I hereby give My sanction to the Ordinance governing Shobo Dan (the Fire-prevention Corps) and cause the same to be promulgated.
Signed: HIROHITO, Seal of the Emperor
This thirtieth day of the fourth month of the twenty-second year of Showa (April 30, 1947)
Countersigned: Prime Minister YOSHIDA Shigeru
Minister for Home Affairs UEHARA Etsujiro
Imperial Ordinance No. 185
SHOBODAN REI (Ordinance Governing Fire-prevention Corps)
Article 1. A Shobodan (Fire-prevention Corps) has for its object to prevent social calamities with esprit de corps and is to be engaged mainly in precaution, vigilance and protection against fire and water disasters and relief on such occasions and also in vigilance and relief in cases of other unexpected calamities and events.
Article 2. A city, town or village shall establish a Shobodan.
Article 3. An area of a Shobodan is as per an area of a city, town, village. However, according to the circumstances of a locality, an adequate area may be defined within a city, town or village.
Article 4. A Shobodan shall be organized with Shobodan members.
Shobodan members shall be appointed and dismissed by the head of a city, town or village.
Persons recommended by a Shobo Iinkai (Fire-prevention Committee) from among residents of the city, town or village concerned shali be appointed as Shobodan member.
Article 5. The authorized strength for a Shobodan shall be defined by a city, town or village by an instruction.
The instruction under the preceding item shall obtain a sanction of the prefectural governor. (in case of Hokkaido, the Governor-General of Hokkaido Government Office, same as such hereinafter)
Article 6. A Shobodan is to include Shobo Dancho (Fire-prevention Corps Chief), Fuku-dancho(Deputy Corps Chief), Bundancho (Branch Corps Chief), Bucho (Departmental Chief) and Hancho (Squd Chief). However, Bundancho, Bucho and Hancho may be ommitted.
Dancho and Fukudancho shall be decided by a mutual election of Shobodan members.
The Dancho shall command the corps members and manage the corps matters.
Fuku-dancho shall assist the Dancho and in the absence of Dancho, he shall perform the duties on his behalf.
Bundancho, Bucho and Hancho shall be appointed by the Dancho.
Bundancho, Bucho and Hancho shall under the instructions of their superiors, command corps members and engage in the works.
In case when both of Dancho and Fuku-dancho are unavailable, Bundancho, Bucho or Hancho shall, in accordance with the order designated by the Dancho, carry out the duties of the Dancho (As for a Shobodan without Bundancho, Bucho and Hancho, a corps member designated by the Dancho).
Article 7. The tenure of office for the Dancho and Fukudancho shall be four years and shall be calculated from the date of their being elected.
Dancho and Fuku-dancho shall lose their posts in case when they be struck off from membership.
Article 8. A city, town or village is to establish a Shobo Iinkai (Fire-prevention Committee). However, as in a city, town or village which has a special circumstances, the area may be divided as per an instruction and Shobo Iinkai is established in each area.
A Shobo Iinkai shall be organized by the head of a city, town or village, Shobo Dancho, Officers in charge of Fire and Police Station of the district, members of a city, town or village Assembly and some persons of knowledge and experiences.
When put any inquiry from an administrative office concerned with regard to important matters concerning Shobodan, a Shobo Iinkai shall forward its opinions.
With regard to the matters in the preceding paragraph, a Shobo Iinkai may make suggestions to an administrative office, concerned.
At the request of a head of a city, town or village, a Shobo Iinkai shall recommend persons for members of Shobodan.
Other than those defined under this Imperial Ordinance, the necessary matters concerning Shobo Iinkai shall be defined by a city, town, village or by an instruction.
Article 9. A Shobodan shall act under the jurisdiction of the Chief of Police Dept. or Chief of police station.
Article 10. When ordered by the Chief of Police Dept. or Chief of police station, a Shobodan is to be engaged in works under Article 1 even in the area outside of its jurisdiction.
Article 11. The Chief of Police Dept. and Chief of police station may carry out training of a Shobodan.
The Shobo Dancho may, under the jurisdiction of the Chief of Police Dept. or Chief of police station, carry out training of a Shobodan.
Article 12. In case of necessity in connection with a Shobodan, a prefectural governor, may cause a city, town or village to forward reports as of works by producing documents and books or inspect the works on the spot.
Article 13. Expenses for a Shobodan and Shobo Iinkai shall be borne by a city, town or village. However, expenses required in case when same is engaged in works provided under Article 10 shall be borne by a city, town or village which enjoys the privilege.
Article 14. The regulation governing the allowances, duty discipline and punishments of Shobodan members shall be defined by a city, town or village by an instruction.
The instruction in the preceding item shall obrain a sanction of a prefectural governor.
Article 15. Necessary installation materials for a Shobodan, shall be defined by a city, town or village on a sanction being obtained from the prefectural governor.
Article 16. The Home Ministry may determine the standard for the qualification, authorized strength, training, duty discipline, punishments, attires and allowance for Shobodan members and necessary installation materials for a Shobodan.
Article 17. In case of Tokyo-to, the word "a prefectural governor" or "Chief of police Dept." shall be amended to read "the Superintendent-general of the M.P.B.".
Article 18. Within a jurisdiction of a fire-station which is established as per Keishicho Kansei (Government Rule for M.P.B.) and Tokusetsu Shobosho Kitei (Regulation governing Specially Established Fire station), the word "Chief of police station" (Item 2, Article 8 excluded) under this Imperial Ordinance shall be amended to read "Chief of fire station" so far as the precaution, vigilance and protection of fire and water disasters, and relief on such occasions are concerned.
Article 19. Within an area of Tokyo-to where a ward exists the regulation concerning a city, town or village shall be applied to a ward, the regulation concerning a head of a city, town or village to a head of ward, and the regulation concerning a member of a city, town or village assembly to a member of a ward assembly.
Article 20. A town or village union which deals with whole of the town or village matters or which jointly handles with the works for a town or village-office shall, so far as the appliance of this ordinance is concerned, be regarded as a town or village, the controller of the union as a head of a town or village, and members of the union as members of a town or village assembly.
Supplementary Provisions:
The present Ordinance shall come into force as from the day of its promulgation.
The undermentioned Imperial Ordinances shall hereby be abolished:
Keibodan Rei (Ordinance governing Civilian Vigilance Corps)
Imperial Ordinance No. 1197 of 1941 (concerning assistance duty of Keibodan members)
As of any Keibodan which is actually existent at the time of the enforcement of this Imperial Ordinance, the provisions under the old Keibodan Rei shall still be valid until such a time as a Shobodan under this Imperial Ordinance is established in that area.