Statutes and Rules

Statutes of the Japan Geoscience Union

Contents
Section 1 General rules (Articles 1-6)
Section 2 Members and staff (Articles 7-14)
Section 3 Executive officials (Articles 15-25)
Section 4 General staff meeting (Articles 26-36)
Section 5 Board of Directors (Articles 37-47)
Section 6 Meeting of representatives of society members (Article 48)
Section 7 Committee (Article 49)
Section 8 Sections (Article 50)
Section 9 Secretariat (Articles 51-53)
Section 10 Assets and accounting (Articles 54-57)
Section 11 Alteration of the Statutes, amalgamation, and dissolution (Articles 58-62)
Section 12 Disclosure of information and protection of personal data (Articles 63-65)
Section 13 Supplementary rules (Article 66)

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Section 1 General rules
(Name)
Article 1
This organization is called Japan Geoscience Union (JpGU), a general incorporated association.

(Office)
Article 2
The JpGU locates its head office in Bunkyo-ku Tokyo.
2. The JpGU may establish branches in other areas as necessary, following a resolution of the Board of Directors.

(Aim)
Article 3
The JpGU represents the earth and planetary sciences community in Japan and aims to contribute to the promotion of academic research and technology through international cooperation, dissemination of information to society, presenting the results of research and exchanging information in related fields.


(Good Governance)
Article 4
The JpGU strives to manage its business in a fair and appropriate manner in order to achieve the above-mentioned aims and to develop and maintain a respected position in society.

(Activities)
Article 5
The JpGU carries out the following activities in order to accomplish the aims specified in Article 3.
(1) Holding international conferences and meetings for presentation of research in fields related to earth and planetary sciences.
(2) Publication of research results and promotion of education related to earth and planetary sciences
(3) Summarizing opinions and proposals of the earth and planetary science community in response to requests from both the government and general public.
(4) Promotion of cooperation with foreign academic societies and international projects related to earth and planetary sciences
(5) Advancing opinions, summarizing and disseminating information about complex natural disasters.
(6) Discussing various issues of common interest to members of the earth and planetary science community and advancing opinions on them
(7) Carrying out the necessary activities for accomplishment of the goals of the JpGU.
2. The preceding activities shall be carried out both in Japan and in foreign countries.

(Business year)
Article 6
The business year of the JpGU starts on April 1 every year and ends on March 31 in the following year.

Section 2 Members and Staff
(Members of the JpGU )
Article 7
The JpGU has the following types of members.
(1) Regular member
An individual who joins in agreement with the aims and activities of the JpGU and is involved or interested in earth and planetary sciences.
(2) Group member
An academic research group that joins in agreement with the aims and activities of the JpGU.

(3) Supporting member
An individual or a group who becomes a member in order to support the activities of the JpGU.
(4) Honorary member
An individual recommended by the general assembly who has made significant contributions to the JpGU either through services or other achievements in the field of earth and planetary sciences.
2. The JpGU regards representatives chosen from among the regular members as its staff under the law regarding general incorporated associations and general incorporated foundations (hereinafter the Japanese expression ‘hojinho’ is used).
3. Regular members may exercise the following rights specified by the Act in the same way as its staff.
(1) Rights specified by Article 14, Clause 2 of the hojinho (access to articles, etc.)
(2) Rights specified by Article 32, Clause 2 of the hojinho (access to staff lists, etc.)
(3) Rights specified by Article 57, Clause 4 of the hojinho (access to minutes of general staff meetings, etc.)
(4) Rights specified by Article 50, Clause 6 of the hojinho (access to documents such as certificates documenting how staff are represented at meetings, etc.)
(5) Rights specified by Article 52, Clause 5 of the hojinho (access to records of how voting rights were exercised using electro-magnetic methods, etc.)
(6) Rights specified by Article 129, Clause 3 of the hojinho (access to accounting documents, etc.)
(7) Rights specified by Article 229, Clause 2 of the hojinho (access to balance sheets documenting liquidation of the General Incorporated Association or General Foundation, etc.)
(8) Rights specified by Article 246, Clause 3 / Article 250, Clause 3 / Article 256, Clause 3 of the hojinho (access to contracts regarding amalgamation of different bodies, etc.)

3. If a Director or Secretary is negligent in their duties, they are liable for any claims and loss to the JpGU that thereby arise. Notwithstanding article 112 of the hojinho, no exemption for this liability is allowed unless there is the agreement of all the ordinary members of the JpGU. However, where article 23 of these Statutes applies, this requirement is not necessary.

(Admission)
Article 8
Those who want to belong to the General Incorporated Association as regular members, society members, or supporting members, are required to fill in and submit an application with the contents determined by the Board of Directors.
2. The decision whether to accept an application or not will be made by the Board of Directors in accordance with the admission requirements determined separately at the general staff meeting, and the applicants will be notified of the result.
3. Regular members must belong to one of the registered divisions established separately by the general staff meeting.

(Membership fee)
Article 9
All regular members, group members and supporting members must pay a membership fee set separately by the general staff meeting.

(Loss of Membership)
Article 10
Membership of any member will be cancelled in any of the following circumstances.
(1) A member voluntarily withdraws from the organization
(2) A legal guardian or ward has been appointed due to incapacity of the member
(3) A member dies or a declaration is made that a member has been dead because of a long period of absence or when the organization a member belongs to is dissolved.
(4) When a member is more than 2 years in arrears with payment of the membership fee
(5) When a member is expelled from the organization
(6) When all the staff agree to expel a member from the organization

(The number of fixed representatives / Election of representatives / Term of representatives / Measures in case of absence)
Article 11
The number of fixed representatives is more than 80 and less than 200, with the precise number being set by the general staff meeting.
2. Representatives are elected for each division, as specified by Article 8, Clause 3, by the votes of regular members of each division. The number of representatives for each division and other election issues are decided separately by the general staff meeting.
3. Voting rights and rights of election are provided equally to all regular members. The Directors and the Board of Directors are not permitted to choose the representatives.
4. The term of representatives is 2 years, starting on April 1 in the business year that follows the year of the representative election. There is no restriction regarding reelection to the same position. However, if a representative brings a lawsuit asking for reversal of a decision made by the general staff meeting, dissolution, accountability, or removal of executive officials (Article 266, Clause 1, Article 268, Article 278, and Article 284 of the hojinho) (including the case where he/she brings lawsuits specified by Article 278, Clause 1 of the hojinho), this member will not lose his/her position as a staff member until the lawsuit in question is settled. (In this case, the rights to vote upon election/removal of executive officials (Article 63 and Article 70 of the hojinho) and alteration of the Statutes (Article 146 of the hojinho) are suspended for the representative in question.)
5. If a representative is disqualified from serving as a regular member, he/she will lose his/her position.
6. When there is a vacant position in the organization due to a representative’s disqualification, it may be filled by holding an election in the registered division where the person in question was elected as representative. In this case, the new representative’s term and the former representative’s unexpired term must be equal in length.

(Voluntary withdrawal)
Article 12
Members may voluntarily withdraw from the organization at any given time by submitting a notice of withdrawal set separately by the Board of Directors.

(Expulsion)
Article 13
If any of the following three conditions apply to a member, he/she may be expelled from the organization subject to the approval by two thirds of all staff’s voting rights at the general staff meeting where more than half of all staff is present. In this case, notice of the member’s expulsion and its reason must be sent to him/her one week prior to the general staff meeting, and he/she must be given the opportunity to defend him-/herself before voting at the general staff meeting.
(1) When a member violates the statutes or other rules
(2) When a member brings the JpGU into disrepute or works against its stated aims
(3) When a member has some other reason to be expelled
2. When a decision regarding a member’s expulsion is made at the general staff meeting in accordance with the preceding clauses, a notice of expulsion will be sent to the member to be expelled.

(Rights and obligations related to disqualification of membership)
Article 14
When a member is disqualified from belonging to the organization according to the provisions of Article 10, he/she will lose member rights and no longer be subject to member obligations. However, the member will not be allowed to renege on their unexecuted obligations.
2. The JpGU will make no refund of the membership fee already paid and other contributions in the event that a member is disqualified from belonging to the organization.

Section 3 Executive officials
(Appointment as executive official)
Article 15
The following persons will be appointed as executive officials of the JpGU.
The number of Directors will be 15, 20 or any number between.
There will be up to 3 Secretaries (監事).
2. One of the Directors is appointed as the Representative Director (代表理事).
3. In addition to the Representative Director, up to 8 Directors may be appointed as Executive Directors (業務執行理事).

(Election of executive officials (役員))
Article 16
Directors and secretaries are elected at the general staff meeting.
2. The Representative Director and Executive Directors are elected from among the Directors at the Board of Directors.
3. The Representative Director in the preceding clause is expected to assume the office of JpGU President (会長).
4. The Board of Directors has the authority to elect Vice Presidents (副会長), a Managing Director (常務理事), and Senior Managing Directors (専務理事) from among the executive Directors specified in clause 2 above. In this case, up to 4 persons, 1 person, and up to 5 persons will be elected as Vice Presidents, Managing Director, and Senior Managing Directors, respectively.
5. The secretary is not permitted to be a Director of the JpGU or affiliated general incorporated associations and a member of staff at the same time.
6. The total number of Directors who are spouses or relatives who have third degree or closer kinship or those who have an intimate relationship with a particular Director must not exceed one third of the total number of the Directors. The same limitation applies to the secretary.
7. The total number of Directors who may also be Directors or staff of any other organization and Directors who have an intimate relationship with the organization must not exceed one third of the total number of the Directors. The same limitation applies to the secretary.

(Directors’ duty and authority)
Article 17
According to the law and these Statutes, the Directors form the Board of Directors and assume their duties.
2. According to the law and these Statutes, the President represents the JpGU and assumes the duties as a representative Director under the hojinho.
3. The Managing Director is responsible for deciding the way in which the duties of the JpGU will be divided and for carrying them out.

4. The limits of the authority exercised by the President (Representative Director), Vice Presidents, Managing Director, Senior Managing Directors, and other Executive Directors shall be decided by the Board of Directors.

5. The President (Representative Director), Vice Presidents, Managing Director, Senior Managing Directors, and other Executive Directors must report to the Board of Directors at least twice a year at intervals of greater than or equal to 4 months each business year giving an up to date account of concerning the state of how they are carrying out their duties.

6. When there is some change in the Directors and Secretaries, this must be registered within two weeks of the event.

(Secretaries’ duties and authority)
Article 18
The Secretaries assume the following duties.
(1) Inspecting the Directors’ business conditions
(2) Inspecting the state of JpGU’s business, finances and accounts
(3) Attending the general staff meeting and the Board of Directors, and give opinions if necessary
(4) Reporting to the general staff meeting and the Board of Directors if either of the following are known or suspected to have occurred:
– A Director performed a dishonest act, or there is good reason to believe that a Director will perform a dishonest act.
– A Director violated the law, the JpGU Statutes, or engaged in some other malpractice
(5) Requesting the president to call the Board of Directors in order to make a report in either of the above situations
(If the secretary doesn’t receive any notice, within five days of his/her request, that the Board of Directors will be called within two weeks, he/she may call the Board of Directors on his/her own initiative.)
(6) Examining proposals, documents, and other legally defined items that a Director is going to submit to the general staff meeting, and reporting the findings to the general staff meeting if the Director violated the law or the Statutes, or engaged in malpractice
(7) Demanding that a Director stop performing the following acts (or preventing a Director from performing the following acts when there is good reason to believe that the Director will perform such acts);
– An act that goes against the aim of the JpGU or is against the law or the Statutes
– An act which might cause major damage to the JpGU
(8) Exercising the legal authority invested in the Secretaries.

(Term)
Article 19
The term of the Director is 2 years, and ends with the completion of the final regular general staff meeting for the business year within 2 years after he/she was elected as Director. This does not prevent him/her from being reelected to the same position.
2. The term for an executive official, who is elected because there is need of a replacement or additional personnel recruitment, will be the same as the remaining term of the official being replaced or the same as the remaining term of those already in office. However, in the case that a Secretary is elected some time after completion of the annual general staff meeting of the final business year within two years of the original election of the other secretaries, the term of the new Secretary will be set to continue until the annual general staff meeting of the final business year within a two-year period from the time that the new Secretary is elected.

3. If the fixed number of the executive officials is less than that provided by Article 15, the Directors and the Secretaries still have their rights and obligations as a Director or a Secretary from the time the former executive official completes his/her term or resigns to the time the newly elected executive official assumes office.

(Dismissal of executive officials)
Article 20
Members of the general staff meeting have the authority to dismiss the Directors and the secretaries at any given time. Dismissal of a Secretary requires the approval of two thirds or more of all the staff voting rights at the general staff meeting where more than half of all the staff is present.

(Rewards)
Article 21
No financial reward is offered to the executive officials. However, financial reward may be offered to the full-time executive officials. The amount of the reward is fixed in accordance with the provisions separately made by the general staff meeting.
2. The executive officials may be given a specific sum of money to cover their necessary expenses.

(Restriction of trade)
Article 22
When a Director is involved in any of the following types of business, the Director must disclose this information to and obtain the approval of the Board of Directors.
(1) Business which is classified in the same type of business as that carried out by the JpGU and is done on behalf of the Director or a third party
(2) Business which is done with the JpGU on behalf of the Director or a third party
(3) Business where the JpGU offers a guarantee against the Director’s debt, and business with someone other than the Director whose interests conflict with those between the JpGU and the Director
2. The Director who carries out trade mentioned in any of the preceding clauses, he/she is obliged to make a report to the Board of Directors without delay.
3. The preceding two clauses are handled in accordance with Article 47 “Rules of the Board of Directors”.

(Exemption from liability or limitation of liability)
Article 23
The JpGU may exempt the Directors from liability to compensate, as specified by Article 111, Clause 1 of the hojinho, to the extent of the amount determined by subtracting the total minimum liability specified by law from the amount of liability to compensate in accordance with the resolution of the Board of Directors provided the case corresponds to the requirements specified by law.
2. The JpGU may make a contract to establish a limitation of liability with the outside Directors if the case corresponds to the requirements specified by law. However, the limit of the liability to compensate is fixed either at a predetermined level that is more than 1,000,000 yen or the total minimum liability specified by law, whichever is larger.

(Honorary President and Consultants)
Article 24
The JpGU may appoint one person as an Honorary President and several persons as Consultants.
2. The Honorary President and the Consultants are elected from among the members after their term is set at the Board of Directors.
3. No reward is offered to the Honorary President and the Consultants. However, they may be given a sum of money to cover their necessary expenses.

(Duties of the Honorary President and Consultants)
Article 25
The Honorary President and the Consultants may consult with and state their opinion to the President.

Section 4 Types of General staff meetings
Article 26
There are two types of JpGU general staff meetings: a regular general staff meeting and an extraordinary general staff meeting.

(Structure)
Article 27
The general staff meeting is composed of representatives.
2. Representative may cast one vote at the general staff meeting.

(Authority)
Article 28
The following issues are put to the vote at the general staff meeting.
(1) Election and dismissal of executive officials
(2) Amount of executive officials’ reward and governing rules
(3) Alteration of the statutes
(4) Requirements for admission and membership fee
(5) Expulsion of members
(6) Disposition and inheritance of long-term borrowings and valuable assets
(7) Dissolution and disposition of surplus assets
(8) Amalgamation, total or partial assignment of business, and complete discontinuance of business for public purpose
(9) Issues to be discussed at the general staff meeting at the request of the Board of Directors
(10) Other issues to be resolved at the general staff meeting as specified by law or these statutes
2. Regardless of the preceding clause, the issues except for those concerning convocation specified by Article 30, Clause 3 cannot be resolved at each general staff meeting.
3. It is not permitted to take a vote on the distribution of any surplus balance to the staff at the general staff meeting.

(Holding a meeting)
Article 29
The regular general staff meeting is held in May every year.
2. An extraordinary general staff meeting is held in the following cases.
(1) Where a Director recognizes the necessity for the meeting and makes a request to the Board of Directors
(2) Where a group of staff with more than one tenth of the voting rights makes a request to the Directors for the meeting by stating its purpose and reason in writing.
(3) The staff who make the request in the preceding clause may call the general staff meeting with the approval of a court in the following cases.
ⅰ Where the procedure for calling the meeting is not initiated despite their request
ⅱ Where they don’t receive any notice that the meeting will be called within six weeks after their request

(Calling a meeting)
Article 30
Unless there is some legal constraint, the President calls the general staff meeting according to the resolution of the Board of Directors. However, the procedure for calling the meeting may be omitted if all the staff express their agreement.
2. If the request specified by Article 29, Clause 2-(2) is made, the President must call an extraordinary general meeting of staff within six weeks of the request.
3. When the general meeting of staff is called, its date, time, place, and purpose must be notified in writing one week prior to the meeting. However, if the conditions specified by Article 38, Clause 1-(3) (Exercising the voting rights in writing) or Clause 1-(4) (Exercising voting rights by electromagnetic method) of the hojinho are met, the notification may be made two weeks before the general staff meeting.

(Chairperson)
Article 31
A member of staff selected at the general staff meeting takes on the role of chairperson of the general staff meeting.

(Quorum)
Article 32
Attendance of more than 50 percent of the staff is required in order to hold the general staff meeting.

(Resolution)
Article 33
With the exception of the issues specified by Article 49, Clause 2 of the hojinho or these Statutes, a resolution of the general staff meeting is passed when more than 50 percent of the staff attends the meeting and more than 50 percent of the attendants express their approval. In case of a tie, the chairperson will have the final casting vote.
2. In the preceding case, the chairperson is not permitted to cast a vote as a member of staff.

(Voting rights of the staff who cannot attend the general staff meeting)
Article 34
According to the hojinho, staff who cannot attend the general staff meeting may vote by proxy (Article 50 of the juridical person law), writing (Article 51 of the hojinho), and electromagnetically (Article 52 of the hojinho).
2. When the first two provisions in the preceding clause are carried out, the staff will be regarded as an attendant.
3. When all the staff express in writing or electromagnetically their approval for the suggestion which a Director or a staff makes in order to have it accepted by the general staff meeting, the suggestion will be regarded as a resolution which the general staff meeting passed.

(Minutes)
Article 35
The law specifies that minutes of the general staff meeting must be drawn up.
2. The chairperson and the Directors present will sign and use their seals to mark the minutes as mentioned in the preceding clause.

(Rules of the general staff meeting)
Article 36
In addition to the law and these Statutes, the necessary conditions for the general staff meeting are separately specified by the general staff meeting.

Section 5 Board of Directors
(Structure)
Article 37
The JpGU has a Board of Directors.
2. The Board of Directors is composed of all the Directors.

(Authority)
Article 38
The Board of Directors assumes the following duties as well as those separately specified by these Statutes.
(1) Deciding the date, the time, and the place of the general staff meeting and the agenda
(2) Deciding the issues concerning establishment, alteration, and abolishment of the rules
(3) Deciding the business of the JpGU as well as the duties specified above
(4) Supervising the Directors’ execution of their duties
(5) Electing and displacing the President (or representative Director), Vice Presidents, Managing Director, Senior Managing Directors, and other Executive Directors.
(6) Deciding whether an applicant will be admitted as a new member
2. The Board of Directors is not permitted to delegate its authority to a Director to make a decision on the following issues and other important business.
(1) Disposition and inheritance of valuable assets
(2) Substantial loans
(3) Election and dismissal of important assistants
(4) Establishment, alteration, and abolishment of the branches and the other important organizations
(5) Maintenance of internal control system
(6) Conclusion of the contract of exemption from liability (Article 23, Clause 1) and limitation of liability (Article 23, Clause 2)
3. With the exception of the following cases, approval by two thirds of the total Directors is required at the Board of Directors before the JpGU can exercise its stockholder’s right to the company that issued the stocks (the shares).
(1) Receiving dividends
(2) New bonus stocks
(3) Applying for increase in dividends to shareholders
(4) Receiving the documents issued to shareholders

(Types and Methods of calling a meeting of the Board of Directors)
Article 39
There are two types of Board of Directors Meetings; a regular Board of Directors Meeting and an extraordinary Board of Directors Meeting.
2. The regular Board of Directors Meeting is held six times every business year.
3. The extraordinary Board of Directors Meeting is held in the following cases.
(1) Where the President considers it necessary to convene a Board of Directors Meeting
(2) Where Directors other than the President make a request in writing to the President for a Board of Directors Meeting to be convened
(3) Where the Directors don’t receive any notice, within five days of a request as given above, that the Board of Directors Meeting will be convened within two weeks, and they convene it on their own initiative
(4) Where the Secretaries make a request to the President for the Board of Directors or the Secretaries to convene a meeting according to Article 18-(5)

(Calling a Board of Directors Meeting)
Article 40
A Board of Directors Meeting is called by the president except in the following cases;
– Where the Directors call a Board of Directors Meeting according to Article 39, Clause 3-(3)
– Where the Secretaries call a Board of Directors Meeting according to Article 39, the latter part of Clause 3-(4)
2. If the cases specified in Article 39, Clause 3-(2) or the former part of Clause 3-(4) arises, the President must call an extraordinary Board of Directors Meeting within two weeks of the request.
3. When a Board of Directors Meeting is called, its date, time, place, and purpose must be notified to each Director and secretary in writing one week prior to the Board of Directors.
4. Irrespective of the preceding provisions, when all the Directors and the Secretaries express their approval for the Board of Directors Meeting to be held, it may be held without following the above procedures.

(Chairperson)
Article 41
The President takes on the role of chairperson of the Board of Directors Meeting.

(Quorum)
Article 42
Attendance of more than 50 percent of the Directors is required in order to hold the Board of Directors.

(Resolution)
Article 43
A resolution of the Board of Directors is passed when more than 50 percent of the Directors—excepting those who have a special interest in the resolution— attend it and more than 50 percent of the attendants express their approval. In case of a tie, the chairperson will have the casting vote.
2. In the preceding case, the chairperson is not permitted to cast a vote as a Director.

(Omission of resolution)
Article 44
When all the Directors concerned express their suggestion in writing or electromagnetically for a proposal made by a Director in order to have it accepted by the Board of Directors, the proposal will be regarded as a resolution passed by the Board of Directors. However, this shall not apply in the case where the Secretaries make some objection.

(Omission of report)
Article 45
If a Director or a Secretary notifies all the Directors and the Secretaries about the issues which must be reported to the Board of Directors, it is not necessary for those issues to be reported to the Board of Directors.
2. The preceding clause does not apply to the report specified by Article 17, Clause 5.

(Minutes)
Article 46
The law specifies that minutes of the Board of Directors be drawn up.
2. The Directors and the Secretaries present should sign and place their seal on the minutes mentioned in the preceding clause.

(Rules of the Board of Directors)
Article 47
Matters related to the Board of Directors are separately specified by the Board of Directors, the law and these Statutes.

Section 6 Meeting of Representatives of Society members
(Holding the meeting and related issues)
Article 48
The JpGU holds a meeting composed of representatives of the society members.
2. With the approval of the Board of Directors, this meeting offers the attendants an opportunity to express their opinions as well as to have consultations with the Board of Directors and express their opinion to the Board of Directors.

Section 7 Committee
(Establishing a committee and related issues)
Article 49
As necessary for the running of the JpGU, the Board of Directors may make a resolution to establish an appropriate committee.
2. The committee members are elected by the Board of Directors from among the JpGU members and others with appropriate academic experience.
3. The appropriate duties, structure and management of the committee are specified separately by the Board of Directors.

Section 8 Sections
(Establishing sections and related issues)
Article 50
In order to promote the business of the JpGU, The Directors may as necessary pass a resolution at the Board of Directors to establish a section, corresponding to one of the registered divisions of the regular members, which focuses on academic activity.
2. The duties, structure, and management of the sections are specified separately by the Board of Directors.

Section 9 Secretariat
(Organizing the secretariat and related issues)
Article 51
The secretariat is organized in order to deal with the affairs of the JpGU.
2. The secretariat is organized with a secretary-general and other necessary staff members.
3. The President has the authority to appoint and dismiss the secretary-general and other staff members of the secretariat subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
4. The structure and management of the secretariat are specified separately by the President in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors.

(Storage of account books and documents)
Article 52
The following accounts and documents must be stored in the main office at all times.
(1) Statues
(2) List of members and documents concerning the transfer of members
(3) List of representatives
(4) List of Directors and secretaries
(5) Documents concerning registrations such as qualification, permission, and approval
(6) Documents concerning agendas of the Board of Directors and the general meeting
(7) Rules concerning executive salaries
(8) Business reports
(9) Supplementary statements concerning business reports
(10) Balance sheets
(11) Income statements
(12) Supplementary statement concerning balance sheets and income statements
(13) Lists of assets
(14) Audit reports
(15) Documents concerning important matters such as organization, summary statement of business, and quantitative data related to these items
(16) Other accounts and documents as specified by law
2. Rights of access to the account books and the documents in the preceding clauses (1)-(16) are determined both by the law and as specified by the rules concerning freedom of information separately established by the Board of Directors according to Article 63, Clause 2.


Section 10 Assets and accounting
(Managing and operating assets and raising funds)
Article 53
The President manages and operates the JpGU assets, using the methods as specified by the rules concerning management and operation of assets established separately by the Board of Directors .

However, the entire assets that have been designated base assets (基本財産) of the JpGU must be managed in the interests of the JpGU by the President under the guidance of managers. The sale or removal of some assets from base assets requires the prior approval of the Board of Directors.

2. The JpGU may advertise for people willing to contribute funds to the base assets of the JpGU.
3. The funds cannot be returned until a date agreed-upon by both parties.
4. The procedures for returning the funds will be established following a resolution on the amount of the returned fund at the regular general staff meeting. Other necessary issues, such as where and how the fund is returned, are separately specified by the Board of Directors.

(Business plan and cash budget)
Article 54
The president must draw up documents concerning the JpGU’s business plan, cash budget, and estimate of funding and equipment investment and obtain the approval of the Board of Directors at least one day before the start of each business year. The same rule applies for any alteration of the documents.
2. Regardless of the preceding provisions, when the budget is not set up for unavoidable reasons, the President is given the authority to issue receipts and payments adhering to the budget for the previous year until the budget is set up according to the resolution of the Board of Directors.
3. The receipts and the payments specified by the preceding clause are regarded as receipts and payments of the new budget when it is set up
4. The documents specified by clause 1 must be kept in the head office for reference until the business year concerned ends.

(Business report and account settlement)
Article 55
The President must draw up the documents concerning the JpGU’s business report and account settlement, have them inspected by the secretaries, and submit them to the Board of Directors. Moreover, the President must report the contents of the documents (1) and (2) and have those of the documents from (3) to (6) approved.
(1) Business report
(2) Supplementary statement of business report
(3) Balance sheet
(4) Income statement
(5) Supplementary statement of balance sheet and income statement
(6) List of assets
2. The law states that the JpGU must disclose its balance sheet as soon as the regular general staff meeting in Clause 1 finishes.
3. According to the provisions of Article 48 of the law concerning the requirements of public interest corporations 公益社団法人 and public interest foundations 公益財団法人 (hereinafter “public-interest qualification law” 公益認定法), at the end of every business year the president calculates the amount of acquest balance for the purpose of public utility and enters the amount in the document specified in Article 52, Clause 1-(15).
(Disposition or inheritance of long-term borrowings and important assets)
Article 56
With the exception of short-term borrowing which is paid back by appropriating the profit from business for the year concerned, for the JpGU to take out a loan requires the approval by two thirds of the entire votes case at a general staff meeting where more than half of all the staff are present.
2. The same conditions apply in the case where the JpGU disposes of or inherits an important asset.

(Accounting principles)
Article 57
The public interest corporation’s accounting law which is generally regarded as just and proper applies to the accounting for the JpGU.

Section 11 Alteration of the Statutes, amalgamation, and dissolution
(Alteration of the Statutes)
Article 58
With the exception of the provisions of Article 61, these Statues may be altered with the approval of two thirds of all the votes cast at a general staff meeting where more than half of all staff are present.
2. If any of the preceding changes take place, they must be properly registered at the relevant government administrative offices without delay.

(Amalgamations)
Article 59
The JpGU may amalgamate with another association formed according to the hojinho, put its business totally or partially in someone else’s hands, and discontinue the entire business for public purpose with the approval of two thirds of all votes cast at a general staff meeting where more than half of all staff are present.
2. Before carrying out such changes, they must be registered with the appropriate government administrative office.

(Dissolution)
Article 60
The JpGU may be dissolved with the approval of two thirds of all votes cast at a general staff meeting where more than half of all staff are present as well as according to the provisions of Article 148, Clause 1-2 and Clause 4-7 of the hojinho.

(Treatment of assests if the public-interest status is revoked)
Article 61
If the JpGU either has its public-interest status revoked or this status is lost due to a merger with another organization (this status is not altered if the juridical person inheriting the rights and obligations of the JpGU is a public interest corporation), an amount equivalent to the acquest acquired for the purpose of meeting the requirements of a public utility will be donated to: i) juridical persons as specified by Article 5, Clause 17 of the public-interest qualification law, ii) the nation, or iii) the local authorities, within one month of the loss of the public-interest qualification or merger with another organization following the approval of the general staff meeting.

(Disposition of remaining property)
Article 62
The remaining property of the JpGU at the time of winding up will be donated to the nation, the local authorities, or the juridical persons specified by Article 5, Clause 17 of the public-interest qualification law, and the public interest corporations specified by Article 40, Clause 1 of the Special Taxation Measures Law with the approval of the general staff meeting.

Section 12 Disclosure of information and protection of personal data
(Disclosure of information)
Article 63
In order to promote fair and open business activities, the JpGU undertakes to make documents regarding its business conditions, administration, and finances publically available.
2. The items that require disclosure of information are separately established by the Board of Directors as rules concerning disclosure of information.

(Protection of personal data)
Article 64
The JpGU takes all possible measures to protect the personal data it gathers in the course of undertaking its activities.
2. The items to be included in the protection of personal data are separately established by the Board of Directors.

(Public notice)
Article 65
Public notices of the JpGU are given electronically.
2. If for some reason the public notice cannot be given electronically, it will be given in a official gazette.

Section 13 Supplementary rules
(Giving authorization to the Board of Directors)
Article 66
Any issues necessary for the administration of the JpGU that are not covered by these Statues are determined separately by the Board of Directors.

Supplementary provisions
1. With the exception of the supplementary provisions, these Statues go into effect on the day when the establishment of the JpGU is registered.
2. The Directors and Secretaries appointed at the time of establishing the JpGU are those described in the accompanying sheet “Directory of Directors and secretaries at the time of establishment”. With unanimous approval, the Directors at the time of establishment selected a representative Director as described in the accompanying sheet.
3. All of those appointed as Director, Secretary, or representative Director at the time of establishment assume each position as described in the accompanying sheet “Directory of Directors and secretaries at the time of establishment”.
4. Irrespective of the provisions of Article 19, Clause 1 and 2, the term as Director and secretary at the time of establishment runs until the end of the regular staff meeting held in May, 2010.
5. Irrespective of the provisions of Article 54, the business plan and budget for the first business year of the JpGU is established at the first general meeting.
6. Irrespective of the provisions of Article 6, the first business year of the JpGU runs from the day its establishment is registered until March 31, 2009.
7. There are six registered divisions for the regular members at the time of establishment: Space and Planetary Science; Atmosphere, Ocean, and Environmental Science; Human Geoscience; Solid Earth Science, Biogeoscience, and General Earth and Planetary science. Each individual staff member at the time of establishment of the JpGU is regarded as a representative elected from one of the sections.
8. The term for individual staff at the time of establishment runs from the time of establishment until March 31, 2010.
9. The first election of representatives is scheduled for no later than December 2009.
10. The head office at the time of establishment is located at 4th floor Gakkai Center Building 2-4-16 Yayoi Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, and these Statutes are kept at this address even before the JpGU is established.


December 1, 2008
Partially revised on December 14, 2009

Partially revised on May 26. 2010

Partially revised on May 26, 2011

Major revision on December 1, 2011

Partially revised on May 26. 2014

Partially revised on May 26, 2017

Partially revised on May 22, 2018