(Purpose) Article 1. The purpose of this Law is to make the cleaning business conform to the benefit of public welfare, by giving necessary guidance and control from the standpoint of public health.

(Definition) Article 2. The words "cleaning business" as used in this Law shall mean the business of dry-cleaning, and other washing business. 2 The words "business of dry cleaning" as used in this Law shall mean to run a business of washing clothes or other textile or leather products in their present form by petrolic solvents, and the words "other washing business" shall mean to run a business of washing clothes or other textile products in their present form by solvents other than petrolic solvents or by cleaning materials. 3 The word "proprietor" as used in this Law shall mean the person who runs the cleaning business. 4 The word "dry-cleaner" as used in this Law shall mean the person who is licensed under the provisions of Article 6. 5 The words "cleaning shop" as used in this Law shall mean the establishment provided by the proprietor for the purpose of dealing with the washable articles.

(Cleaning Shop) Article 3. The proprietor shall neither deal with washable articles nor have them dealt with in any place other than in the cleaning shop, in the way of business. 2 The proprietor shall take the following measures in the cleaning shop: (1) To keep the cleaning shop, business machines and tools clean; (2) To keep the unfinished washing separately from the washed or finished articles; (3) To handle separately the washable articles classified according to their uses.

(Employment of the Cleaner) Article 4. A proprietor of the business of dry-cleaning who employs ten persons or more shall select and employ one or more of those from among those dry-cleaners. However, this shall not apply in case where the proprietor himself is a dry-cleaner and is engaged in the work of cleaning.

(Report by the Proprietor) Article 5. The proprietor shall report to the prefectural governor within an adequate period as to the location and equipment of the cleaning shop, and the number of employees, in accordance with the provisions of a Welfare Ministry Ordinance. 2 With regard to a proprietor of the business of dry-cleaning, the same shall apply to the employment or discharge of the dry-cleaner in addition to the matters prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

(Licence for the Dry-cleaner) Article 6. The licence for the dry-cleaner shall be given by the prefectural governor to those who passed the examination for the dry-cleaners.

(Examination) Article 7. The examination for the dry-cleaners shall be given as to the following subjects by the prefectural governor: (1) General knowledge concerning the sanitary laws and ordinances; (2) General knowledge concerning public health; (3) Manner of the handling of washing. 2 The prefectural governor must give the examination, referred to in the preceding paragraph, at least once a year.

(Registration) Article 8. The ledger shall be kept at the prefectural government and the matters relating to dry-cleaners'licence shall be registered therein. 2 The necessary matters concerning the procedures of the dry-cleaners'licence, examination and registration, excepting those provided for by this Law, shall be stipulated by the Welfare Ministry Ordinance.

(Medical Examination) Article 9. The person engaged in cleaning business must undergo the medical examination carried out by an Administrative Office twice or more a year for the purpose of finding out if they are free from tuberculosis, trachoma, skin diseases, etc. 2 The prefectural governor may order the suspension of work of a person engaged in cleaning business for a fixed period, if his engaging in work is deemed unfit for the public health as a result of the medical examination of the preceding paragraph.

(Inspection, by Stepping in the Shop) Article 10. The prefectural governor may, if he deems it necessary, order the officials concerned to step in the cleaning shop for inspection of the actual condition of enforcement of the measures stipulated under the provision of Articles 3 and 4. 2 When the prefectural governor orders the officials concerned to make a step-in inspection in accordance with the preceding paragraph, he shall make them carry identity cards which show their status.

(Business Suspension, Closing Order) Article 11. The prefectural governor may order the suspension of business or the closing of the cleaning shop for a fixed period, when the proprietor violates the provisions of Articles 3 and 4.

(Licence Cancellation) Article 12. The prefectural governor may cancel the licence if the dry-cleaner is convicted of a crime in connection with cleaning business and is sentenced to a fine or any heavier punishment.

(Hearing) Article 13. The prefectural governor shall hold a public hearing, ordering the attendance of the persons concerned or their deputies, in case he contemplates to take action in accordance with the preceding two Articles. 2 The prefectural governor must give the persons concerned one week's previous notice of the facts, which are regarded as the cause of the contemplated action stipulated in the preceding two Articles, or their offending deeds as well as the date and place of the public hearing. 3 The prefectural governor may take the action in accordance with the preceding two Articles, without holding a public hearing, in case the person concerned or their deputies fail to appear in person on the day of the public hearing without giving justifiable reason for their absence.

(Exercise of Authority) Article 14. The matters concerning the authority of the prefectural governor prescribed in Article 5 and Articles 9 to 13 inclusive (excepting the case of cancellation of licence, with regard to Articles 12 and 13), shall be exercised by the mayor as to the city provided for by the Cabinet Order based on the provisions of Article 1 of the Health Center Law (Law No.101 of 1947). 2 With regard to the exercise of authority by the governor or mayor provided for by this Law, the chiefs and their sub-ordinates of the sanitation division or bureau under jurisdiction thereof, shall assist them.

(Punishment) Article 15. A fine not exceeding five thousand yen shall be imposed on the persons falling under any of the following items: (1) The person neglecting to submit the report provided for under Article 5; (2) The person violating the order of suspension of work under the provisions of Article 9 paragraph 2; (3) The person violating the business suspension or the closing order of the cleaning shop provided for under Article 11.

Article 16. A fine not exceeding one thousand yen shall be imposed on the person who refuses or interferes with or evades the inspection of the shop by the officials concerned, stipulated in Article 10 paragraph 1.

Article 17. If the representative of a legal person or a deputy of a legal person or a person, employee or other worker, violates the preceding two Articles, in the course of the business of the said legal person or the person, the punishment stipulated in the Article concerned shall be imposed not only on the person who violated the Stipulation but also on the said legal person or on the person mentioned above. However, in case it is verified that the executive member of a legal person (meaning director, manager or any person corresponding to) or a person (in case that person is incompetent, his legal deputy) did not neglect the proper watch and supervision in order to prevent the said violation by the representative, employee or other worker of that legal person or person, the same shall not apply to that legal person or person.