About the approved local community groups

Previously, neighborhood associations (organizations based on local ties) were not recognized as legal entities, so even if a neighborhood association owned real estate such as land or buildings, it could not be registered in the name of the neighborhood association, and individuals such as presidents and officers could not register it. It was registered in the name. In the case of registration in an individual's name, issues such as name change or inheritance may arise due to the death or relocation of the holder.
Therefore, in April 1991, a portion of the Local Autonomy Act was revised, and with regard to "groups based on local ties (notes) " such as neighborhood associations, they must undergo certain procedures and receive approval for corporate status from the head of the local government. As a result, real estate, etc. can now be registered in the name of the neighborhood association.
An organization that has acquired corporate status through such certain procedures is called a "certified territorial organization."

(Note) A "local association" is defined as "an association formed on the basis of local ties between persons who have their address in a town or village area or in a certain area within a city, town, or village" (Article 260-2, Paragraph 1 of the Local Autonomy Act).

Due to a partial amendment to the Local Autonomy Act, the approved local community group system has been revised as follows.

Members who do not attend a general meeting of a licensed regional organization are allowed to vote by electromagnetic means instead of in writing, according to the bylaws or resolution of the general meeting.
If the terms and conditions are amended, you will need to submit an "Application for Approval of Changes to the Terms and Conditions".
Application for approval of changes to terms and conditions (Word: 13KB)

Example of voting by electromagnetic method

Voting by sending via e-mail, using websites or applications, or by recording on a magnetic disk or other media and delivering said disk, etc.

The previous system of approved local community groups was introduced with the aim of allowing "neighborhood associations that currently own or plan to own real estate" to obtain corporate status with the approval of the mayor of the ward, city, town, or village and become the registered owner of real estate property if they met certain requirements.
However, this amendment will make it possible to obtain approval regardless of whether or not one owns real estate, etc.

The Local Autonomy Act before the revision did not contain any provisions regarding the merger of approved local community organizations. However, with the recent progress of population decline and an aging society, approved local community organizations are also facing serious issues such as a decline in members and a shortage of people to serve as officers, and many organizations are unable to maintain their activities under the current structure, so there is a greater need for approved local community organizations to merge than ever before.
In light of the specific calls from local governments for the creation of merger regulations and simplification of dissolution procedures, new provisions regarding the merger of approved local community organizations have now been added to the Local Autonomy Act and the Enforcement Regulations of the Local Autonomy Act, making it possible for approved local community organizations to merge with other approved local community organizations within the same city, town, or village.

For authorization, the following requirements must be met:

[Note] Due to the revision of the law in November 2021, organizations based on local ties, regardless of whether they own or plan to own real estate, must be approved by the mayor of the ward, town, or village in order to smoothly carry out joint regional activities. It is now possible to receive it.

1. The purpose is to carry out regional joint activities that contribute to the maintenance and formation of a good local community, such as communication between residents in the area, improvement of the environment, maintenance and management of meeting facilities, etc., and it is recognized that such activities are actually being carried out. thing.
2. The area must be clearly defined and objectively understood by residents.
3. All individuals who have an address in the area of ​​a geographically related organization shall be able to become members, and a considerable number of such individuals shall be members.
4. Establishment of terms and conditions. The bylaws shall stipulate the purpose, name, area, location of the main office, qualifications of members, representatives, meetings, and assets.

• Approval application form
• Terms
• Documents proving that the general meeting has decided to apply for approval
• List of members
• Inventory of assets held or planned to be held
• Documents stating that regional joint activities that contribute to the maintenance and formation of a good local community are currently being carried out.
• Documents proving that the applicant is the representative

A regional association certificate will be issued upon request with a copy of the approved regional association register. It can be issued from the date of notification by the mayor.

• Delivery request form
• Applicant's seal
• Issuance fee

You can register the seal of the representative of a local community group, which is necessary for real estate registration, etc. Only the representative of the group can apply.
In addition, certificates will be issued based on the application for an approved local community group seal registration certificate.

• Approved local organization seal registration application form
• Approved local organization seal registration slip
• Seal registration certificate
• Personal seal of the representative to be registered
• Approved regional organization seal to be registered

• Approved local organization seal registration certificate application form

Corporate registration

Corporate registration as an authorized local association will be changed to this with a public notice issued by the mayor. Corporate registration with the Legal Affairs Bureau is not required.
In addition, until this public notice is issued, a community-related organization cannot claim against a third party that it has been approved as a community-based organization.

Real estate registration

The application form, documents showing the cause and evidence, and the certificate of the local organization must be attached to the display registration and preservation registration of the assets held by an approved local organization.
Regarding real estate registration procedures, please consult with a judicial scrivener, legal affairs bureau, etc.

If there is a change in the matters announced by the representative or the terms and conditions, a notification/application is required.

Notification matters refer to the following nine matters.

• name
• Purposes set out in the Terms
• Area
• office
• Name and address of representative
• Whether the representative's execution of duties has been suspended by the court and whether a substitute has been appointed (if a substitute has been appointed, the name and address of the substitute)
• Whether there is a representative (if there is a representative, his/her name and address)
• If the grounds for dissolution are specified in the terms and conditions, those grounds
• Approval date