Japan
Local Autonomy Act
Law No. 67 of 1947 (Chihō Jichi Hō); Art. 115 (open sessions), Art. 116 (closed sessions), Art. 123 (minutes); as amended through 2024
Sunshine Score
| Advance Notice | 7 days |
|---|---|
| Public Comment | Not required |
| Closed Sessions | 1 permitted category |
| Minutes | Required |
| Recording | Not required |
| Remote Participation | Allowed |
| Enforcement | Voidable, legislature exempt |
Agenda & Notice Requirements
Online posting: Not required
The Local Autonomy Act does not specify a national notice period for agendas. Each council adopts its own Rules of Procedure (会議規則, kaigi kisoku) under Art. 120 of the Act. In practice, most councils require 3–7 days' notice for regular sessions and shorter periods for extraordinary sessions, but this varies by jurisdiction. The assembly president (議長) is responsible for convening sessions and notifying members (Art. 101).
Public Participation
The Local Autonomy Act does not create a statutory right for members of the public to address council meetings. Public comment procedures are set by each council's Rules of Procedure and vary significantly by jurisdiction.
Virtual Meetings
A 2022 amendment authorized remote participation for committee meetings (委員会) under conditions set by each council's bylaws. Remote participation in plenary sessions (本会議) and whether remote attendance counts toward quorum is determined by each council's Rules of Procedure. Expansion to plenary sessions has been the subject of ongoing policy discussion since 2022.
Closed Sessions
Closed (executive) sessions: Allowed under specific circumstances
Permitted Categories
Meeting Minutes
Online posting: Not required
Content requirements: Minutes (会議録, kaigiroku) must be prepared for each session under Art. 123. The assembly president and two designated members sign and certify the minutes. Open session minutes are publicly available for inspection; closed session minutes are managed according to each council's rules.