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Legal Framework
In Japan Civil Code described basic charitable corporation form, namely
Public Interest Corporation(PIC). After December 1st 2008, when the new PIC laws and regulations are to be fully enforced, a new independent body called Public Interest Corporation Commission (PIC Commission), similar to the Charity Commission for England and Wales, has started their operation. As of December 2012, 10,000 of PICs have
already shifted their legal status, however 14,000 are now making decisions
about how they will shift their legal status. Another types of CSOs called
Specified Non-Profit Corporation, and other organizations also exist in
Japan as shown below. This legal framework is a significant characteristic
of Japan, because in most countries charitable non-profit is unified as
one.
 Current Legal System for charitable corporations
| Legal Entities |
Authorization authorities |
Establishment |
| Public Interest Corporation* |
PIC Commission |
1896
(reformed in 2008) |
| General Nonprofit Corporation* |
-- |
2008 |
| Approved Specified Nonprofit Corp* |
Prefectural Government |
2002 |
| Specified Nonprofit Corporation* |
Prefectural Government |
1998 |
| Social Welfare Corporation |
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare |
1951 |
| Private School Corporation |
Ministry of Education, Clture, Sports, Science, Technology |
1949 |
| Religious Corporation |
Ministry of Education, Clture, Sports, Science, Technology |
1951 |
| Medical Corporation |
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare |
1950 |
| Public Charitable Trust |
Competent Government Agencies |
1923 |
| The Relief and Rehabilitation Corporation |
Ministry of Justice |
1995 |
| Approved Community Based Organization |
Mayor or town or village headperson |
1991 |
*Registration process of 4 legal entities indicated above list are as show
below;
Japanese CSOs Basic Institutional Structure
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