Article 1.　The object of this Law is to furnish the people with an easily accessible form of life insurance by sound operation and at moderate premium rates with a view to stabilizing their economic life and promoting their welfare.

Article 2.　The life insurance operated by the State in accordance with the provisions of this Law (hereinafter to be referred to as "Post Office Life Insurance" ) is a nonprofit enterprise and falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Postal Services.

Article 3.　Matters relating to the conclusion of the Post Office Life Insurance contract, and the rights and duties thereunder shall be exercised by the Director of the Post Office Life Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Postal Services.

2　The Director of the Post Office Life Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Postal Services may delegate his powers prescribed in the preceding paragraph, concerning matters of detail, to Masters of Local Post Office Life Insurance Offices, Directors of Local Postal Services Bureaus or to the Postmasters.

Article 4.　Any documents relating to Post Office Life Insurance shall be exempt from stamp duty.

Article 5.　The Post Office Life Insurance contract (hereinafter to be referred to as "insurance contract" ) shall be one whereunder the State promises to pay the sum insured on the survival or on the previous death of an insurance policyholder or third party, and in consideration thereof, the insurance policyholder promises to pay the premium to the State.

Article 6.　The insurance contract shall be concluded by the Post Office Life Insurance Policy Conditions (hereinafter to be referred to as "Insurance Policy Conditions" ) which provide the following matters, as well as by the provisions of this Law:

2　The Insurance Policy Conditions shall be determined by the Minister of Postal Services through the deliberation of the Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Enterprise Deliberation Committee.

3　The Insurance Policy Conditions must be published in the Official Gazette.

4　This Law and the Insurance Policy Conditions must be available at the Post Office for inspection by the applicants for insurance contracts.

Article 7.　In the case of an insurance policy insuring the life under ten years of age, insurance policyholder thereof must be the father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, elder brother or elder sister of the said insured.

Article 8.　In case an insurance policy is written which promises to pay the sum insured on the death of a third party, the consent of such person shall be required, provided that this shall not apply in case such third party is the beneficiary or person under ten years of age.

Article 9.　Under the insurance contract, a third party may be made a beneficiary;in this case, the insurance policyholder must pay the premium to the State.

Article 10.　In case a beneficiary is a third party, such third party is, as a matter of course, entitled to the benefit of an insurance policy.

Article 11.　Until an insured attains to the age of ten years, an insurance policyholder shall be a beneficiary.

Article 12.　In case there exist two or more insurance policyholders or beneficiaries with respect to one and the same insurance policy, they must choose one representative respectively from among themselves;in this case, such representative shall respectively represent any other insurance policyholders or beneficiaries with respect to such policy.

2　In case the representative mentioned in the preceding paragraph has not been chosen or the whereabouts of such person is unknown, any measures taken, concerning such policy, against any one of the insurance policyholders shall be binding on such other persons.

Article 13.　In case there exist two or more insurance policyholders with respect to one and the same insurance policy, they shall be jointly and severally liable for any premiums in arrears, loan outstanding or any other indebtedness due to the State with respect to such policy.

Article 14.　Post Office Life Insurance shall be Whole Life and Endowment.

Article 15.　A Whole Life Policy is one whereunder the sum insured is payable on the death of an insured.

Article 16.　An Endowment Policy is one whereunder the sum insured is payable on the maturity of insurance term thereof during the lifetime of an insured or on the previous death of such person.

Article 17.　The amount of insurance shall not exceed 50,000 yen per insured.

2　The amount of insurance must be 5,000 yen or more per policy, provided that this shall not apply in the case where, in accordance with the provisions of Article 46, the amount of insurance has been reduced in lieu of repayment of a loan.

Article 18.　The premium shall be calculated on the following bases:

Article 19.　The reserve to be accumulated for an insured shall be calculated by the net premium method on the bases mentioned in the preceding Article;however, with respect to policies other than paid-up policies and policies which have been granted waiver of premium payment for disability in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions, such reserve may be calculated by the Zillmer method, so long as ten years do not elapse after the coming into force of such policies.

2　The amount to be advanced by the Zillmer method mentioned in the proviso to the preceding paragraph shall be one not exceeding a sum equal to three months'premiums.

Article 20.　In Post Office Life Insurance, a medical examination of an insured shall be dispensed with.

2　Any person who wants to apply for an insurance contract must, at the time of application, have the person to be insured personally interviewed by an official of the post office.

Article 21.　In case an insurance policyholder or insured has, at the time of application, failed to disclose the true facts or made a false statement, in bad faith or with grosss negligence, concerning the questions stated in the questionnaire, the State may rescind the insurance policy, provided that this shall not apply in case the State had such knowledge or had not such knowledge with negligence.

2　The right of rescission mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall become extinct, if not exercised by the State within one month from the date on which the ground for such rescission has come to the knowledge of the State. The same shall apply in case three years have elapsed since the effective date of the insurance policy.

Article 22.　In case the State has rescinded an insurance policy in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article, such rescission shall be effective only for the future.

2　The State shall not be liable to pay the sum insured even if the rescission of an insurance policy has been effected after the death of an insured, and in case the sum insured has already been paid, the State may claim such to be refunded, provided that this shall not apply in case the cause of death of the insured has been proved by the insurance policyholder in no way attributable to the fact disclosed or not disclosed.

Article 23.　The rescission mentioned in Article 21 may also be effected by expressing such intention to a beneficiary in case an insurance policyholder or legel representative of such person cannot be identified or the whereabouts of such persons is unknown.

2　The period of one month mentioned in Article 21, Paragraph 2 shall, in case an insurance policyholder or legal representative of such person, or the beneficiary in the case of the preceding paragraph or legal representative of such person cannot be identified or the whereabouts of such person is unknown, be counted as from the moment when the whereabouts of such persons has come to be known.

Article 24.　The insurance contract shall, on approval of application therefor, be deemed to have been formed on the date of application and shall take effect as from the said date.

Article 25.　On approval of the application for an insurance contract, an insurance policy shall be executed and delivered to an insurance policyholder.

2　The following matters shall be required to be stated in an insurance policy:

3　Of the Insurance Policy Conditions, the following matters (Standard Policy Conditions) and matters relating to non-liability of paying the sum insured must be stated in an insurance policy, provided that, in lieu of such statement, a slip of paper with such statement may be attached thereto:

Article 26.　Any insurance policy effected by fraud on the part of an insurance policyholder or insured shall be null and void.

Article 27.　In case the State or insurance policyholder already has, at the time of application, the knowledge of the happening of an insurance event, the insurance policy concerned shall be null and void.

Article 28.　In case the grace period prescribed by the Insurance Policy Conditions has elapsed without the payment of the premium by an insurance policyholder, the insurance policy shall lapse.

Article 29.　An insurance policyholder may, irrespective of the provisions of the preceding Article, apply, in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions, for change of an insurance policy into a paid-up one only within three months from the expiration of the grace period mentioned in the said Article.

Article 30.　If, in the case of a beneficiary being a third party, an insurance policyholder has been adjudged bankrupt, the State may claim premium payment from such beneficiary, provided that this shall not apply in case the beneficiary has waived his right as such.

Article 31.　In case an insured has died, as the direct result of an external bodily injury caused by a contingency or other vis major, or by an assault from a third party, within two months from the date of such injury, after two years from the date of the coming into force of an insurance policy, the same amount as the sum insured shall be paid, in addition to the original sum insured, at the time of payment of the latter, provided that this shall not apply, if, in the case of the insurance policy concerned being a revived one, such policy has not been in force one year from the effective date of revival.

2　The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall apply also in the case where an insurance policyholder or beneficiary has proved that such death was caused by a contingency or other vis major, or by an assault from a third party, even if not caused by an external bodily injury, provided that this shall not apply in the case where death has been caused by any disease.

3　The provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply in the case where an insured has died as the result of any one of the following causes:

Article 32.　In case an insured has died, prior to the lapse of two years from the date of the coming into force of an insurance policy, from any cause other than an accident or any one of the communicable diseases mentioned in Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Prevention of Communicable Diseases Law (Law No.36 of 1897), part of the sum in cured shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions.

Article 33.　In case an insured has died under six years of age, part of the sum insured shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions.

2　In the case mentioned in the preceding paragraph, where the provisions of the preceding Article or Article 44 are applicable, the amount payable shall be the smaller one of the sum payable in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph and the one payable in accordance with the provisions of the preceding Article or Article 44.

Article 34.　In case an insurance policyholder does not designate a beneficiary (including the case where such designated person has died, and no new beneficiary has been designated), the following person shall be a beneficiary:

2　The surviving family members mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be the spouse (including the person who is virtually, if not forwally notified, in matrimonial relation), child, father and mother, grandchild, grandfather and grandmother, and brother and sister of the insured and the person who has been supported by, or has supported, the insured at the time of the latter's death.

3　An unborn child or grandchild shall be deemed to have been born in the application of the preceding paragraph.

4　The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not apply in the case where an unborn child has been born dead.

5　In case there exist two or more surviving family members mentioned in Paragraph 2, such person as preceding in rank according to the order mentioned in the same paragraph shall be a beneficiary.

6　Any surviving family member who has intentionally killed an insured, person preceding in rank or in the same rank cannot become a beneficiary.

Article 35.　The State shall be under no obligation to pay the sum insured in any one of the following cases:

Article 36.　An insurance policyholder may, with the consent of an insured, cause a third party to succeed to the rights and duties under the insurance policy;such consent, however, shall not be required, if the insured is under ten years of age.

2　The succession mentioned in the preceding paragraph cannot be set up against the State unless the State has been notified thereof.

Article 37.　If, in case of death of an insurance policyholder, there exists no heir to such person, the beneficiary designated by the insurance policyholder (in the case where the insurance policyholder has designated no beneficiary, or the beneficiary designated by the insurance policyholder has died and no new beneficiary has been designated, the insured) shall succeed to the rights and duties of the insurance policyholder under the insurance policy.

2　If, in the case where an insurance policyholder has died before the insured has attained to the age of ten years, his heir is not the person mentioned in Article 7, the insured shall succeed to the rights and duties of the insurance policyholder under the insurance policy. The same shall apply in the case where the insurance policyholder has ceased to be the person mentioned in Article 7 before the insured has attained to the age of ten years.

Article 38.　An insurance policyholder may, prior to the happening of the event wherein the sum insured or refund money becomes payable (excepting the case where refuud money is paid due to the change effected in accordance with the provisions of Article 39), designate or change a beneficiary, provided that this shall not apply in case the insurance policyholder has expressed to the State his intention not to change the designation in the case of the beneficiary designated by the insurance policyholder being a third party.

2　The designation or change mentioned in the preceding paragraph cannot to set up against the State unless the State has been notified thereof.

3　The provisions of Article 8 shall apply correspondingly in the case where the designation or change mentioned in Paragraph 1 is effected.

Article 39.　In any one of the cases of rescission, lapse or change of an insurance policy, or in the case of non-liability of paying the sum insured (excepting the case mentioned in Article 35, Item 2), a beneficiary may, in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions, apply for payment of refund money within the limit of a sum equal to from 80 to 98 per cent of the reserve accumulated for the insured.

Article 40.　In the case mentioned in Article 28, an insurance policyholder may apply for its revival only prior to the lapse of one year from the date of lapse of the insurance policy.

Article 41.　The revival of an insurance policy shall, on approval of the application therefor, take effect on the day of such application.

2　In the case of the preceding paragraph, statement as to revival shall be made in the insurance policy.

Article 42.　Upon revival of an insurance policy, it shall be deemed not to have lapsed.

Article 43.　The provisions of Articles 21 to 23 inclusive, 26, 27 and 48 shall apply correspondingly in the case of revival of an insurance policy.

Article 44.　In case an insured has died, prior to the lapse of one year from the date of revival of an insurance policy, from a cause other than an accident or any one of the communicable diseases mentioned in Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Prevention of Communicable Diseases Law, part of the sum insured shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions.

Article 45.　A person applying for a new insurance policy on the life of the insured (one insured in case there exist two or more insureds) of one or more insurance policies, which have been in force two years after the effective dates thereof may, by terminating such original policy or policies, apply for the total (or balance after deducting therefrom any premiums in arrears, loan outstanding or any other indebtedness due to the State with respect to such insurance policy or policies;the same shall apply in Paragraph 2) of the reserve or reserves accumulated for the insured or insureds of such policy or policies and the surplus to be distributed, if the event wherein the sum insured becomes payable should happen, in accordance with the provisions of Article 47, to be appropriated to the whole or part of the premiums of such new policy;if, in this case, the policyholder of the original policy or policies and the person applying for a new policy are not one and the same person, the cousent of the policyholder of the original policy or policies shall be required.

2　If, in the case where the application mentioned in the preceding paragraph has been made, the new insurance policy has taken effect, the original policy or policies shall cease to exist, and any premiums in arears, loan outstanding or other claims owned by the State under the said policy or policies shall become extinct, and the sum total mentioned in the said paragraph shall be appropriated to the premiums of the new policy in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions.

Article 46.　In case four years have elapsed, in the case where the State has granted a loan to an insurance policyholder in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions, from the date of repayment without the repayment of the loan by the policyholder, the State may reduce the sum insured in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions in lieu of repayment of such loan.

Article 47.　Any surplus realized by the operation of Post Office Life Insurance Service shall be distributed to the beneficiary in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions.

2　With respect to an insurance policy having been granted waiver of premium payment in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions or paid-up policy, the sum to be distributed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be reduced, in whole or in part, in accordance with the provisions of the Insurance Policy Conditions.

3　In the case where the sum insured is paid in accordance with the provisions of Article 31, the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall not apply.

Article 48.　If, in the case of an insurance policy being null and void in whole or in part, the insurance policyholder and insured are in good faith and without goss negligence, such policyholder may apply for refund of whole or part of the premiums paid.

Article 49.　The right to receive the sum insured, refund money or surplus cannot be assigned.

Article 50.　The right to receive the sum insured or refund money cannot be seized.

Article 51.　If, in the case where the sum insured, refund money, surplus, or premiums to be refunded to an insurance policyholder or beneficiary are paid, there exists any premium in arrears, loan outstanding or any other indebtedness due to the State with respect to the policy concerned, such shall be deducted from the money to be paid.

Article 52.　In case the sum insured, refund money, loan, surplus, or premiums to be refunded to an insurance policyholder of beneficiary have been paid in accordance with the provisions of this Law and the procedures prescribed in the Insurance Policy Conditions, such payment shall be effective.

Article 53.　The amendment of the Insurance Policy Conditions shall not be binding on the policies already in force.

2　If deemed extremely necessary, in the case where the Insurance Policy Conditions are amended, for the protection of the insurance policyholders, insureds and beneficiaries as a whole, the Minister of Postal Services may, irrespective of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, cause the effect of such amendment to be binding, for the future, on the policies already in force, excepting the following cases:

Article 54.　The liability to pay the sum insured, refund money, and surplus, and the liability to refund the premium shall become extinct by prescription by the lapse of five years, and the liability to pay the premium, by the lapse of one year.

Article 55.　An insurance policyholder or beneficiary must, before bringing a civil action against the State as defendant with respect to matters relating to the rights and duties under the policy of Post Office Life Insurance, undergo investigation thereof by the Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Investigation Committee (hereinafter to be referred to as "Investigation Committee" ).

2　If after an insurance policyholder or beneficiary has submitted an application for investigation to the Investigation Committee, six months have elapsed without the investigation Committee giving any decision thereon, the person who has submitted such application may bring a civil action irrespective of the provisions of the preceding Article.

3　In case the person who has submitted an application for investigation mentioned in Paragraph 1 has brought a civil action in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Investigation Committee does not make any investigation into such application.

Article 56.　The application for investigation mentioned in the preceding Article, Paragraph 1 shall be deemed as a judicial de mand in so far as interruption of prescription is concerned.

Article 57.　The Investigation Committee shall come under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Postal Services and condust the matters assigned to its power in accordance with the provisions of Article 55 of this Law and Article 40 of the Post Office Annuities Law (Law No.69 of 1949).

2　The Investigation Committee shall be composed of 13 members or less.

3　Necessary matters pertaining to the organization of the investigation Committee other than those provided in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by Cabinet Order.

Article 58.　Application for investigation shall be made by submitting a written application therefor to the Investigation Committee.

2　The following matters shall be stated in the application, and the applicant or legal representative of such person must affix signature and seal thereto:

3　Any documentary evidence must be attached to the application for investigation.

4　In case the legal representative applies for investigation, the document to prove his qualification must be attached to the application for investigation.

5　In case there exist two or more applicants, such applicants must choose one representative from among themselves;in this case, such representative shall represent the other applicants in the matters of investigation applied for.

Article 59.　Application for investigation may, only prior to the decision by the Investigation Committee, be withdrawn in whole or in part.

2　The withdrawal mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be made in writing.

Article 60.　On receipt of an application for investigation, the Investigation Committee must prepare and send a certified copy of the said application to the Director of the Post Office Life Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Postal Services.

2　On receipt of the said copy mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Director of the Post Office Life Insurance Bureau of the Ministry of Postal Services must present written explanation therefor to the Investigation Committee.

Article 61.　The investigation by the Investigation Committee shall be conducted with respect to the application for investigation and the written explanation therefor.

Article 62.　The meeting of the Investigation Committee cannot be called unless a majority of the members are present.

2　The proceeding of the Investigation Committee shall be decided by a majority of t e members present, and in case of a tie, the Chairman shall decided the issue.

Article 63.　The Investigation Committee shall give a decision in writing.

Article 64.　The following matters must be stated in a written decision and the members who have taken part in the said decision must affix signature and seal thereto:

Article 65.　The decision shall take effect at the time of arrival at the applicant of the original copy of the written decision.

Article 66.　In case the application for investigation is made with respect to the matters not belonging to the power of the Investigation Committee, such application shall be rejected with a decision.

Article 67.　The case which has been given a decision by the Investigation Committee cannot be subjected to another application for investigation by the said Committee.

Article 68.　The Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Enterprise Deliberation Committee (hereinafter to be referred to as "Deliberation Committee" ) shall come under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Postal Services, and conduct the matters assigned to its powers in accordance with the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph 2 and Article 70, Paragraph 1 of this Law, and Article 6, Paragraph 2 and Article 42, Paragraph 1 of the Post Office Annuities Law.

2　The Deliberation Committee shall, besides the matters mentioned in the preceding paragraph, investigate and bellberate on important matters pertaining to the operation of Post Office Life Insurance and Annuities Service conformity with an inquiry by the Minister of Postal Services.

3　The Deliberation Committee may make recommendations to Ministers concerned with respect to matters mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

4　The matters pertaining to the organization of the Deliberation Committee shall be prescribed by Cabinet Order.

Article 69.　The Minister of Postal Services may establish health facilities necessary to preserve or improve the health of the insured.

2　The necessary expenses for the health facilities mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be borne by the State, provided that the Minister of Postal Services may cause such to do borne by the insured in accordance with the provisions of the Ministerial Ordinance, if he deems it extremely necessary to do so.

Article 70.　The reserve fund must, except in the case of loans made to insurance policyholders, be invested in the following ways with profit and security and for the public intererst upon the advice of the Deliberation Committee:

2　The reserve fund may, prior to investment made in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, be deposited tempolarily in the Deposit Bureau of the Ministry of Finance, irrespective of the provisions of the preceding paragraph.