Contribution Refunds
Article 624 (1) Members may demand that the Membership Company refund the Monies, etc. that members have already paid in or delivered as contributions (hereinafter in this Part referred to as "Contribution Refunds"). In such cases, if such Monies, etc. consist of any property other than monies, they shall not be precluded from demanding the refund of monies in an amount equivalent to the value of such property.
(2) Membership Company may prescribe matters regarding the method for demanding the Contribution Refunds and other matters on Contribution Refunds in its articles of incorporation.
(3) Attachment of the equity interest of a member shall be also effective against the rights to demand a Contribution Refunds.
Section 7 Special Provisions on Accounting of Limited Liability Companies
Subsection 1 Special Provision on Inspection of Financial Statements
Article 625 Creditors of a Limited Liability Company may make the requests listed in each item of paragraph (1) of Article 618 with respect to its financial statements (limited to those prepared within the preceding five years) at any time during the business hours of the Limited Liability Company.
Subsection 2 Special Provisions on Reduction in Stated Capital

(Reductions in Stated Capital where Contribution Refund or Partnership Interest Refund is Effected)
Article 626 (1) In addition to the cases under paragraph (1) of Article 620, a Limited Liability Company may reduce the amount of its stated capital to effect a Contribution Refund or Partnership Interest Refund.
(2) The amount of the stated capital to be reduced pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may not exceed the amount obtained by subtracting the surplus amount as of the day when the Contribution Refund is effected from Contribution Refund Amount provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 632.
(3) The amount of the stated capital to be reduced by Partnership Interest Refund Amount pursuant to the provisions of the paragraph (1) may not exceed the amount obtained by subtracting the surplus amount as of the day when the Refund of Equity Interests is effected from Equity Interest Refund Amount provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 635.
(4) The term "surplus amount" provided for in the preceding two paragraphs shall mean the amount obtained by subtracting the total sum of the amounts listed in item (ii) through item (iv) from the amount listed in item (i) (the same shall apply to Subsection 4 and Subsection 5):
(i) Amount of assets;
(ii) Amount of debt;
(iii) Amount of stated capital; and
(iv) Other than those listed in the preceding two items, the total sum of the amounts accounted for in each line item prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Objection of Creditors)
Article 627 (1) In cases where a Limited Liability Company reduces the amount of stated capital, creditors of such Limited Liability Company may state their objections to the reduction in the stated capital to such Limited Liability Company.
(2) In cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Limited Liability Company must give public notice of the matters listed below in the Official Gazette and must give notice of the same separately to each known creditor; provided, however, that the period under item (ii) cannot be less than one month:
(i) The details of such reduction in stated capital; and
(ii) A statement to the effect that creditors may state their objections within a certain period of time.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if, in addition to a notice in the Official Gazette, a Limited Liability Company effects the public notice under that paragraph in a manner listed in item (ii) or item (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 939 in accordance with the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of that paragraph, the Limited Liability Company shall no longer be required to give separate notices under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(4) In cases where the creditors do not raise any objection within the period under item (ii) of paragraph (2), such creditors shall be deemed to have approved such reduction of the stated capital.
(5) In cases where the creditors raise any objection within the period under item (ii) of paragraph (2), the Limited Liability Company must make the payment or provide appropriate security to such creditors, or entrust equivalent assets to a qualified trust company for the purpose of assuring the payment to such creditors; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such reduction in the stated capital is unlikely to be detrimental to such creditors.
(6) The reduction in stated capital shall take effect on the day when the procedures in each of the preceding paragraphs has ended.
Subsection 3 Special Provisions concerning Distribution of Profits

(Restriction on Distribution of Profits)
Article 628 In cases where the book value of the Monies, etc. delivered to members of a Limited Liability Company through the distribution of profits (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Distributed Amount") exceeds the amount of the profit as at the day when such distribution of profit takes place, such distribution of profit cannot be effected. In such cases, the Limited Liability Company may reject demands under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 621.

(Liability for Distribution of Profits)
Article 629 (1) In cases where a Limited Liability Company effects the distribution of profit in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the members that executed the operations in connection with such distribution of profits shall be jointly and severally liable to such Limited Liability Company, together with the members that received such distribution of profits, for payment of the monies in an amount equivalent to such Distributed Amount; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such members who executed such operations have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(2) Exemption from the obligations in the preceding paragraph cannot be given; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where consent of all members is obtained with respect to the exemption of such obligations, to the extent of the amount of profits at the day when the distribution of profits takes place.

(Restrictions on Right to Obtain Reimbursement from Members)
Article 630 (1) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if members that received the distribution of profits are without knowledge with respect to the fact that the Distributed Amount exceeds the amount of the profit at the day when such distribution of profit takes place, such members shall not be obliged to respond to a demand for reimbursement by the members who executed the operations in connection with such distribution of profit with respect to such Distributed Amount.
(2) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, creditors of a Limited Liability Company may have the members that received the distribution of profits pay monies equivalent to the Distributed Amount (or, in cases where such Distributed Amount exceeds the amount which the Limited Liability Company owes to such creditors, such amount owed).
(3) The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 623 shall not apply to members in a Limited Liability Company.

(Liability in Cases of Deficit)
Article 631 (1) In cases where a Limited Liability Company effects the distribution of profits, if a deficit (hereinafter in this paragraph referring to the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the deficit of the Limited Liability Company) occurs at the end of the business year that contains the day on which such distribution of profit takes place, members that executed the operations in connection with such distribution of profit with respect to such Distributed Amount shall be jointly and severally liable to such Limited Liability Company, together with the members who received such distribution of profit, for payment of the amount of that deficit (or, if the amount of such deficit exceeds the Distributed Amount, such Distributed Amount); provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such members who executed such operations have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(2) Exemption from the obligations in the preceding paragraph cannot be given without the consent of all members.
Subsection 4 Special Provisions on Contribution Refunds

(Restrictions on Contribution Refunds)
Article 632 (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 624, members in a Limited Liability Company may not make the demand under the provisions of the first sentence of that paragraph except in cases where the value of member's contributions will be reduced by changes in the articles of incorporation.
(2) In cases where the book value of the Monies, etc. delivered by a Limited Liability Company to a member by Contribution Refunds (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Amount of Contribution Refunds") exceeds the amount of surplus as of the day when a demand is made under the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph (1) of Article 624 (in cases where the reduction in the stated capital under paragraph (1) of Article 626 is effected, hereinafter in this Subsection referring to the amount of surplus after such reduction), or the reduction in the value of member's contributions in the preceding paragraph, whichever is lower, such Contribution Refunds cannot be effected. In such cases, the Limited Liability Company may reject the demand under the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph (1) of Article 624.

(Member's Liability for Contribution Refunds)
Article 633 (1) In cases where a Limited Liability Company effects the Contribution Refunds in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the members who executed the operations in connection with such Contribution Refunds shall be jointly and severally liable to such Limited Liability Company, together with the members who received such Contribution Refunds, for payment of the monies in an amount equivalent to such Amount of Contribution Refunds; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such members who executed such operations have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(2) Exemption from the obligations under the preceding paragraph may not be given; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where consent of all members is obtained with respect to the exemption of such obligations to the extent of the surplus as at the day when the Contribution Refunds takes place.

(Restrictions on Rights to Obtain Reimbursement from Members)
Article 634 (1) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, if members who received the Contribution Refund are without knowledge with respect to the fact that the Amount of Contribution Refunds exceeds the amount of surplus at the day when such Contribution Refunds takes place, such members shall not have the obligation to respond to the demand for reimbursement by the members that executed the operations in connection with such Contribution Refunds with respect to such Amount of Contribution Refunds.
(2) In the cases provided for in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, creditors of a Limited Liability Company may have the members that received the Contribution Refunds pay the monies equivalent to the Amount of Contribution Refunds (or, in cases where such Amount of Contribution Refunds exceeds the amount that the Limited Liability Company owes to such creditors, such amount owed).
Subsection 5 Special Provisions on Refund of Equity Interest in Conjunction with Withdrawals

(Objection of Creditors)
Article 635 (1) In cases where the book value of the Monies, etc. delivered by a Limited Liability Company to members through equity interest refund (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Partnership Interest Refund Amount") exceeds the surplus as of the day when such equity interest refund takes place, creditors of such Limited Liability Company may state their objections as to the equity interest refund to such Limited Liability Company.
(2) In cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Limited Liability Company must make the public notice of the matters listed below in the Official Gazette and must give notice of the same separately to each known creditor, if any; provided, however, that the period in item (ii) cannot be less than one month (or, in cases where the Partnership Interest Refund Amount exceeds the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the net assets of such Limited Liability Company, two months):
(i) The details of the equity interest refund that exceeds such surplus; and
(ii) A statement to the effect that creditors may state their objections within a certain period of time.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if, in addition to using the Official Gazette, a Limited Liability Company effects the public notice in that paragraph in a manner listed in item (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 939 in accordance with the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of that paragraph, the Limited Liability Company shall no longer be required to give separate notices under the provisions of the preceding paragraph; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Partnership Interest Refund Amount exceeds the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the amount of the net assets of such Limited Liability Company.
(4) In cases where the creditors do not raise any objection within the period in item (ii) of paragraph (2), such creditors shall be deemed to have approved such equity interest refund.
(5) In cases where the creditors raise objections within the period in item (ii) of paragraph (2), the Limited Liability Company must make the payment or provide appropriate security to such creditors, or entrust appropriate assets to a qualified trust company with the purpose of assuring the payment to such creditors; provided, however, that this shall not apply if, in cases where the Partnership Interest Refund Amount does not exceed the amount calculated by the method prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the net assets of such Limited Liability Company, such equity interest refund is unlikely to be detrimental to such creditors.

(Responsibility of Members who Execute Operations)
Article 636 (1) In cases where a Limited Liability Company effects an equity interest refund in violation of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the members who executed the operations in connection with such equity interest refund shall be jointly and severally liable to such Limited Liability Company, together with the members who received such equity interest refund, for payment of the monies in the amount equivalent to such Partnership Interest Refund Amount; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where such members who executed the operations regarding the refund of equity interest have proven that they did not fail to exercise due care with respect to the performance of their duties:
(2) Exemptions from the obligations under the preceding paragraph cannot be given; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where consent of all members is obtained with respect to the exemption of such obligations to the extent of the surplus as at the day when the equity interest refund takes place.

Chapter VI Change in Articles of Incorporation

(Change in Articles of Incorporation)
Article 637 A Membership Company may change its articles of incorporation with the consent of all members, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.

(Change in Kind of Membership Company by Change in Articles of Incorporation)
Article 638 (1) A General Partnership Company shall, by effecting the change in the articles of incorporation listed in each of the following items, become a Membership Company of the kind listed in each such item:
(i) Changes in the articles of incorporation that admits members with limited liability: Limited Partnership Company;
(ii) Changes of the articles of incorporation to convert some of its members into members with limited liability: Limited Partnership Company;
(iii) Changes of the articles of incorporation to convert all of its members into members with limited liability: Limited Liability Company.
(2) A Limited Partnership Company shall, by effecting the change in the articles of incorporation listed in each of the following items, become a Membership Company of the kind listed in each such item:
(i) Changes in the articles of incorporation to convert all of its members into members with unlimited liability: General Partnership Company; and
(ii) Changes in the articles of incorporation to convert all of its members into members with limited liability: Limited Liability Company.
(3) A Limited Liability Company shall, by effecting the change in the articles of incorporation listed in each of the following items, become a Membership Company of the kind listed in each such item:
(i) Changes in the articles of incorporation to convert all of its members into members with unlimited liability: General Partnership Company;
(ii) Changes in the articles of incorporation to admit members with unlimited liability: Limited Partnership Company; and
(iii) Changes in the articles of incorporation to convert some of its members into members with unlimited liability: Limited Partnership Company.

(Deemed Changes in Articles of Incorporation on Withdrawal of Members of a Limited Partnership Company)
Article 639 (1) In cases where, due to withdrawal of members with limited liability, members of a Limited Partnership Company consist only of members with unlimited liability, such Limited Partnership Company shall be deemed to have effected a change in the articles of incorporation to become an General Partnership Company.
(2) In cases where, due to withdrawal of members with unlimited liability, members of a Limited Partnership Company consist only of members with limited liability, such Limited Partnership Company shall be deemed to have effected changes in the articles of incorporation to become a Limited Liability Company.

(Performance of Contributions in Changing Articles of Incorporation)
Article 640 (1) In cases where changes in the articles of incorporation listed in item (iii) of paragraph (1) or item (ii) of paragraph (2) of Article 638 is to be effected, if members of the Membership Company that effects such changes in the articles of incorporation have not performed all or part of the payment in or delivery relating to the contributions to the Limited Liability Company after such changes in the articles of incorporation, such changes in the articles of incorporation shall take effect on the day when such payment in and delivery have been completed.
(2) In cases where changes in the articles of incorporation to become a Limited Liability Company are deemed to have been effected pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, if the members have not performed all or part of the payment in or delivery relating to the members' contributions, such payment in or delivery must be completed within one month of the day when such changes in the articles of incorporation are deemed to have been effected; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where changes in the articles of incorporation to become a General Partnership Company or Limited Partnership Company are effected within such period.

Chapter VII Dissolution

(Grounds for Dissolution)
Article 641 A Membership Company shall dissolve on the grounds listed below:
(i) The expiration of the duration provided for in the articles of incorporation;
(ii) The grounds for dissolution provided for in the articles of incorporation having arisen
(iii) The consent of all members;
(iv) The absence of all members;
(v) Merger (but only if the Membership Company disappears in the merger);
(vi) A ruling for commencement of bankruptcy procedures; or
(vii) A judgment ordering the dissolution under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 824 or paragraph (1) of Article 833.

(Continuation of Membership Companies)
Article 642 (1) In cases where a Membership Company dissolves on the grounds listed in items (i) through (iii) of the preceding Article, the Membership Company may continue in existence by the consent of some or all members until the completion of the liquidation under the provisions of the following Chapter.
(2) In the case provided for in the preceding paragraph, members who have not given consent to the continuation of the Membership Company shall withdraw on the day when it is determined that the Membership Company will continue in existence.

(Restrictions on Mergers of Dissolved Membership Company)
Article 643 In cases where a Membership Company has dissolved, such Membership Company cannot engage in the following acts:
(i) Merger (but only if the Membership Company survives the merger);
(ii) Succession by Absorption-type Company Split to some or all of the rights and obligations held by another Company with respect to such Company's business.

Chapter VIII Liquidation
Section 1 Commencement of Liquidation

(Causes of Commencement of Liquidation)
Article 644 A Membership Company must go into liquidation in the cases listed below subject to the provisions of this Chapter:
(i) In cases where the Membership Company has dissolved (excluding the cases where Membership Companies have dissolved on the grounds listed in item (v) of Article 641 and cases where Membership Companies have dissolved as a result of a ruling for commencement of bankruptcy procedures and such bankruptcy procedures have not ended);
(ii) In cases where a judgment allowing a claim seeking invalidation of the incorporation has become final and binding; or
(iii) In cases where a judgment which permits a claim seeking rescission of the incorporation has become final and binding.

(Capacity of Liquidating Membership Companies)
Article 645 Membership Companies that go into liquidation themselves under the provisions of the preceding Article (hereinafter referred to as "Liquidating Membership Companies") shall be deemed to remain in existence until the completion of liquidation to the extent of the purpose of the liquidation.
Section 2 Liquidators

(Establishment of Liquidators)
Article 646 A Liquidating Membership Company must have one or more liquidators.

(Assumption of Office of Liquidators)
Article 647 (1) The following persons shall become liquidators of a Liquidating Membership Company:
(i) A member who executes the operations (excluding the cases where persons listed in the following item or in item (iii) exist);
(ii) A person prescribed by the articles of incorporation; or
(iii) A person prescribed by the consent of a majority of members (or, if members who execute the operations are provided for in the articles of incorporation, those members).
(2) In the absence of a liquidator under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the court shall appoint a liquidator in response to the petition by the interested parties.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, with respect to a Liquidating Membership Company that has dissolved on the grounds listed in item (iv) of item (vii) of Article 641, the court shall appoint a liquidator in response to a petition by interested parties or the Minister of Justice or ex officio.
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2), with respect to a Liquidating Membership Company that has fallen under the cases listed in item (ii) or (iii) of Article 644, the court shall appoint a liquidator in response to a petition by the interested parties.

(Dismissal of Liquidators)
Article 648 (1) Liquidators (excluding those appointed by the court under the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of the preceding Article) may be dismissed at any time.
(2) Dismissals under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be determined by a majority of the members unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(3) If there are significant grounds, the court may dismiss a liquidator in response to a petition by the members or other interested parties.

(Liquidators' Duties)
Article 649 Liquidators shall perform the following duties:
(i) The conclusion of current business;
(ii) The collection of debts and the performance of obligations; and
(iii) To deliver the residual assets.

(Execution of Business)
Article 650 (1) A liquidator shall execute the operations of the Liquidating Membership Company.
(2) In cases where there are two or more liquidators, the operations of the Liquidating Membership Company shall be decided by a majority of the liquidators, unless otherwise provided for in the articles of incorporation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where there are two or more members, transfer of some or all of the business of a Liquidating Membership Company shall be decided by a majority of the members.

(Relationship between Liquidators and Liquidating Membership Company)
Article 651 (1) The relationship between a Liquidating Membership Company and its liquidators shall be governed by the applicable provisions on mandate.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 593, Article 594 and Article 595 shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators. In such cases, "members other than such members" in paragraph (1) of Article 594 and paragraph (1) of Article 595 shall be deemed to be read as "members (or, in cases where such liquidators are members, members other than such liquidators)."

(Liquidators' Liability for Damages to Liquidating Membership Company)
Article 652 If liquidators fail to discharge their duties, the liquidators shall be jointly and severally liable to compensate such Liquidating Membership Company for losses arising as a result.

(Liquidators' Liability for Damages to Third Parties)
Article 653 If liquidators were in bad faith or with gross negligence in discharging their duties, such liquidators shall be jointly and severally liable to compensate losses arising in a third party as a result.

(Special Provisions where Juridical Persons are Liquidators)
Article 654 (1) In case where juridical persons act as liquidators, such juridical persons must appoint persons who are to perform the duties of such liquidators and notify the members of the names and addresses of such persons.
(2) The provisions of the preceding three articles shall apply mutatis mutandis to the persons who are to perform the duties of liquidators appointed under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

(Representatives of Liquidating Membership Company)
Article 655 (1) A liquidator or liquidators shall represent the Liquidating Membership Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where liquidators or other persons who represent the Liquidating Membership Company are otherwise prescribed.
(2) In cases where there are two or more liquidators referred to in the main clause of the preceding paragraph, each liquidator shall represent the Liquidating Membership Company individually.
(3) A Liquidating Membership Company may appoint liquidators who represent the Liquidating Membership Company from among the liquidators pursuant to the articles of incorporation, or through the appointment by the liquidators (hereinafter in this paragraph excluding those appointed by the court under the provisions of paragraph (2) through paragraph (4) of Article 647) from among themselves pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation.
(4) In cases where members who execute the operations become liquidators pursuant to the provisions of item (i), paragraph (1) of Article 647, if the members that represent the Membership Company are already prescribed, such members that represent the Membership Company shall become the liquidators that represent the Liquidating Membership Company.
(5) In cases where the court appoints liquidators under the provisions of paragraph (2) through paragraph (4) of Article 647, the court may prescribe liquidators that represent the Liquidating Membership Company from among those liquidators.
(6) The provisions of paragraph (4) and paragraph (5) of Article 599 shall apply mutatis mutandis to liquidators that represent the Liquidating Membership Company, and the provisions of Article 603 shall apply mutatis mutandis to persons that are appointed by a provisional disposition order provided for in Article 56 of the Civil Provisional Remedies Act to perform the duties of liquidators or liquidators who represent the Liquidating Membership Company on behalf of them, respectively.

(Commencement of Bankruptcy Procedures with respect to Liquidating Membership Company)
Article 656 (1) In cases where it has become clear that the assets of a Liquidating Membership Company are not sufficient to fully discharge its debts, liquidators must immediately file a petition for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures.
(2) In cases where a Liquidating Membership Company is subject to a ruling for the commencement of bankruptcy procedures, if liquidators have transferred the administration of the same to the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidators shall be have completed their duties.
(3) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if the Liquidating Membership Company has already made payments to creditors or distributions to members, the trustee in bankruptcy may retrieve the same.

(Remuneration for Liquidators Appointed by the Court)
Article 657 In cases where the court has appointed a liquidator under the provisions of paragraphs (2) through (4) of Article 647, the court may prescribe the amount of the remuneration that the Liquidating Membership Company shall pay to such liquidator.
Section 3 Inventory of Property

(Preparation of Inventory of Property)
Article 658 (1) Liquidators must investigate the current status of the property of the Liquidating Membership Companies and prepare, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, an inventory of property and the balance sheet as of the day when the Liquidating Membership Companies fell under cases listed in any of the item of Article 644 (hereinafter in this Section referred to as "Inventory of Property") and notify each member of the details of the same, without delay after assuming office.
(2) Liquidating Membership Companies must retain its Inventory of Property from the time of the preparation of such Inventory of Property until the registration completion of the liquidation at the location of its head office.
(3) Liquidating Membership Companies must report every month the current status of the liquidation at the request of the members.

(Orders to Submit Inventory of Property)
Article 659 The court may, in response to a petition or ex officio, order parties to a lawsuit to submit the Inventory of Property, in whole or in part.
Section 4 Performance of Obligations

(Public Notices to Creditors)
Article 660 (1) A Liquidating Membership Company (hereinafter in this paragraph and in the following Article limited to Limited Liability Companies) must, without delay after having fallen under a case listed in any item of Article 644, give public notice in the Official Gazette to the creditors of such Liquidating Membership Companies to the effect that creditors should state their claims during a certain period of time and must give notice of the same separately to each known creditor, if any; provided, however, that such period cannot be less than two months.
(2) The public notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must contain a notation to the effect that such creditors will be excluded from the liquidation unless they state their claims during such period of time.

(Restrictions on Performance of Obligations)
Article 661 (1) A Liquidating Membership Company cannot perform its obligations during the period of time under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. In such cases, a Liquidating Membership Company cannot be exempted from the liability arising from its failure to perform.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, even during the period of time under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, a Liquidating Membership Company may, with the permission of the court, perform its obligations relating to minor claims, claims secured by security interests over the assets of the Liquidating Membership Company, or other claims unlikely to be detrimental to other creditors even if performed. In such cases, if there are two or more liquidators, the petition for such permission must be made with the consent of all of them.

(Performance of Obligations relating to Conditional Claims)
Article 662 (1) A Liquidating Membership Company may perform obligations relating to conditional claims, claims the duration of indeterminate duration or other claims of indeterminate amount. In such cases, a petition for the appointment of an appraiser must be filed with the court in order to have such claims evaluated.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, a Liquidating Membership Company must perform its obligations relating to the claims under that paragraph in accordance with the evaluation by the appraiser under that paragraph.
(3) The expenses of the procedures for the appointment of the appraiser under paragraph (1) shall be borne by the Liquidating Membership Company. The same shall apply to the expense of summonses and questions for the purpose of appraiser's evaluation.

(Demand for Performance of Contributions)
Article 663 In cases where the current assets of a Liquidating Membership Company are not sufficient to fully discharge its debts, if there are members who have not performed all or part of their contributions, such Liquidating Membership Company may have such members make their contributions, notwithstanding the provisions of the articles of incorporation relating to such contributions.

(Restrictions on Distribution of Residual Assets before Performance of Obligations)
Article 664 A Liquidating Membership Company cannot distribute its assets to its members until after performance of the obligations of such Liquidating Membership Company; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where assets regarded as necessary for the performance of obligations relating to a claim that is the subject of dispute as to its existence or otherwise or as to its amount have been withheld.

(Exclusion from Liquidation)
Article 665 (1) Creditors of a Liquidating Membership Company (excluding known creditors; hereinafter in this Article limited to Limited Liability Companies) who fail to state their claims during the period under paragraph (1) of Article 660 shall be excluded from the liquidation.
(2) Creditors who are excluded from the liquidation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph may demand the performance solely with respect to the residual assets that are not distributed.
(3) In cases where residual assets of a Liquidating Membership Company have been distributed to some members, the assets necessary for the distribution to members other than such members in the same proportion as that applied for the distribution received by such members shall be deducted from the residual assets under the preceding paragraph.
Section 5 Distribution of Residual Assets

(Proportion of Distribution of Residual Assets)
Article 666 If there is no provision in the articles of incorporation with respect to the proportions of the distribution of residual assets, said proportions shall be prescribed in accordance with the value of each member's contribution.
Section 6 End of Liquidation Administrations
Article 667 (1) If the administration of a liquidation has ended, the Liquidating Membership Company must carry out the accounting relating to the liquidation and obtain the approval of the members without delay.
(2) If members do not raise objections to the accounting under the preceding paragraph within one month, the members shall be deemed to have approved such accounting; provided, however, that this shall not apply if there is any misconduct regarding the execution of the liquidators' duties.
Section 7 Voluntary Liquidation

(Method to Dispose of Assets)
Article 668 (1) A Membership Company (hereinafter in this Section limited to a General Partnership Company and a Limited Partnership Company) may prescribe, by the articles of incorporation or by the consent of all members, the method of the disposition of the assets of such Membership Company in cases where such Membership Company is dissolved on the grounds listed in items (i) through (iii) of Article 641.
(2) The provisions of Section 2 through the immediately preceding Section shall not apply to Membership Companies that have prescribed the method of the disposition of assets under the preceding paragraph.

(Preparation of Inventory of Property)
Article 669 (1) In cases where a Membership Company that determines the method of the disposition of assets under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is dissolved on the grounds listed in items (i) through (iii) of Article 641, the Liquidating Membership Company (hereinafter in this Section limited to a General Partnership Company and a Limited Partnership Company) must prepare, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, the inventory of property and the balance sheet as of the day of the dissolution within two weeks after the day of the dissolution.
(2) In cases where a Membership Company that has not prescribed the method of the disposition of assets under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article is dissolved on the grounds listed in items (i) through (iii) of Article 641, if it prescribes the method of the disposition of assets in that paragraph after the dissolution, the Liquidating Membership Company must prepare, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, an inventory of property and the balance sheet as of the day of the dissolution within two weeks of the day of such prescribing of the method of the disposition of assets.

(Objection of Creditors)
Article 670 (1) In cases where a Membership Company has prescribed the method of the disposition of assets under paragraph (1) of Article 668, creditors of the Liquidating Membership Company after the dissolution thereof may state their objections to such method of the disposition of assets to such Liquidating Membership Company.
(2) In cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, the Liquidating Membership Company must, within two weeks from the day of the dissolution (or, in the cases provided for in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article, of the day when such method of disposition of the assets is prescribed), give public notice of the matters listed below in the Official Gazette and must give notice of the same separately to each known creditor, if any; provided, however, that the period under item (ii) cannot be less than one month:
(i) A statement that liquidation will be effected in accordance with the method of the disposition of assets under paragraph (1) of Article 668; and
(ii) A statement to the effect that creditors may state their objections within a certain period of time.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, if in addition to using the Official Gazette, a Liquidating Membership Company effects public notice under that paragraph in a manner listed in item (ii) or (iii) of paragraph (1) of Article 939 in accordance with the provisions of the articles of incorporation under the provisions of that paragraph, the Liquidating Membership Company shall no longer be required to give separate notices under the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
(4) In cases where the creditors do not raise objections within the period under item (ii) of paragraph (2), such creditors shall be deemed to have approved such disposition of assets.
(5) In cases where the creditors raise objections within the period under item (ii) of paragraph (2), the Liquidating Membership Company must make payment to or provide appropriate security to such creditors, or entrust appropriate assets to a qualified trust company for the purpose of assuring the payment to such creditors.

(Consents of Creditors that have attached Equity Interest)
Article 671 (1) In cases where a Membership Company prescribes the method of the disposition of assets under paragraph (1) of Article 668, if there are creditors that have attached the equity interest of members, consent of those creditors must be obtained if the Liquidating Membership Company after the dissolution intends to dispose of its assets.
(2) If the Liquidating Membership Company under the preceding paragraph disposes of its assets in violation of the provisions of that paragraph, creditors that attached the equity interests of members may demand that such Liquidating Membership Company pay an amount equivalent to those equity interests.
Section 8 Retention of Accounting Materials
Article 672 (1) A Liquidator (or, in cases where the method of the disposition of assets in paragraph (1) of Article 668 is prescribed, a member that represents the Liquidating Membership Company) must retain the books of the Liquidating Membership Company as well as any material data regarding the business and liquidation of the same (hereinafter in this Article referred to as "Accounting Materials") for a period of ten years from the time of the registration of completion of the liquidation at the location of head office of the Liquidating Membership Company.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in cases where a person who retains the Accounting Materials has been prescribed by the articles of incorporation or by a majority of the members, that person must retain the Accounting Materials for a period of ten years from the time of registration of the completion of the liquidation at the location of head office of the Liquidating Membership Company.
(3) The court may, in response to a petition by interested parties, appoint a person to act on behalf of the liquidator in paragraph (1) or the person who retains the Accounting Materials under the provisions of the preceding paragraph in the retaining the Accounting Materials. In such cases, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply.
(4) The person appointed pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must retain the Accounting Materials for a period of ten years from the time of the registration of the completion of the liquidation at the location of head office of the Liquidating Membership Company.
(5) The expenses regarding the procedures for the appointment under the provisions of paragraph (3) shall be borne by the Liquidating Membership Company.
Section 9 Extinctive Prescription of Member's Liability
Article 673 (1) The liability of the member in Article 580 shall be extinguished in relation to the creditors of the Liquidating Membership Company who do not state their claims, or do not give advance notice of their claims within five years from the day of the registration of the dissolution at the location of head office of the Liquidating Membership Company, when five years have elapsed from the day of such registration.
(2) Creditors of the Liquidating Membership Company may demand that the Liquidating Membership Company make the payment, even after the lapse of the period under the preceding paragraph, if there are residual assets not distributed to members.
Section 10 Exceptions to Application

(Exceptions to Application)
Article 674 The provisions listed below shall not apply to Liquidating Membership Company:
(i) Section 1 of Chapter IV;
(ii) Article 606, paragraph (1) of Article 607 (excluding items (iii) and (iv)) and Article 609;
(iii) In Chapter V, Section 3 (excluding paragraph (4) of Article 617, Article 618 and Article 619) through Section 6 and Subsection 2 of Section 7; and
(iv) item (iii) of paragraph (1) and item (ii) of paragraph (2) of Article 638.

(Special Provisions on Withdrawal of Members due to Inheritances and Mergers)
Article 675 In cases where a member in a Liquidating Membership Company dies or disappears as a result of the merger, the heirs or other general successors of such member, may succeed to the equity interest of such member even in the absence of the provisions of the articles of incorporation under paragraph (1) of Article 608. In such cases, the provisions of paragraphs (4) and (5) of that Article shall apply mutatis mutandis.
Part IV Bonds

Chapter I General Provisions

(Determination of Matters on Bonds for Subscription)
Article 676 Whenever a Company intends to solicit persons who subscribe for the Bonds it issues, the Company must determine the following matters with respect to the Bonds for subscription (hereinafter in this Part referring to the Bonds that will be allotted to the persons who subscribed for those Bonds in response to such solicitation):
(i) The total amount of Bonds for subscription;
(ii) The amount of each Bond for subscription;
(iii) The interest rate for the Bonds for subscription;
(iv) The method and due date for the redemption of the Bonds for subscription;
(v) The method and due date for payment of the interest;
(vi) If Bond certificates are to be issued, the statement to that effect;
(vii) If it is to be arranged that bondholders may not make the demand under the provisions of Article 698, in whole or in part, the statement to that effect;
(viii) If it is to be arranged that bond administrator may perform the act listed in item (ii), paragraph (1) of Article 706 in the absence of the resolution of the bondholders meeting, the statement to that effect;
(ix) The amount to be paid in for each Bond for subscription (hereinafter in this Chapter referring to the amount of monies to be paid in in exchange for each Bond for subscription) or the minimum amount thereof, or the method for calculating those amounts;
(x) The due date for payment in of the monies in exchange for the Bond for subscription;
(xi) If it is to be arranged that the issue of the Bonds for subscription will not be carried out in their entirety in cases where the persons to whom the Bonds for subscription will be allotted are not prescribed for the total amount of the bonds by a certain day, the statement to that effect and that certain day; and
(xii) In addition to the matters listed in each of the above items, matters prescribed by applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Applications for Bonds for Subscription)
Article 677 (1) A Company must notify persons who intend to subscribe for Bonds for subscription in response to the solicitation under the preceding paragraph of the matters listed in the following items:
(i) The trade name of the Company;
(ii) The matters listed in each item of the preceding Article relating to such solicitation;
(iii) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding two items, matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A person who intends to apply the subscription for the Bonds for subscription in response to the solicitation in the preceding paragraph must deliver a document that gives the following information:
(i) The name and address of the person applying;
(ii) The amount of the Bonds for subscription for which he/she intends to subscribe and the number of Bonds for each amount; and
(iii) If the Company has prescribed the minimum amount under item (ix) of the preceding Article, the preferred amount for payment.
(3) A person who submits an application in paragraph (1) may, in lieu of delivering a document as referred to in that paragraph, provide the information that is required to be detailed in the document referred to in that paragraph by electronic or magnetic means, with the approval of the Company and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, the person who submitted the application shall be deemed to have delivered the document in that paragraph.
(4) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply in cases where the Company has issued the prospectus prescribed in paragraph (10) of Article 2 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act that states the matters listed in each item of that paragraph to a person who intends to submit the application under paragraph (1), and in other cases that are prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the cases where it is unlikely that the protection of persons who intend to submit the application for the subscription for Bonds for subscription will be compromised.
(5) If there are changes in the matters listed in any item of paragraph (1), the Company must immediately notify persons who have submitted applications in paragraph (2) (hereinafter in this Subsection referred to as "Applicants") thereof and of the matters so changed.
(6) It shall be sufficient for a notice or letters of demand to an Applicant to be sent by the Company to the address under item (i) of paragraph (2) (or, in cases where such Applicant notifies the Company of a different place or contact address for the receipt of notices or letters of demand, to such place or contact address).
(7) The notice or letters of demand referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or letter of demand should normally have arrived.

(Allotment of Bonds for Subscription)
Article 678 (1) A Company must specify the persons to whom Bonds for subscription will be allotted from among the Applicants, and the amount, and the number for each amount, of the Bonds for subscription to be allotted to those persons. In such cases, the Company may reduce the number for each amount of Bonds for subscription that are to be allotted to such Applicants below the number under item (ii), paragraph (2) of the preceding Article.
(2) The Company must notify the Applicants, no later than the day immediately preceding the date referred to in item (x) of Article 676 of the amount, and the number for each amount, of the Bonds for subscription that will be allotted to such Applicant.

(Special Provision on Subscription and Allotment of Bonds for Subscription)
Article 679 The provisions of the preceding two Articles shall not apply in cases where a person who intends to subscribe for the Bonds for subscription executes a contract for the subscription for the total amount of those Bonds.

(Bondholders of Bonds for Subscription)
Article 680 The person listed in the following items shall be the Bondholders of the Bonds for subscription provided for in each of such items:
(i) Applicants: The Bonds for subscription allotted by the Company; or
(ii) A person who subscribed for all amount of the Bonds for subscription under the contract referred to in the preceding Article: The Bonds for subscription which such person has subscribed.

(Bond Register)
Article 681 A Company must, without delay after the day when Bonds are issued, prepare a bond register and enter or record the following information (hereinafter referred to as "Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register") in that register:
(i) The matters listed in items (iii) through (xiii) of Article 676 and other matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the matters that specify the features of the Bonds (hereinafter in this Part referred to as "Class");
(ii) For each Class, the total amount of the Bonds and the amount of each Bond;
(iii) The amount of the monies paid in in exchange for each Bond, and the day of the payment in;
(iv) The name and address of the Bondholders (excluding the Bondholders of bearer Bonds (hereinafter in this Part referring to Bonds for which bearer form Bond certificates are issued));
(v) The days when the Bondholders in the preceding item acquired each Bond;
(vi) If bond certificates are issued, the serial number of the Bond certificates, the days of issue, whether the bond certificates are registered certificates or bearer certificates, and the number of the bearer bond certificates;
(vii) In addition to the foregoing, matters prescribed by applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Delivery of Documents Showing Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register)
Article 682 (1) A bondholder (excluding the bondholders of bearer bonds) may file a request with the Company that issued the Bonds (hereinafter in this Part referred to as "Bond-Issuing Company") to be issued a document showing the Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register which has been entered or recorded in the bond register with respect to that bondholder, or to be provided with an electronic or magnetic record in which the Information Required to be Entered in the Bond Register has been recorded.
(2) The document referred to in the preceding paragraph must be affixed with the signature, or name and seal, of the representative of the Bond-Issuing Company.
(3) With respect to an electronic or magnetic record referred to in paragraph (1), the representative of the Bond-Issuing Company must implement measures in lieu of the affixation of signature, or name and seal prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply in cases where there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued for such bonds.

(Bond Register Administrator)
Article 683 A Company may appoint a bond register administrator (meaning a person to prepare, keep, and otherwise administer the bond register on behalf of the Company; the same applies hereinafter), and may entrust that administrator with administering the same.

(Keeping and Making Available for Inspection of the Bond Register)
Article 684 (1) A Bond-Issuing Company must keep the bond register at its head office (or, if it has a bond register administrator, at its business office).
(2) The Bondholders and other persons prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice may make the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Bond-Issuing Company. In such cases, the reasons for such request must be disclosed.
(i) If the bond register is prepared in writing, the request for the inspection or copying of such document;
(ii) If the bond register has been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, a request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.
(3) If the request referred to in the preceding paragraph is made, the Bond-Issuing Company may not refuse such request unless:
(i) The person who made such request, made the request for a purpose other than for the research on securing or exercising his/her rights;
(ii) The person who made such request, made the request in order to report the fact which he/she may learn by inspecting or copying the bond register to third parties for profit; or
(iii) The person who makes the request is a person who has reported the facts, knowledge of which was acquired by inspecting or copying the bond register, to third parties for profit in the immediately preceding two years.
(4) In cases where a Bond-Issuing Company is a Stock Company, if it is necessary for a Member in the Parent Company of such Bond-Issuing Company to exercise his/her right, such Member in the Parent Company may, with the permission of the court, make the request in each item of paragraph (2) with respect to the bond register of the Bond-Issuing Company. In such cases, the reasons of such request must be disclosed.
(5) The court may not grant the permission in the preceding paragraph if grounds provided for in any item of paragraph (3) apply to the Member of the parent Company in the preceding paragraph.

(Notices to Bondholders)
Article 685 (1) It shall be sufficient for a notice or demand letter to bondholders to be sent by a Bond-Issuing Company to the address of such bondholders which has been entered or recorded in the bond register (or, in cases where such bondholders notify such Bond-Issuing Company of a different place or contact address for receipt of notices or demand letters, to such place or contact address).
(2) The notices or demand letters referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be deemed to have arrived at the time when such notice or demand letter should normally have arrived.
(3) If a bond is co-owned by two or more persons, the co-owners must specify one person to receive the notices or demand letters sent by the Bond-Issuing Company to bondholders and notify such Bond-Issuing Company of the name of that person. In such cases, that person shall be deemed to be the bondholder and the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis.
(4) In cases where there is no notice by co-owners under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, it shall be sufficient for a notice or demand letter sent by a Bond-Issuing Company to the co-owners of the bondholders if it is sent to one of them.
(5) The provisions of the preceding paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cases where, when the notice in paragraph (1) of Article 720 is given, a document is delivered or matters to be stated in such document are provided to the bondholders by an electronic or magnetic means. In such cases, the words "to have arrived" in paragraph (2) shall be read as "to have been effected by delivery of such documents or provision of such matters by electronic or magnetic means."

(Exercise of Rights by Co-owners)
Article 686 If a bond is co-owned by two or more persons, the co-owners may not exercise their rights in relation to such bond unless they specify one person to exercise the rights in relation to such bond, and notify the Company of the name of that person; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the Company has agreed to the exercise of such rights.

(Transfer of Bonds with Issued Certificates)
Article 687 Transfer of bonds for which there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued shall not become effective unless bond certificates relating to such bonds are delivered.

(Perfection of Transfer of Bonds)
Article 688 (1) Transfer of bonds cannot be asserted against the Bond-Issuing Company and other third parties unless the name and addresses of the persons who acquire those bonds is stated or recorded in the bond register.
(2) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph in cases where there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued with respect to such bonds, the words "the Bond-Issuing Company and other third parties" in that paragraph shall be read as "the .Bond-Issuing Company."
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to bearer bonds.

(Presumption of Rights)
Article 689 (1) A possessor of bond certificates shall be presumed to be the lawful owner of the right in relation to the Bonds for such bond certificates.
(2) A person who takes the delivery of bond certificates shall acquire the rights in relation to the bonds for such bond certificates; provided, however, that this shall not apply if that person is in bad faith or with gross negligence.

(Entering or Recording Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register Register without a Request from Bondholders)
Article 690 (1) In a case as provided in one of the following items, a Bond-Issuing Company must enter or record in the bond register the Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register with respect to the bondholder referred to in that item:
(i) In cases where the bondholders have acquired the bonds of such Bond-Issuing Company;
(ii) In cases where the bondholders have disposed of own bonds held by the Bond-Issuing Company.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply to any bearer bond.

(Entering or Recording Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register as Requested by Bondholders)
Article 691 (1) A person (other than the Bond-Issuing Company in question) that has acquired bonds from any person other than the Bond-Issuing Company may request that such Bond-Issuing Company enter or record in the bond register the Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register with respect to such bonds.
(2) Except for the cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as the case of no likelihood of harm to interested parties, requests under the provisions of the preceding paragraph must be made jointly with the person entered or recorded in the bond register as the bondholder of the bonds so acquired, or his/her general successor(s) including his/her heir(s).
(3) The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply to any bearer bond.

(Pledges of Bonds with Issued Certificates)
Article 692 Pledges of bonds for which there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued, shall not become effective, unless Bond certificates relating to such bonds are delivered.

(Perfection of Pledge of Bonds)
Article 693 (1) A pledge of bonds cannot be asserted against the Bond-Issuing Company and other third parties unless the names and addresses of the pledgees are entered or recorded in the bond register.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a pledgee of bonds for which there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued may not assert his/her pledge against the Bond-Issuing Company and other third parties unless he/she is in continuous possession of the bond certificates relating to such bonds.

(Entries in the Bond Register regarding Pledges)
Article 694 (1) A person pledging bonds may request the Bond-Issuing Company to enter or record the following information in the bond register:
(i) The name and address of the pledgee;
(ii) The bond underlying the pledge.
(2) The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in cases where there is provision to the effect that bond certificates will be issued.

(Delivery of Documents Showing Information That Has Been Entered in the Bond Register regarding Pledges)
Article 695 (1) A pledgee whose information as set forth in each of the items of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article has been entered or recorded in the bond register may file a request with the Bond-Issuing Company to be issued a document showing the information set forth in each of the items of that paragraph which has been entered or recorded in the bond register with respect to that pledgee, or to be provided with the electronic or magnetic record in which that information has been recorded.
(2) The documents in the preceding paragraph must be affixed with the signature, or name and seal, of a representative of the Bond-Issuing Company.
(3) With respect to the electronic or magnetic record in paragraph (1), the representative of the Bond-Issuing Company must implement measures in lieu of the affixation of signature, or name and seal prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Perfection Requirements for Bonds Belonging to Trust Properties, etc.)
Article 695-2 (1) With regard to Bonds, it may not be asserted against a Bond-Issuing Company or other third party that said Bonds belong to the trust property unless it is entered or recorded in the bond register that said Bonds belong to the trust property.
(2) In cases where Bonds held by bondholders under Article 681(iv) belong to the trust property, the bondholders may request the Bond-Issuing Company to enter or record this in the bond register.
(3) For the purpose of application of the provisions of Article 682 (1) and Article 690 (1) to cases where entry or record is made in the bond register pursuant to the provisions of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, "the Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register which has been entered or recorded in the bond register with respect to that bondholder" in Article 682 (1) shall be read as "the Information Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register which has been entered or recorded in the bond register with respect to that bondholder (including the fact that Bonds held by said bondholder belong to the trust property)" and "Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register with respect to the bondholder referred to in that item" in Article 690 (1) shall be read as "Information That Is Required to Be Entered in the Bond Register with respect to the bondholder referred to in that item Register (including the fact that Bonds held by said bondholder belong to the trust property)."
(4) The provisions of the preceding three paragraphs shall not apply to Bonds for which there is a provision to the effect that bond certificates shall not be issued.

(Issuing of Bond Certificates)
Article 696 A Bond-Issuing Company must, without delay after the day of a bond issue for which there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued, issue bond certificates to represent those bonds.

(Matters to be Stated on Bond Certificates)
Article 697 (1) A Bond-Issuing Company must state the following matters and the serial number on a bond certificate, and the representative of the Bond-Issuing Company must affix his/her signature, or name and seal:
(i) The trade name of the Bond-Issuing Company;
(ii) The amount of bonds relating to such bond certificates;
(iii) The Class of bonds relating to such bond certificates;
(2) Coupons may be attached to bond certificates.

(Conversions between Registered Bonds and Bearer Bonds)
Article 698 Bondholders of bonds for which bond certificates are issued may demand at any time that the Bond-Issuing Company convert their registered bond certificates into bearer bond certificates, or convert their bearer bond certificates into registered bond certificates, except in cases where there is an arrangement under provisions with respect to the matters listed in item (vii) of Article 676 that such conversion is not possible.

(Loss of Bond Certificates)
Article 699 (1) Bond certificates may be invalidated pursuant to the public notification procedures under Article 100 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act.
(2) Persons who have lost bond certificates may not request the reissuing of their bond certificates until after they obtain the invalidation provided for in paragraph (1) of Article 106 of the Non-Contentious Cases Procedures Act.

(Redemption of Bonds where Coupons Missing)
Article 700 (1) In cases where a Bond-Issuing Company redeems a bond for which a bond certificates is issued before it matures, if a coupon attached to the bond is missing, the Bond-Issuing Company must deduct the amount of the claim for interest on the bond indicated on such coupon from the redemption amount; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such claim has fallen due.
(2) The possessor of the coupon in the preceding paragraph may demand at any time that the Bond-Issuing Company pay the amount that must be deducted under the provisions of that paragraph in exchange for the coupon.

(Extinctive Prescription of Right to Claim Redemption of Bonds)
Article 701 (1) The right to claim the redemption of bonds shall be extinguished by prescription if not exercised for ten years.
(2) The right to claim interest on bonds and the right to claim under the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article shall be extinguished by prescription if not exercised for five years.

Chapter II Bond Administrators

(Establishment of Bond Administrators)
Article 702 In cases where a Company will issue bonds, the Company must specify a bond administrator and entrust the receipt of payments, the preservation of rights of claim on behalf of the bondholders and other administration of the bonds to that manager; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where the amount of each bond is 100,000,000 yen or more, and other cases prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as cases where it is unlikely that the protection of bondholders will be compromised.

(Qualifications of Bond Administrators)
Article 703 A bond administrator must be a person listed as follows:
(i) A bank;
(ii) A trust company; and
(iii) In addition to the above, a person prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as a person equivalent to the above.

(Obligations of Bond Administrators)
Article 704 (1) Bond administrators must perform the administration of bonds in a fair and sincere manner on behalf of the bondholders.
(2) Bond administrators must manage the bonds with due care of a prudent manager to the bondholders.

(Bond Administrator's Power of Representation)
Article 705 (1) A manager shall have authority to do all judicial and non-judicial acts on behalf of bondholders that are necessary to receive payment of claims relating to the bonds or to preserve the realization of claims relating to the bonds.
(2) In cases where a bond administrator has received payment under the preceding paragraph, the bondholders may claim payment of the redeemed amount of bonds and interest from the bond administrator. In such cases, if there is provision to the effect that bond certificates shall be issued, the bondholders must claim the payment of such redeemed amount in exchange for the bond certificates, and the payment of such interest in exchange for the coupons.
(3) The right to claim under the provisions of the first sentence of the preceding paragraph shall be extinguished by prescription if not exercised for ten years.
(4) If it is necessary for a bond administrator to carry out the acts under paragraph (1) with respect to bonds that the bond administrator has been entrusted to administer, the bond administrator may, with the permission of the court, investigate the status of the business and assets of the Bond-Issuing Company.
Article 706 (1) A bond administrator may not carry out the following acts without a resolution of a bondholders meeting; provided, however, that this shall not apply with respect to the act listed in item (ii) if there is provision with respect to the matters listed in item (viii) of Article 676:
(i) With respect to all of the bonds, granting extension for the payment of those bonds, or releasing, or settling liability arising from the failure to perform the obligations of those bonds (excluding the acts listed in the following item);
(ii) With respect to all of the bonds, prosecuting lawsuits, or proceeding with bankruptcy procedures, rehabilitation procedures, reorganization procedures or procedures regarding special liquidation (excluding the act under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article).
(2) If a bond administrator carries out the acts listed in item (ii) of the preceding paragraph without a resolution of a bondholders meeting under the provisions of the proviso to that paragraph, the bond administrator must, without delay, give public notice to such effect and separate notice thereof to each known bondholder.
(3) The public notice under the provisions of the preceding paragraph must be made in accordance with the method of public notice used by the Bond-Issuing Company; provided, however, that, if that method is electromagnetic public notice, such public notice must be effected by publication in the Official Gazette.
(4) If it is necessary for a bond administrator to carry out the acts listed in each item of paragraph (1) with respect to bonds that the bond administrator has been entrusted to administer, the bond administrator may, with the permission of the court, investigate the status of the business and assets of the .Bond-Issuing Company.

(Appointment of Special Agent)
Article 707 In cases where there is conflict between the interests of the bondholders and those of the bond administrator, if it is necessary to carry out judicial and non-judicial acts on behalf of bondholders, the court must, in response to a petition by the bondholders meeting, appoint a special agent.

(Method of Acts of Bond Administrators)
Article 708 If a bond administrator or a special agent under the preceding Article performs judicial or non-judicial acts on behalf of bondholders, he/she need not identify individual bondholders.

(Special Provisions for Multiple Bond Administrators)
Article 709 (1) If there are two or more bond administrators, these persons must perform the acts within their authority jointly.
(2) In the cases provided for in the preceding paragraph, if bond administrators have accepted payments under paragraph (1) of Article 705, the bond administrators shall be jointly and severally liable for payment of the amount so tendered.

(Liability of Bond Administrator)
Article 710 (1) If bond administrators commit acts in violation of this Act or resolutions of the bondholders meeting, they shall be jointly and severally liable to compensate bondholders for losses arising as a result.
(2) A bond administrator shall be liable to compensate bondholders for losses if the bond administrator commits any of the following acts after, or within three months prior to, the Bond-Issuing Company's having failed to redeem bonds or pay interest on the same, or having suspended payments; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such bond administrator has proven that he/she did not fail to manage the Bonds with due diligence, or that such losses were not caused by such acts:
(i) Accepting, with respect to an obligation relating to a claim of such bond administrator, the tender of a security or an act regarding the extinguishment of the obligation from the Bond-Issuing Company;
(ii) Transferring a claim of such bond administrator to a person who has a special relationship prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice with such bond administrator (limited to cases where the person who has such special relationship has accepted with respect to an obligation relating to such claim, the tender of a security or an act regarding the extinguishment of the obligation, from the Bond-Issuing Company); or
(iii) In cases where such bond administrator has a claim against the Bond-Issuing Company, entering into a contract with the Bond-Issuing Company for disposal of assets of the Bond-Issuing Company, or entering into a contract under which the bond administrator assumes the obligations that a person owes to the Bond-Issuing Company, in each case for the sole purpose of setting off obligations to the Bond-Issuing Company that the bond administrator assumes under the contract against the bond administrator's claim against the Bond-Issuing Company.
(iv) In cases where such bond administrator has an obligation to the Bond-Issuing Company, accepting the transfer of a claim against the Bond-Issuing Company and setting off such obligation against such claim.

(Resignation of Bond Administrators)
Article 711 (1) A bond administrator may resign with the consent of the Bond-Issuing Company and the bondholders meeting. In such cases, if there is no other bond administrator, such bond administrator must specify a bond administrator to succeed to the administration of the bonds in advance.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a bond administrator may resign on any ground provided for in the entrustment contract under the provisions of Article 702; provided, however, that this shall not apply if such contract does not have provisions regarding bond administrators to succeed to the administration of the bonds.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1), a bond administrator may resign with the permission of the court if there are unavoidable reasons.

(Liability of Bond Administrators after Resignation)
Article 712 The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 710 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a person who resigned as bond administrator under the provisions of paragraph (2) of the preceding Article after, or within three months prior to, the Bond-Issuing Company's having failed to redeem bonds or pay interest, or having suspended payments.

(Dismissal of Bond Administrators)
Article 713 The court may dismiss a bond administrator in response to a petition by the Bond-Issuing Company or a bondholders meeting if such bond administrator has violated the bond administrator's obligations, if the bond administrator is not fit to handle the administration for which the bond administrator is responsible, or if there are other justifiable grounds.

(Succession to Bond Administrator's Administration of Bonds)
Article 714 (1) In cases where a bond administrator has fallen under any of the following circumstances, if there is no other bond administrator, the Bond-Issuing Company must specify a bond administrator to succeed to the administration of the bonds, and entrust the administration of the bonds to such person on behalf of the bondholders. In such cases, the Bond-Issuing Company must convene a bondholders meeting without delay in order to obtain the consent of the same, and if such consent cannot be obtained, must file a petition for the permission of the court in lieu of such consent:
(i) If the bond administrator is no longer a person listed in any item of Article 703;
(ii) If the bond administrator has resigned under the provisions of paragraph (3) of Article 711;
(iii) If the bond administrator has been dismissed under the provisions of the preceding paragraph; or
(iv) If the bond administrator has been dissolved.
(2) In the cases provided for in the first sentence of the preceding paragraph, if a Bond-Issuing Company does not convene a meeting under the provisions of the second sentence of that paragraph or file a petition under the second sentence of that paragraph within two months of the day on which the Bond-Issuing Company fell under any of the circumstances in each item of that paragraph, the Bond-Issuing Company shall forfeit the benefit of time in relation to the total amount of such bonds.
(3) In the cases provided for in the first sentence of paragraph (1), if there are unavoidable reasons, interested parties may petition the court for the appointment of a bond administrator to succeed to the administration of the bonds.
(4) In cases where a Bond-Issuing Company has specified the bond administrator to succeed to the administration of the bonds under the provisions of the first sentence of paragraph (1) (excluding cases where the consent of a bondholders meeting has been obtained), or in cases where a bond administrator has been appointed to succeed to the administration of the bonds under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Bond-Issuing Company must, without delay, give public notice to such effect and separate notice thereof to each known bondholder.

Chapter III Bondholders Meeting

(Constitution of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 715 Bondholders meetings for each Class of bonds shall be constituted by bondholders.

(Authority of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 716 Bondholders meetings may make resolutions on matters provided for in this Act, and matters in relation to the interests of the bondholders.

(Convocation of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 717 (1) Bondholders meetings may, where necessary, be convened at any time.
(2) Bondholders meetings shall be convened by the Bond-Issuing Company or bond administrator, except in cases where a bondholders meeting is convened under the provisions of paragraph (3) of the following Article.

(Demand for Convocation of Meeting by Bondholders)
Article 718 (1) Bondholders who hold not less than one tenth (1/10) of the total amount of bonds of a certain Class (excluding bonds that have been redeemed) may demand that the Bond-Issuing Company or bond administrator convene a bondholders meeting, by disclosing the matters that form the purpose of the bondholders meeting and the reasons for the convocation.
(2) The sum of the amount of bonds in the Class in question which are held by the Bond-Issuing Company itself shall not be included in the calculation of the total amount of the bonds under the preceding paragraph.
(3) In the following cases, the bondholders who made the demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) may convene a bondholders meeting with the permission of the court.
(i) In cases where the convocation procedure is not effected without delay after the demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1); or
(ii) In cases where notice of the convocation of a bondholders meeting stating a day falling within an eight-week period after the day of the demand under the provisions of paragraph (1) as the day of the bondholders meeting, is not sent.
(4) Bondholders of bearer bonds who intend to make a demand pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or to effect the convocation pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must present their bond certificates to the Bond-Issuing Company or bond administrator.

(Determination of Convocation of Bondholders Meeting)
Article 719 A person who convenes a bondholders meeting (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Convener") must specify the following matters in cases where he/she convenes a bondholders meeting:
(i) The date, time and place of the bondholders meeting;
(ii) The matters that form the purpose of the bondholders meeting;
(iii) If it is to be arranged that bondholders who do not attend the bondholders meeting may exercise voting rights by electronic or magnetic means, a statement to such effect;
(iv) In addition to the matters listed in the preceding three items, matters prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Notice of Convocation of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 720 (1) In order to convene a bondholders meeting, the Convener must give written notice thereof to known bondholders and the Bond-Issuing Company, as well as to the bond administrator if appointed, no later than two weeks prior to the day of the bondholders meeting.
(2) In lieu of sending the written notice referred to in the preceding paragraph, the Convener may send a notice by electronic or magnetic means with the consent of bondholders, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Cabinet Order. In such cases, such Convener shall be deemed to have sent the written notice under that paragraph.
(3) The notice under the preceding two paragraphs must state or record the matters listed in each item of the preceding Article.
(4) In cases where a Bond-Issuing Company issues bearer bond certificates, in order to convene a bondholders meeting, the Convener must give public notice to the effect that a bondholders meeting will be convened and of the matters listed in each item of the preceding Article no later than three weeks prior to the day of the bondholders meeting.
(5) The public notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must be given in accordance with the method of public notice used by the Bond-Issuing Company; provided, however, that, in cases where the Convener is a person other than the Bond-Issuing Company, if such method is electromagnetic public notice, such public notice must be effected by publication in the Official Gazette.

(Delivery of Reference Documents for Bondholders Meeting and Voting Card)
Article 721 (1) The Convener must, when giving notice under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, deliver documents containing reference materials for exercising voting rights (hereinafter in this Article referred to as " Reference Documents for Bondholders Meeting") and the documents to be used by bondholders to exercise voting rights (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Voting Card") to known bondholders, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) If the Convener issues notice by electronic or magnetic means as referred to in paragraph (2) of the preceding Article to bondholders who have given consent under the same paragraph, in lieu of delivering the Reference Documents for Bondholders Meeting and Proxy cards under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Convener may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in those documents; provided, however, that if there is a request from a bondholder, the Convener must deliver such documents to such bondholder.
(3) In cases where public notice is given pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (4) of the preceding Article, if there is a request by a bondholder of bearer bonds no later than one week prior to the day of the bondholders meeting, the Convener must immediately deliver the Reference Documents for Bondholders Meeting and Voting Card to such bondholder.
(4) In lieu of delivering the Reference Documents for Bondholders Meeting and Voting Card under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Convener may use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in such documents, with the consent of the bondholders and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, such Convener shall be deemed to have delivered those documents under the provisions of that paragraph.
Article 722 (1) If the particulars referred set forth in item (iii) of Article 719 have been specified, when using electronic or magnetic means to notify bondholders that have given the consent referred to in paragraph (2) of Article 720, the Convener must use that electronic or magnetic means to provide the bondholders with the information that is required to be detailed in the Voting Card, pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) In cases where the matters listed in item (iii) of Article 719 are specified, if there is a request from a bondholder who did not give consent under paragraph (2) of Article 720 no later than one week prior to the day of the bondholders meeting, to be provided with the information that is required to be detailed in the proxy card by electronic or magnetic means, the Convener must use electronic or magnetic means to immediately provide the bondholder with that information, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.

(Amount of Voting Rights)
Article 723 (1) Bondholders shall have voting rights at bondholders meetings in proportion to the total amounts of bonds of the relevant Classes they hold (excluding amounts already redeemed).
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a Bond-Issuing Company shall not have voting rights with respect to its own bonds that it holds.
(3) Bondholders of bearer bonds who intend to exercise voting rights must present their bond certificates to the Convener no later than one week prior to the day of a bondholders meeting.

(Resolutions of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 724 (1) In order to pass a matter to be resolved at a bondholders meeting, the consent of persons who hold more than half of the total amount of voting rights of voting rights holders (hereinafter in this Chapter referring to the bondholders who can exercise voting rights) present at the meeting must be obtained.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, in order to pass the following matters at a bondholders meeting, the consent of persons who hold not less than one fifth (1/5) of the total amount of voting rights of voting rights holders, being not less than two thirds (2/3) of the total amount of voting rights of voting rights holders present at the meeting, must be obtained.
(i) Matters regarding the acts listed in each item of Article 706; and
(ii) Matters for which a resolution of a bondholders meeting is required under the provisions of paragraph (1) of Article 706, paragraph (1) of Article 736, the proviso to paragraph (1) of Article 737 and Article 738.
(3) Bondholders meetings may not pass resolutions on matters other than those listed in item (ii) of Article 719.

(Proxy Voting)
Article 725 (1) Bondholders may exercise voting rights by proxy. In such cases, such bondholders or proxies must submit to the Convener a document certifying such power of representation.
(2) The grant of the power of representation under the preceding paragraph must be made for each bondholders meeting.
(3) Bondholders or proxies referred to in paragraph (1) may, in lieu of submitting a document certifying the power of representation, use electronic or magnetic means to provide the information that is required to be detailed in such document, with the approval of the Convener and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order. In such cases, such bondholders or proxies shall be deemed to have submitted such document.
(4) In cases where the bondholders are persons who gave consent under paragraph (2) of Article 720, the Convener may not refuse to grant approval under the preceding paragraph without reasonable grounds.

(Voting in Writing)
Article 726 (1) Bondholders who do not attend a bondholders meeting may exercise voting rights in writing.
(2) The exercise of voting rights in writing shall be effected by entering the necessary matters on the Voting Card and submitting the Voting Card to the Convener by the time prescribed by the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(3) The number of voting rights exercised in writing under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be included in the number of the voting rights of the bondholders present at the meeting.

(Voting by Electronic or Magnetic Means)
Article 727 (1) The exercise of voting rights by electronic or magnetic means shall be effected by using electronic or magnetic means to provide the Convener with the information that is required to be entered in the proxy card no later than the time prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice, with the approval of the Convener and pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Order.
(2) In cases where the bondholders are persons who have given consent under paragraph (2) of Article 720, the Convener may not refuse to grant approval under the preceding paragraph without justifiable grounds.
(3) The amount of the voting rights exercised by electronic or magnetic means under the provisions of paragraph (1) shall be included in the amount of the voting rights of the bondholders present at the meeting.

(Inconsistent Voting)
Article 728 (1) Bondholders may exercise the voting rights they hold without maintaining consistency. In such cases, the bondholders must notify the Convener to such effect and of the reasons for the same no later than three days prior to the day of the bondholders meeting.
(2) If a bondholder in the preceding paragraph is not a person who holds bonds on behalf of others, the Convener may reject the inconsistent exercise of the voting rights held by such bondholder under the provisions of that paragraph.

(Attendance of Representative of Bond-Issuing Company)
Article 729 (1) A Bond-Issuing Company or bond administrator may state an opinion by having a representative or agent attend the bondholders meeting, or in writing; provided, however, that for bond administrators this shall not apply if that bondholders meeting is convened for the appointment of a special agent under Article 707.
(2) Bondholders or Conveners may, when they regard it as necessary, demand that the Bond-Issuing Company's representative or agent attend a meeting. In such cases, for attendance at a bondholders meeting, a resolution must be passed to the effect that such demand will be made.

(Resolution for Postponement or Continuation)
Article 730 In cases where a resolution has been passed for the postponement or continuation of the bondholders meeting, the provisions of Articles 719 and 720 shall not apply.

(Minutes)
Article 731 (1) Minutes must be prepared with respect to the business of the bondholders meeting, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice.
(2) A Bond-Issuing Company must keep the minutes referred to in the preceding paragraph at its head office for a period of ten years from the day of a bondholders meeting.
(3) The bond administrator and bondholders may make the following requests at any time during the business hours of the Bond-Issuing Company:
(i) If the minutes in paragraph (1) are prepared in writing, requests for the inspection or copying of such documents; and
(ii) If the minutes in paragraph (1) have been prepared as an electronic or magnetic record, request to inspect or copy anything that is used in a manner prescribed by Ordinance of the Ministry of Justice to display the information recorded in that electronic or magnetic record.

(Petitions for Approval of Resolutions of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 732 When a resolution is made at a bondholders meeting, the Convener must file a petition with the court for the approval of such resolution within one week of the day of such resolution.

(Rejection of Resolutions of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 733 The court cannot approve a resolution of a bondholders meeting in cases falling under any of the following:
(i) If the procedures for the convocation of the bondholders meeting or the method of the resolution of the bondholders meeting violates laws and regulations or the matters stated or recorded in materials used for explaining the business of the Bond-Issuing Company or other matters regarding the solicitation in Article 676;
(ii) If the resolution was adopted by an unlawful method;
(iii) If the resolution is extremely unfair; or
(iv) If the resolution is contrary to the general interests of bondholders.

(Effectiveness of Resolutions of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 734 (1) A resolution of a bondholders meeting shall not be become effective unless the approval of the court is obtained.
(2) A resolution of a bondholders meeting shall be effective against all bondholders who hold bonds of the relevant Class.

(Public Notice of Rulings Approving or Rejecting Resolutions of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 735 If a ruling has been given approving or rejecting a resolution of a bondholders meeting, the Bond-Issuing Company must give public notice to that effect without delay.

(Appointment of Representative Bondholders)
Article 736 (1) A bondholders meeting may appoint, by resolution of the same, one or more representative bondholders from among bondholders who hold bonds representing not less than one thousandth (1/1000) of the total amount of bonds of the relevant Class (excluding amounts already redeemed), and entrust decisions on the matters on which resolutions are to be passed at bondholders meetings to such representative bondholders.
(2) The provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 718 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the total amount of the Bonds provided for in the preceding paragraph.
(3) In cases where there are two or more representative bondholders, unless otherwise provided for at a bondholders meeting, the decisions on the matters provided for in paragraph (1) shall be made by a majority of those representative bondholders.

(Execution of Resolutions of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 737 (1) Resolutions of bondholders meetings shall be executed by the bond administrator or representative bondholders (except where there is a bond administrator); provided, however, that this shall not apply if the person who executes resolutions of bondholders meetings is separately prescribed by a resolution of a bondholders meeting.
(2) The provisions under paragraphs (1) through (3) of Article 705, and under Articles 708 and 709 shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a representative bondholder or person responsible for the execution of resolutions of bondholders meetings prescribed under the provisions of the proviso to the preceding paragraph (hereinafter in this Chapter referred to as "Resolution Administrator") executes the resolutions of bondholders meetings.

(Dismissal of Representative Bondholders)
Article 738 A bondholders meeting may, at any time by resolution of the same, dismiss or change the matters entrusted to the representative bondholders or Resolution Administrator.

(Forfeiture of the Benefit of Time for Failure to Pay Interest on Bonds)
Article 739 (1) If a Bond-Issuing Company fails to pay interest on bonds, or fails to periodically partially redeem bonds in cases where it must carry out that redemption, pursuant to a resolution of a bondholders meeting, the person executing the resolution may give written notice to the Bond-Issuing Company to the effect that it must make payment within a defined period of time, and to the effect that, if payment is not made within such period of time, the Bond-Issuing Company shall forfeit the benefit of time as to the total amount of such bonds, provided, however, that such period may not be less than two months.
(2) A person who executes a resolution under the preceding paragraph may, in lieu of the written notice under the provisions of that paragraph, provide the matters to be notified under the provisions of that paragraph by electronic or magnetic means, with the approval of the Bond-Issuing Company, pursuant to the provisions of the applicable Cabinet Order. In such cases, the person who executes such resolution shall be deemed to have given such written notice.
(3) If a Bond-Issuing Company fails to make the payment in paragraph (1) within the period in that paragraph, it shall forfeit the benefit of time with respect to the total amount of such bonds.

(Special Provisions on Objection Procedures for Creditors)
Article 740 (1) In order for a bondholder to raise an objection under the provisions of Article 449, Article 627, Article 635, Article 670, Article 779 (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 781), Article 789 (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 793), Article 799 (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 802) or Article 810 (including cases where applied mutatis mutandis in paragraph (2) of Article 813), the objection must be raised by resolution of a bondholders meeting. In such cases, the court may, in response to a petition by interested parties, extend the period during which objections can be raised on behalf of bondholders.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a bond administrator may raise objections on behalf of bondholders; provided, however, that this shall not apply in cases where there is provision to the contrary in a contract relating to entrustment under the provisions of Article 702.
(3) For the purpose of the application of the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 449, paragraph (2) of Article 627, (hereinafter in this paragraph including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 781), paragraph (2) of Article 789 (hereinafter in this paragraph including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 793), paragraph (2) of Article 799 (hereinafter in this paragraph including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 802) or paragraph (2) of Article 810 (hereinafter in this paragraph including cases where applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 813) to a Bond-Issuing Company, the words "known creditors" in paragraph (2) of Article 449, paragraph (2) of Article 627, paragraph (2) of Article 635, paragraph (2) of Article 670, paragraph (2) of Article 779 and paragraph (2) of Article 799 shall be read as "known creditors (if there is a bond administrator, including such bond administrator)" and the words "known creditors (limited to those who can raise objections under the provisions of that paragraph)" in paragraph (2) of Article 789 and paragraph (2) of Article 810 shall be read as "known creditors (limited to those who can raise objections under the provisions of that paragraph, and, if there is a bond administrator, including such bond administrator)."

(Remuneration for Bond Administrators)
Article 741 (1) With the permission of the court, a Bond-Issuing Company may be made to bear the cost of the remuneration to be paid to the bond administrator, representative bondholders or Resolution Administrator, the costs necessary for handling the administration of the Bond-Issuing Company, and the interest that accrues from and including the day of disbursement of the remuneration and costs, as well as amounts of compensation for losses suffered by those persons for handling the administration of the Bond-Issuing Company in the absence of negligence, unless this is provided for in the contract with the Bond-Issuing Company.
(2) The petition for permission under the preceding paragraph shall be made by the bond administrators, representative bondholders or Resolution Administrator.
(3) With respect to the remuneration, costs and interest as well as amounts of compensation in paragraph (1), the bond administrators, representative bondholders or Resolution Administrator shall have the right to obtain reimbursement, before the bondholders, from the proceeds of payments received under paragraph (1) of Article 705 (including cases where that paragraph is applied mutatis mutandis under paragraph (2) of Article 737).

(Burden of Costs of Bondholders Meetings)
Article 742 (1) The costs of bondholders meetings shall be borne by the Bond-Issuing Company.
(2) The costs of the petition in Article 732 shall be borne by the Bond-Issuing Company; provided, however, that the court may in response to the petition by the Bond-Issuing Company or other interested parties or ex officio, separately prescribe a persons from among the Convener and other interested parties to bear some or all of the costs.