Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to effect improvement, development, conservation and consolidation of agricultural land so as to make farm-management reasonable and develop agricultural productivity, and thus to contribute to the maintenance and enhancement of the production of food-stuffs and other agricultural products.

2　In executing a land improvement project, the work must serve to contribute to the overall development and conservation of the land resources of the State and must be coordinated with the development of the national economy in accordance with standards of programming and planning to be established by Cabinet Order, having due consideration for the land use, the conservation and development of forestry and other resources.

Article 2.　"Agricultural land" within the purview of this Law shall comprise any land which is employed for the purpose of cultivation.

2　"Land improvement project" within the purview of this Law shall comprise any project to be executed in accordance with this Law, which falls under the following items:

Article 3.　Any person who are qualified to participate in a land improvement project shall have any of the following qualifications with respect to land within the boundaries of a district pertinent to the execution of said project:

2　In case the owner and the person who engages himself, based on a title, in the business of cultivation, mentioned in item (2) of the preceding paragraph, have made proposal, as provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, to the effect that they will alternate their qualifications with each other with their mutual consent and the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village has approved said proposal as reasonable, said qualifications shall be deemed to have alternated at the time of said approval;the same with the case where the owner and the person who makes use and usufruct based on a title, mentioned in item (4) of the same paragraph, have proposed, as provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, to the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village, to the effect that they will alternate their qualifications with each other with their mutual consent.

3　As for the application of the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, in cases where a lessor or a lender offered his agricultural land for the purpose of another person's temporary business of cultivation on the basis of lease or loan-for-use, because of his inability to conduct the business for himself on said agricultural land owing to illness or other causes provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, said lessor or lender shall be regarded as a person who engages in the business of cultivation, based on a title to said agricultural land, if the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village deems, as prescribed by Ministerial Ordinance, that said lessor or lender will engage himself in the business of cultivation in the near future, and that the case is proper and reasonable.

4　As for the application of the provision of par.1, any person who uses a land under the provision of Art.41-(2) par.1 of the Law concerning the Special Measure for the Establishment of Owner Farmer (Law No.43 of 1946) shall, in case said land is an agricultural land, be regarded as a person who engages, based on ownership, in the business of cultivation respecting said agricultural land;while, in case said land is any other than agricultural land, he shall be regarded as an owner of said land.

5　No provision of par.1 shall apply to the State as owner of land granted in accordance with the provision of Art.50 par.1 or land prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

Article 4.　As to the application of the provisions of this Law, any person who has been given a licence for reclamation by dumping in accordance with the Law for Reclamation by Dumping of Public Waters (Law No.57 of 1921) shall be regarded as an owner of land created.

Article 97.　In cases were two or more persons engaging in the business of cultivation based on a title, have, as provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, fixed certain areas of agricultural lands embracing such agricultural lands that they are using for the purpose of cultivation, and requested that the project mentioned in Art.2 par.2 item (6)(hereinafter referred to as "consolidation and exchange" ) with respect to said certain areas of agricultural lands is to be performed, with consent obtained from not less than one half of the persons with ownership, superficies, permanent tenancy, pledge, lease or loan-for-use relative to said agricultural land, and where said areas are situated within the limits of one city, town or village, the Agricultural Land Commission thereof, and on the other hand, where said areas extend over the limits of two or more of cities, towns and villages, the Agricultural Land Commissions thereof concerned, upon deliberation reached among them, shall, if said request is deemed proper and reasonable, respectively fix a plan for consolidation and exchange so as to perform such action with respect to said agricultural lands.

2　Even though no request prescribed in the preceding paragraph is presented, in case agricultural lands subject to consolidation and exchange are located within the limits of one city, town or village, the Agricultural Land Commission thereof, while in case such agricultural lands extend over the limits of two or more of cities, towns and villages, the Agricultural Land Commissions thereof concerned, upon deliberation reached among them, may, if deemed particularly necessary, respectively fix a plan for consolidation and exchange with respect to said agricultural lands, after said Commission or Commissions concerned have given public notice, in accordance with the provisions of Ministerial Ordinance, of the agricultural lands subject to consolidation and exchange and of the outline of the plan thereof, and also have obtained consent from not less than one half of the persons owning such rights as mentioned in the preceding paragraph with respect to said agricultural lands.

3　In order that the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned may fix a plan for consolidation and exchange in accordance with the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs, it or they must obtain consent from two-thirds or more of the persons owning such rights as mentioned in par.1 in respect to agricultural lands subject to consolidation and exchange in accordance with the plan therefor.

4　In the case of the preceding paragraph, if the whole or a part of said agricultural lands is included within the boundaries of a land improvement district, the opinion of said district must be asked for as well.

5　In case the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned have not fixed a plan for consolidation and exchange requested within six months after the request prescribed in par.1 was received, the persons who so requested may, within sixty days after the expiration of the period, request the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or prefecture to make suggestion that the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned are to fix a plan for said consolidation and exchange.

6　On receiving the request prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must make suggestion under the provision of the same paragraph within thirty days from the day when it received the request, except when it deems it improper to fix a plan for consolidation and exchange respecting the whole or a part of the agricultural lands, wherefor said request has been made.

Article 98.　Having fixed a plan for consolidation and exchange in accordance with the provision of the preceding paragraph, the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned must give public notice thereof without delay and show a copy of the written plan for consolidation and exchange to public inspection for sixty days.

2　The Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned must, when it or they have given public notice under the provision of the preceding paragraph, notify it to the persons (excluding persons resident within the limits of the city, town or village where said agricultural lands are situated) holding ownership, superficies, permanent tenancy, easement, preferential right, pledge, hypothec, lease or loanfor-use relating to agricultural lands subject to consolidation and exchange in accordance with the plan therefor.

3　Any person holding any right mentioned in the preceding paragraph may, if he is not satisfied with said plan for consolidation and exchange, file an objection with the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned;provided, however, that this shall not apply after the period of public inspection prescribed in par.1 has expired.

4　The Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned must, when it or they have received the objection prescribed in the preceding paragraph, decide it within sixty days after the expiration of the period of public inspection prescribed in par.1.

5　If any person is not satisfied with the decision prescribed in the preceding paragraph, he may appeal to the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or prefecture;provided, however, that this shall not apply when ten days have elapsed after the decision is made.

6　Having accepted the appeal prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must make determination within sixty days after the expiration of the period prescribed in the proviso to the same paragraph.

7　When no objection mentioned in par.3 is filed, or when all the objections, if filed, are determined under the provision of par.4 and no appeal mentioned in par.5 is filed, or when all the appeals, if filed, are determined under the provision of the preceding paragraph, the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village or the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned must, without delay, obtain the approval for said plan for consolidation and exchange from the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

8　Having issued the approval mentioned in the preceding paragraph, the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must give public notice thereof without delay.

9　In the case of par.1, par.2 or par.4, with regard to public notice, public inspection or notification, the Agricultural Land Commissons of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned must all do it;and with regard to decisions upon objections, all of them must do it upon deliberation reached among them.

Article 99.　In case any land improvement district intends to perform consolidation and exchange, it must fix a plan therefor and file the same for approval with the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

2　The provisions of Art.52 pars.3 to 5 inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis to cases where the plan for consolidation and exchange prescribed in the preceding paragraph is fixed.

3　The petition for approval mentioned in par.1 must be accompanied with a written consent of the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned. In case, however, any written consent cannot be obtained within sixty days from the time of request for the same, it is necessary to attach a notification stating such reason.

4　In such case as mentioned in the proviso to the preceding paragraph, the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must, when intending to issue the approval mentioned in par.1, request the opinion of the Agricultural Land Commissions of Cities, Towns and Villages concerned.

5　The governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must, if he deems proper the petition for approval mentioned in par.1, give public notice of the same without delay and show a copy of the written plan for consolidation and exchange to public inspection for sixty days.

6　When the public notice under the provision of the preceding paragraph has been given, the notification thereof must be served on persons (excluding persons resident within the limits of the cicy, town or village where the agricultural lands are situated) holding rights mentioned in par.2 of the preceding Article, relating to lands subject to consolidation and exchange in accordance with the plan therefor.

7　When any person who holds right mentioned in the preceding paragraph is not satisfied with said plan for consolidation and exchange, he may file an objection with the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture;provided, however, that this shall not apply when the period of public inspection prescribed in par.5 has expired.

8　On receiving objections prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must determine the same within sixty days after the period of public inspection prescribed in par.5 has expired.

9　When making determination prescribed in the preceding paragraph, the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must ask for the opinion of the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or Prefecture.

10　The governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture shall give any approval prescribed in par.1, except when no objection mentioned in par.7 is filed, or unless and until all the objections, if filed, have been determined under the provision of par.8.

11　Having issued the approval mentioned in par.1, the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must give public notice thereof without delay.

Article 100.　In order to perform consolidation and exchange, any agricultural co-operative association must, fixing a plan for consolidation and exchange through a resolution at a general meeting of the membership, file said plan for approval with the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, with the consent of the person holding such rights as mentioned in Art.97 par.1 relative to agricultural lands subject to consolidation and exchange in conformity with said plan therefor.

2　The provisions of pars.3 to 11 inclusive of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case of the preceding paragraph.

Article 101.　A plan for consolidation and exchange must be fixed so as to assist in the reasonable farm-management of cultivators.

2　No plan for consolidation and exchange can he fixed with respect to agricultural lands, subject to administrative measures, which are provided for by Ministerial Ordinance, and agricultural lands whereon superficies, permanent tenancy or lease has been created and of which the right forms the object of attachment, provisional attachment or provisional disposition.

Article 102.　With regard to consolidation and exchange of ownerships in agricultural lands, agricultural lands which are to be acquired and lost by the owners according to said consolidation and exchange and also the time of transfer of ownerships must be fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchange.

2　In the case of the preceding paragraph, all the agricultural lands which are to be acquired and lost by the owners must be equivalent to each other by taking all elements such as classification of land, area, soil type, water conditions, slope, temperature, etc. into consideration in accordance with the provisions of Ministerial Ordinance. However, this shall not apply when the consent of the parties has been obtained.

3　In the case of par.1, all the agricultural lands which the owners are to acquire must not be more or less by over twenty per cent in area and value than all the agricultural lands which they are to lose;provided, however, that this shall not apply when. the consent has been given by said owner.

4　In the case of par.2, any portion which cannot be counter-balanced respecting classification of land, area, soil type, water conditions, slope, temperature, etc. between agricultural lands which are to be acquired by the owners and those which are to be lost by them must, if exists, he liquidated in money;and the sum, method and time of payment must be fixed.

Article 103.　In the case of par.1 of the preceding Article, when preferential right, pledge or hypothec is made on agricultural land which the owner is to lose, there must be fixed the agricultural land whereon preferential right, pledge or hypothec substitutive for the foregoing right, is to be created, as well as the time of creation and the continuance period of said right, and other terms.

2　In the case of the preceding paragraph, agricultural land whereon said right is to be created must be that which is owned or to be acquired by the owner, and its value must be not less than that of agricultural land which actually forms an object of the existing right corresponding to said right to be created.

3　In the case of par.1, when said owner is to acquire the liquidation money prescribed in par.4 of the preceding Article, the agricultural land whereon said right is to be created may, irrespective of the provision of the preceding paragraph, be one whose value is, within the limits of the sum of such liquidation money, less than that of agricultural land which actually forms an object of the existing right corresponding to said right to be created. In this case there must be fixed such amount of liquidation money subject to the effect of the existing right that is a portion equivalent to the difference between those values.

4　In the case of par.1, the continuance period of a right to be created shall be the remaining period of the existing right corresponding to said right, and other terms must depend on the terms of the existing right.

Article 104.　In the case mentioned in Art.102 par.1, when superficies, permanent tenancy, lease or loan-for-use exists upon that agricultural land which the owner is to lose, there must be fixed the agricultural land whereon superficies, permanent tenancy, lease or loan-for-use substitutive for the foregoing right is to be created, the time of its creation and its continuance period, the consideration and other terms.

2　To the case of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis the provisions of Art.102 pars.2 to 4 inclusive and of the preceding Article.

Article 105.　In the case mentioned in Art.102 par.1, if the creation of easement is deemed needful according to said consolidation acid exchange, the land whereon said easement is to be created, the easement holder, as well as the time of creation, the object of said easement and other terms must be fixed, and if it is deemed to become needless for a person actually holding easement to enjoy the benefit of exercising the same right, the same right and the time of its extinction must be fixed.

Article 106.　When public notice has been given under the provision of Art.98 par.8 or Art.99 par.11 (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis under Art.100 par.2;hereinafter the same), according to what is fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchange whereof said public notice has been given, the ownership shall be transferred, and preferential right pledge, hypothec, superficies, permanent tenancy, lease or loan-for-use be created, or the easement be created or extinguished.

2　In case preferential right, pledge, hypothec, superficies, permanent tenancy, lease or loan-for-use has been created under the provision of the preceding paragraph, the original right corresponding to such right shall become extinct at the time of creation of the last-mentioned right. However, in case the amount subject to the effect of preferential right, pledge or hypothec has been fixed under the provision of Art.103 par.3 (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis under Art.104 par.2), any of those rights shall remain effective with respect to the sum liquidated for this amount.

Article 107.　As to consolidation and exchange with respect to superficies, permanent tenancy, lease or loan-for-use of agricultural land the provisions of Art.102 to the preceding Article inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis.

Article 108.　When public notice has been given under the provision of Art.98 par.8 or Art.99 par.11, Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village, the land improvement district or the agricultural co-operative association must pay liquidation money as fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchange, whereof said public notice has been given.

2　In the case of the preceding paragraph, the person or body mentioned in the same paragraph may collect liquidation money as fixed in said plan for consolidation and exchange.

3　The Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village may, in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Order, entrust the payment and collection of liquidation money prescribed in the preceding two paragraphs to city, town or village or the agricultural cooperative association.

Article 109.　After the public notice prescribed in Art.98 par.8, Art 99 par.11 has been given, any person holding ownership or other right with respect to the agricultural land fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchange, whereof said public notice has been given, must not, except when there is no fear to obstruct the performance of such consolidation and exchange, alter the form and nature of said agricultural land unless permission is obtained from the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

Article 110.　The provision of Art 28 par.1 of the Law concerning the Special Measure for the Establishment of Owner Farmer (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis under par.5 of the same Article and Art.41 par.4) shall not apply to cases where any ownership in an agricultural land is transferred according to what is fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchange.

2　Any person who has acquired the ownership of an agricultural land which has been sold under the provision of Art.16 or Art.41 of the Law concerning the Special Measure for the Establishment of Owner Farmer, according to what is fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchangge, shall be deemed not to be an "assignee of the ownership in an agricultural land" prescribed in Art.28 par.1 of the same Law (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis under Art.41 par.4 of the same Law).

3　In case a person who transfers his ownership of an agricultural land according to what is fixed in the plan for consolidation and exchange, is one to whom said agricultural land has been sold in accordance with the provision of Art.16 or Art.41 of the Law concerning the Special Measure for the Establishment of Owner Farmer, or his assigree of the ownership of said agricultural land, as for another agricultural land which is to be acquired by said person according to what is fixed in said plan for consolidation and exchange, and which is designated by the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village as one corresponding to said agricultural land which has been sold in accordance with the provision of Art.16 or Art.41 of the same Law, such sales as prescribed in Art.28 par.3 of the same Law (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis under par.5 of the same Article and Art.41 par.4) shall be deemed to have been effected at the time of said acquisition.

Article 111.　The provisions of Art.97 to the preceding Article inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis to the consolidation and exchange of rights to and in land, rights to and in agricultural facilities and rights to the use of waters, required for utilization of agricultural lands, which is made co-operating with the consolidation of said agricultural lands.

Article 112.　If, in cases where it is impossible to serve documents because of unknown permanent domicile or place of residence of the other party or other causes, public notice has been given, instead of serving documents, by the administrative agencies or a land improvement district, said documents shall be deemed to have been dispatched on the day of said public notice, and to have reached the other party when ten days have elapsed after the day of said public notice.

Article 113.　Any disposition made, procedure taken and other action conducted under the provisions of this Law or orders based on this Law shall be effective against a person, too, who succeeds to any holder of ownership or other rights relative to lands, things or rights with respect to a land improvement project.

Article 114.　When it is necessary for persons who undertake a land improvement project to unite or partition a lot of land in order to carry out said project, said persons may go through the procedure prescribed in Art.26 of the Land Ledger Law (Law No.30 of 1947) in behalf of the owner of said land.

Article 115.　As to the registration of immovables within the limits of a district where a land improvement project is undertaken, special provisions may be established by Cabinet Order.

Article 116.　After public notice has been given as provided for in Art.52 par.8 (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis under Art.96;hereinafter the same in this Article and Art.131), no other registrations can be made with respect to lands situated within the boundaries of a district where a land improvement project is executed, unless after all the registrations required have been made according to said land improvement project;provided that this shall not apply in case any petitioner has evidenced, by a document whereon the definite date is stamped, that the cause of the registration has happened prior to the public notice prescribed in the same paragraph.

Article 117.　In case the area of a district where a land improvement project is undertaken have been segmented into several divisions, any one of them and a land improvement project belonging to the division shall, with regard to the application of Arts.46, 51, 52 and 55 (including cases whereto these provisions apply mutatis mutandis in Art.96), be regarded as the district where said land improvement project is undertaken and as the land improvement project belonging to said district respectively.

Article 118.　Any person or persons mentioned in the following items, may, if necessary for survey of land, etc. with respect to a land improvement project, enter upon another person's land to survey or investigate the same, within the limits of its necessity, after having given notice thereof in advance to the occupant of said land:

2　In order that the person mentioned in item (4) of the preceding paragraph may do the act mentioned in the same paragraph, he must receive the permission thereof beforehand from the mayor or head of the city, town or village within the limits of which said land is situated.

3　In the case of par.1, the persons mentioned in item (1) to item (3) inclusive of the same paragraph must carry their identification cards with them, and the person mentioned in item (4) of the same paragraph, the certificate of permission mentioned in the preceding paragraph with him;and said identification card or certificate must be shown whenever the occupant of said land asks therefor.

4　In the case of par.1, the State, or To, Do, Fu or prefecture in item (1), the land improvement district in item (2), the Agricultural Land Commission of To, Do, Fu or Prefecture, or the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village in item (3), or any person in item (4), of the same paragraph must indemnify any loss to be normally incurred by acts mentioned in the same paragraph.

5　The persons mentioned in item (1) to item (3) inclusive of par.1 may request, without compensation, the inspection of books necessary for the project, or the delivery of copies or certified copies of the same books, at the registry office having jurisdiction over the boundaries of the district where said project is executed, the office in charge of recording licenses for fishery, the office in charge of land or house ledgers or the office of city, town or village.

Article 119.　The State, To, Do, Fu, prefecture or any land improvement district may, if necessary for the execution of a land improvement project, carry over, clear of or destroy, within the limits of its necessity, things which hinder said project within the boundaries of the district relating to said undertaking;provided that any loss normally to be incurred thereby must be indemnified.

Article 120.　The State, To, Do, Fu, prefecture or any land improvement district may, under the Land Expropriation Law (Law No.29 of 1900), expropriate or use any land required for establishing irrigation or drainage machinery or facilities for utilization of underground water sources, for the purpose of the execution of a land improvement project.

2　The provision of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the expropriation or use of any right other than ownership and security right to land, any thing located on land or right thereto, and any right to the use of earth, stones, sand or water.

Article 121.　The State, To, Do, Fu, prefecture or any land improvement district may, if it is necessary to prevent imminent damage caused by storm, snow, freshet, high tide or erosion of earth and sand to irrigation or drainage facilities, agricultural roads or any other facilities required for the conservation or utilization of agricultural land (including those under construction work of a land improvement project), which are administered and maintained by the same, make temporary use of another person's land, or use or expropriate earth, stones, bamboos, trees or other things;provided, however, that the total loss must be indeminfied at the curreent price.

Article 122.　Persons who undertake a land improvement project must indemnify loss which persons interested in said project are normally to suffer owing to said project.

2　In case the form and nature of land are changed, structures are newly constructed, reconstructed or repaired, or things added, after public notice having been given under the provision of Art.10 par.3, Art.48 par.7, Art.87 par.3, Art.95 par.4 (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis in par.5 of the same Article), Art 98 par.8 or Art.99) par.11, any loss relating thereto need not be indemnified. However, this shall not apply when these acts have been done with the permission of the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

3　No member of a land improvement district can demand the indmnification of loss which he has suffered by the project executed by said land improvement district, excepting the cases which are provided for in Art.61 par.3 and Art.118 to the preceding Article inclusive;provided, however, that this shall not apply as otherwise prescribed by the by-laws.

Article 123.　If, in case where any person executing a land improvement project pays the liquidation money fixed in land-substituting schedule or plan for consolidation and exchange, or the indemnity prescribed in Art.119 or the preceding Article, preferential right, pledge or hypothec is set up on said land, things or rights, he must deposite said indemnity or liquidation money. However, this shall not apply when a person holding preferential right, pledge or hypothec has proposed that no deposition is required.

2　The holder of the preferential right, pledge or hypothec mentioned in the preceding paragraph may exercise said right as against the indemnity or liquidation money deposited in accordance with the provision of the same paragraph.

Article 124.　In case the boundaries of a district where a land improvement project is undertaken, or the boundaries of a land improvement district extend over two or more of To, Fu and prefectures matters brought by this Law under the power of the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture, excepting those which are provided for in Art.85 and Art.86, shall be handled by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

Article 125.　Within the purview of this Law, the provisions concerning city, town or village, or the mayor or head thereof shall, in a locality where there is a special ward, apply to said ward or the head thereof;in a city mentioned in Art.155 par.2 of the Local Autonomy Law, to the ward or the head thereof;and in a locality where there is a whole business association or public hall business association, to said association or the manager thereof;and the provisions concerning the Agricultural Land Commission of City, Town or Village shall, in a district of city, town or village where a Divisional Agricultural Land Commission is established apply to said Divisional Agricultural Land Commission.

Article 126.　The State may, within the limits of the budget, grant subsidies to any persons who improve, develop, conserve or consolidate agricultural lands.

2　Any persons who intend to be granted the subsidies mentioned in the preceding paragraph must, as prescribed by Ministerial Ordinance, submit to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry a petition for the granting of subsidy together with a written project plan, a written estimate for project and other necessary documents.

3　In case the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry deems such submitted documents as mentioned in the preceding paragraph to be proper and reasonable as a result of investigation thereof, he shall determine the granting of subsidy.

Article 127.　In order to fulfill the purpose of granting subsidy best under the provision of the preceding Article, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry may make suggestions required for the execution of said project, inspect facilities constituting the object of said project, order the presentation of reports and take other necessary measures to and against persons who are granted subsidies.

2　In case the persons prescribed in the preceding paragraph are deemed not to be able to fulfill the purpose of granting subsidy, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry may abolish or suspend the granting of the whole or a part of the subsidy to said persons, or order them the repayment of the whole or a part of the subsidy already granted.

3　The subsidy to be repaid, except that to be repaid by a local public entities, may be collected as in the case of disposition for arrears of national taxes;provided that its preferential right shall come next to that of national taxes in order of priority.

Article 128.　The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry may, as provided for by Cabinet Order, cause the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture to exercise part of the power under the provisions of the preceding two Articles, except such as against To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

Article 129.　Matters required for the granting of subsidy, other than those provided for in the preceding three Articles, shall be provided for by Cabinet Order.

Article 130.　With regard to the calculation of the period regarding the filing of objections under the provisions of this Law, the number of days required for conveyance of mail shall not be reckoned in said period.

2　Any objection may, if any admissible cause is deemed to exist, be received even after the expiration of the fixed period.

3　Any determination or ruling regarding objections or petitions for ruling must be delivered to the parties interested in writing with the reason attached thereto.

Article 131.　In case, prior to the public notice under the provision of Art.52 par.8, rights have been created, transferred, altered or extinguished, or the disposition has been restricted with respect to lands situated within the boundaries of a district where a land improvement project is undertaken, the party interested must without delay notify the person or persons who execute said land improvement project to that effect.

Article 132.　If it is deemed necessary in order to cause a land improvement district or persons who jointly undertake a land improvement project under Art.95 to abide by laws and orders, disposition taken thereunder by the administrative agencies, or the Articles of District, by-laws, land improvement project plan, land-substituting schedule or plan for consolidation and exchange, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may collect reports on the project from said district or persons.

Article 133.　The governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture must inspect the project or the condition of account affairs of any land improvement district, when a petition for inspection is prensented by members of said district to him with the consent of one-tenth or more of the whole membership of said district, on the ground that the project or account affairs of said land improvement district are deemed to contravene laws and orders, disposition taken thereunder by the administrative agencies, or the Articles of District, by-laws, land improvement project plan, land substituting schedule or plan for consolidation and exchange.

2　In case the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture deems that the project or the account affairs of any land improvement district or persons who jointly undertake a land improvement project under Art.95, contravenes laws and orders, disposition taken thereunder by the administrative agencies, or the Articles of District, by-laws, land improvement project plan, land-substituting schedule or plan for consolidation and exchange, said Minister or governor may inspect the condition of its or their business or account affairs at any time.

Article 134.　In case the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture deems, upon the inspection in conformity with the provision of the preceding Article, that the business or account affairs of said land improvement district or persons who jointly undertake a land improvement project contravenes laws and orders, disposition taken thereunder by the administrative agencies, or the Articles of District, by-laws, land improvement project plan, landsubstituting schedule or plan for consolidation and exchange, said Minister or governor may issue to said district or persons an order that necessary measures are to be taken.

Article 135.　When any land improvement district has executed any project other than provided for in Art.15, the Court may order the dissolution of said land improvement district at the request of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry or the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture.

2　The case prescribed in the preceding paragraph shall be under the jurisdiction of the local court having jurisdiction over the place where the main office of said land improvement district is located.

3　The procedure in the case of par.1 shall be fixed by the Supreme Court.

Article 136.　In cases where members of any land improvement district have, with the consent of one-tenth or more of the whole membership, filed a petition for the cancellation of resolution, or election or return on the ground that a proceeding to convene a general meeting of the membership or an assembly of the representatives or method of resolution or of election of officers or members of the meeting, contravenes laws and orders, disposition taken thereunder by the administrative agencies, or the Articles of District or bylaws, the governor of To, Do, Fu or prefecture may, if such contravention is deemed true, cancel said resolution, or election or return.

2　The provision of the preceding paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the meetings mentioned in Art.48 par.2 and in Art.52 par.3 (including cases whereto this applies mutatis mutandis in Art.96, Art.99 par.2 and Art.111).

Article 137.　Any person who has contravened the provision of Art.109 (including cases whereto this applies under Art.111) shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand yen.

Article 138.　Any person who falls under any of the categories mentioned in the following items shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen:

Article 139.　Any person who has moved, stained, broken or removed a sign set up for the purpose of executing a land improvement project shall be liable to a fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen.

Article 140.　Any officer or any representative of a land improvement district, or any officer or any member of the meeting of a league of land improvement districts, who has taken, demanded or agreed to take a bribe with respect to his duties, shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding three years;if any such person thereby commits an unjust act or fails to do an act which he out to do, he shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding seven years.

2　Any person who was officer, representative or member of the meeting, mentioned in the preceding paragraph, and who has taken, demanded or agreed to take a bribe with respect to his official performance of an unjust act or failure in performing a due act at another person's request while in office, shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding three years.

3　Any officer, representative or member of the meeting, mentioned in par.1, who has made a third person deliver or agree to deliver a bribe at the latter's request with respect to the former's duties, shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding three years.

4　Bribes taken by an offender or a third person to whom the secret was confided shall be confiscated. In case such confiscation is impracticable in whole or in part, the value thereof shall be imposed upon the offender.

Article 141.　Any person who has delivered, offered or agreed to offer a bribe to any of the persons mentioned in pars.1 to 3 inclusive of the preceding Article shall be liable to penal servitude not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty thousand yen.

2　If any person who has committed any of the offences mentioned in the preceding Article makes voluntary confession prior to official cognizance being taken thereof, the punishment may either be reduced or remitted.

Article 142.　In case a representative of a juridical person, or an agent, an employee or any other worker of a juridical person or a person acts in violation of the provisions of Art.137 and Art.138 with respect to the business or property of said juridical person or person, such juridical person or person shall, in addition to the punishment inflicted on the very person who has acted, be liable to a fine as provided for in each of the same Articles.

Article 143.　Any director, auditor or liquidator of a land improvement district or a league of land improvement districts shall be liable to a non-criminal fine not exceeding thirty thousand yen in the following cases:

Article 144.　Any director, auditor or liquidator of a land improvement district or a league of land improvement districts shall be liable to a non-criminal fine not exceeding ten thousand yen in the following cases:

Article 145.　Any person who has contravened the provision of Art.14 par.2 or Art.78 par.2 shall be liable to a non-criminal fine not exceeding five thousand yen.