(Purpose of this Law) Article 1. The purpose of this Law is, from the overall viewpoint with respect to policies concerning economy, society, culture, etc. in consideration of the natural conditions of the nation's land, to utilize, to develop and to conserve the land for multiple purposes, to promote the proper location of industries, and to contribute to the increase of social welfare.

(Definition) Article 2. In this Law, "multiple purpose land development planning" shall mean any coordinated and basic planning of measures by the State or local public entities with respect to the affairs concerning: (1) Utilization of land, water and other natural resources; (2) Prevention against damage by floods, winds and other disasters; (3) Co-ordination of the scale and location pertaining to cities and farm-villages; (4) Proper location of industries; (5) Scale and location of electricity, transportation, communication and other important public facilities, and protection of resources and scale and arrangement of facilities concerning culture, welfare and tourist industry. 2 The multiple purpose land development planning under the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "multiple purpose development planning" ) shall be national multiple purpose development planning, prefectural multiple purpose development planning, regional multiple purpose development planning and special area multiple purpose development planning. 3 National multiple purpose development planning shall mean the multiple purpose development planning framed by the State covering the whole area of the country. 4 Prefectural multiple purpose development planning shall mean the multiple purpose development planning framed by a To, Fu or prefecture according to its area. 5 Regional multiple purpose development planning shall mean the multiple purpose development planning framed by To, Fu and prefectures upon their consultation according to an area covering two or more To, Fu and prefectures. 6 Special area multiple purpose development planning shall mean the multiple purpose development planning framed by To, Fu and prefectures according to the area designated by the Prime Minister.

(Establishment of Multiple Purpose Land Development Council) Article 3. In order to achieve the purpose under Article 1, there shall be established in the Prime Minister's Office a Multiple Purpose Land Development Council.

(Function of Multiple Purpose Land Development Council) Article 4. The Multiple Purpose Land Development Council shall make research and deliberation upon multiple purpose development and submit reports or make recommendations to the Prime Minister with respect to the results thereof. 2 The Multiple Purpose Land Development Council may make research and deliberation concerning the matters necessary for framing multiple purpose development planning as enumerated below and submit the reports of the results thereof to the Prime Minister: (1) Standard for framing multiple purpose development planning; (2) Standard for designating Special Areas; (3) Standard for proper location of industries; (4) Fund and materials for multiple purpose development planning. 3 In case the Multiple Purpose Land Development Council deems it necessary, the Council may submit its opinion concerning multiple purpose development planning to the heads of the administrative organs concerned through the Prime Minister. 4 The heads of the administrative organs concerned may hear the opinion of the Multiple Purpose Development Council with respect to the basic planning within the scope of their functions, which is closely connected with multiple purpose development.

(Recommendation and Advice to To, Fu and Prefectures) Article 5. In case the Prime Minister has received a report or a recommendation under the provisions of paragraph 1 of the preceding Article with respect to the multiple purpose development planning framed by a To, Fu or prefecture, he shall make necessary recommendation or give necessary advice in accordance with the report or advice, to the To, Fu or prefecture which framed the multiple purpose development planning.

(Organization of Multiple Purpose Land Development Council) Article 6. The Multiple Purpose Land Development Council (hereinafter in this Article referred to as the "Council" ) shall consist of members not exceeding thirty in number. 2 The members of the Council shall be appointed by the Prime Minister from among persons of learning and experience in the multiple purpose development planning and personnel of the administrative organs concerned, provided that the number of the members appointed from among personnel of the administrative organs concerned shall be less than one half of the total number of the members. 3 The Members of the Council may concurrently be governors of To, Do, Fu and prefectures. 4 The term of the members of the Council shall be four years except those who are concurrently prefectural governors and those appointed from among personnel of the administrative organs concerned. However, as for the members whose term is four years, the term of half the number of the members initially appointed shall be two years. The term of the member who fills a vacancy in the membership shall be the remainder of the term of his predecessor. 5 The Council shall have a Chairman. The Chairman shall be selected from among the members of the Council by mutual vote. The Chairman shall administer the affairs of the Council and represent the Council. In case the Chairman is prevented from discharging his duties, a member of the Council designated by him in advance shall act for him in performing his duty. 6 In order to make research and deliberation on technical matters, the Council may have expert members. The expert members of the Council shall be appointed by the Prime Minister from among personnel of the administrative organs concerned and persons of learning and experience upon recommendation of the Council. 7 The members of the Council and the expert members shall be in part-time service. 8 Except those provided for in the preceding items, necessary matters concerning the organ to take charge of the affairs of the Council and concerning the proceedings and operation of the Council shall be determined by Cabinet Order.

(Prefectural Multiple Purpose Development Planning) Article 7. To, Fu and prefectures may frame prefectural multiple purpose development planning according to its area. 2 When a To, Fu or prefecture has framed the prefectural development planning, it shall report it to the Prime Minister through the Minister of Construction. 3 When the Prime Minister has received a report under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, he shall submit it to the Multiple Purpose Land Development Council and at the same time deliver it to the heads of the administrative organs concerned. 4 When the heads of the administrative organs concerned have received the report under the provisions of the preceding paragraph they shall submit their opinions on the matters to the President of the Economic Stabilization Board;the President of the Economic Stabilization Board shall collect and arrange these opinions and submit them to the Multiple Purpose Development Council.

(Regional Multiple Purpose Development Planning) Article 8. If areas closely connected with one another in matters of nature, economy, society, culture, etc. cover a region extending over two or more To, Fu or prefectures, tne To, Fu or prefectures concerned may, upon their consultation establish a Regional Multiple Purpose Development Area and frame regional multiple purpose development planning. 2 The consultation by the To, Fu or prefectures concerned under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be through the resolution of the assemblies of, the To, Fu or prefectures concerned. 3 The provisions of paragraphs 2 to 4 inclusive of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to regional multiple purpose development planning. 4 In case the Prime Minister deems it necessary, he may, after hearing the opinion of the Multiple Purpose Land Development Council, give advice to the To, Fu or prefectures concerned with respect to the establishment of a regional multiple purpose development area.

(Prefectural Multiple Purpose Development Council and Regional Multiple Purpose Development Council) Article 9. In order to make research and deliberation upon the prefectural multiple purpose development planning, To, Fu or prefecture may establish by by-law a Prefectural Multiple Purpose Development Council. 2 In order to make research and deliberation upon the regional multiple purpose development planning, the To, Fu or prefecture concerned may establish a Regional Multiple Purpose Development Council by establishing regulations upon their consultation. 3 The provisions of paragraph 2 of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the case of the preceding paragraph. 4 Other than those prescribed in the preceding paragraph, necessary matters concerning the establishment, organization and operation of the Prefectural Multiple Purpose Development Council and of the Regional Multiple Purpose Development Council (including the method of sharing the expenses with respect to the Regional Multiple Purpose Development Council) shall be provided for by the by-law or the regulations respectively.

(Special Area Multiple Purpose Development Planning) Article 10. With respect of area where the resources have not been fully developed, areas where prevention of disasters is specially needed, urban areas and their adjoining areas where special construction or arrangement is needed, etc. the Prime Minister may, in case it has been requested by the Director-General of the Economic Stabilization Board and the Minister of Construction when they deem it specially necessary upon their consultation, submit the matters for inquiry to the Multiple Purpose Land Development Council, and in accordance with its reports, designated such areas as special areas. 2 In case they intend to make the request under the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the Director-General of the Economic Stabilization Board shall ask the opinions of the administrative organs concerned, and the Minister of Construction shall obtain the concurrence of the To, Fu or prefecture concerned. 3 The concurrence of To, Fu or prefecture under the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be through the resolution of the assembly of the To, Fu or prefecture concerned. 4 In case a special area has been designated in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1, the To, Fu or prefecture concerned shall, after the investigation and deliberation by the Prefectural Multiple Purpose Development Councils or the Regional Multiple Purpose Development Council, frame the special area multiple purpose development planning. 5 The provisions of Article 7 paragraphs 2 to 4 inclusive shall apply mutatis mutandis special area multiple purpose development. 6 The State may, in accordance with the provisions of separate law, establish exception to the ratio of expenses to be borne by the State for works of special area multiple purpose development planning executed by local public entities, may grant subsidies based on the provisions of Article 16 of the Local Finance Law (Law No.109 of 1948) to the local public entities which execute the said works, and may take other measures deemed necessary.

(Advice by Head of Administrative Organ concerned) Article 11. The heads of the administrative organs concerned may give to To, Fu or prefecture concerned advices necessary for framing prefectural multiple purpose development planning, regional multiple purpose development planning or special area multiple purpose development planning.

(Submitting of Data, etc.) Article 12. Personnel of the administrative organs concerned shall, in response to request of the Multiple Purpose Land Development Council, submit data, express their opinions or make explanations.

(Publication of Gist) Article 13. The Multiple Purpose Land Development Council shall, in case it deems it necessary, officially announce the gist of the results of its research and deliberation.

(Co-ordination with Hokkaido Multiple Purpose Development Planning) Article 14. The co-ordination between the multiple purpose development planning and the Hokkaido multiple purpose development planning shall be made by the Prime Minister upon hearing the opinions of the Director of the Hokkaido Development Agency and of the Multiple Purpose Land Development Council.