Article 1.　The purpose of this Law is to ensure the conservancy of, and the promotion of agricultural productivity in, the special-soil areas, by means of formulating appropriate anti-calamity and agricultural land improvement plans and conducting works based thereon in such areas.

Article 2.　The Prime Minister, taking counsel with the Special-soil Areas Development Measures Council, shall designate as special-soil areas such of the whole or parts of To, Do, Fu and prefectures as are topographically liable to calamitous damage every year, on account of their being situated along the passages of typhoons, having heavy precipitation, and being covered with special-soil (meaning volcanic ejecta and granite earth of special nature and other soil of such nature as is specially liable to erosion, known as shirasu, bora, kora, akahoya, etc.;hereinafter the same), or are highly inferior in agricultural productivity on account of their being covered with special-soil.

2　The Prime Minister shall, on making designation as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, make an announcement accordingly.

Article 3.　The Prime Minister, taking counsel with the Special-soil Areas Development Measures Council, shall establish a works plan for the prevention and/or elimination of calamity and for the improvement of agricultural lands in the special-soil areas as may be required for attaining the purpose as mentioned in Article 1.

2　The Prime Minister shall, on establishment of the works plan as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, notify the prefectural governor concerned accordingly.

Article 4.　Other than those provided for by this Law, the works to be performed under the works plan as mentioned in paragraph 1 of the preceding Article shall be conducted by the State, local public entities or other persons, in accordance with the provisions of laws (including orders issued thereunder) which govern such works respectively.

Article 5.　There shall be established in the Prime Minister's Office a Special-soil Areas Development Measures Council (hereinafter referred to as "the Council" ), for the purpose of making research and deliberation on such matters as belong to the jurisdiction of the Council under the provisions of this Law, as well as other subjects essential for the prevention and/or elimination of calamity and for the improvement of agricultural lands in the special-soil areas.

2　The Council shall be entitled to make suggestions on essential subjects concerning the prevention and/or elimination of calamity and the improvement of agricultural lands in special-soil areas to the chief of a competent administrative organ or to the local public entities concerned.

Article 6.　The Council shall be composed of not more than nineteen (19) members who shall be appointed by the Prime Minister from among the persons as mentioned in the following items:

2　The term of office of a member appointed from among the persons coming under items (7) to (12) inclusive of the preceding paragraph shall be two years;provided that the term of office of a member filling a vacancy shall be the unexpired portion of his predecessor's term of office.

3　The Council shall have a Chairman who shall be appointed by mutual election of the members.

4　The Chairman shall preside over the affairs of the Council.

5　When the Chairman is precluded from carrying out his functions, one of the members as nominated in advance by the Chairman shall act on behalf of the Chairman.

6　The Council, for the purpose of making research and deliberation on specialized subjects, may have expert members.

7　Expert members shall be appointed by the Prime Minister from among the officials of the administrative organs concerned and other persons of learning and experience, on the basis of the Council's recommendation.

8　Members of the Council and expert members shall serve part-time.

9　Other than those provided for in the preceding paragraphs, the organization to take charge of the affairs of the Council as well as necessary matters relevant to the proceedings and conduct of business at a session of the Council shall be preseribed by Cabinet Order.

Article 7.　The Council, when it is necessary for the purpose of making research and deliberation on such matters as are provided for in Article 5 paragraph 1, shall have the power to demand the competent administrative organ, local public entities or other persons concerned to sumbit informational data or to make reports.

Article 8.　The local public entities or other persons concerned may present their views to the Conncil in reference to the works plan as mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1.

Article 9.　The National Government must appropriate the amount of expenses required for implementing the works plan as mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1, in the budget of each fiscal year, in so far as such appropriation is practicable within the limit of the finance of the State.

Article 10.　The State may grant subsidies in accordance with the provisions of Article 16 (Grant of Subsidy) of the Local Finance Law (Law No.109 of 1948) to the local public entities and other persons who perform works under the works plan as mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1, or may give them the required loans, or offer them facilities to obtain such loans, or take such other measures as may be considered necessary.

2　Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 22 (Lease Free of Charge) or Article 28 (Transfer without Consideration) of the State Property Law (Law No.73 of 1948), the State may lease or transfer on a gratuitous basis such items of ordinary property as may be required for the use of works to the local public entities and other persons who perform works under the works plan as mentioned in Article 3 paragraph 1.