What e-Gov Law Search is

e-Gov Law Search (laws.e-gov.go.jp) is the Japanese government’s database of statutes and regulations, run by the Digital Agency. It covers the Constitution, Acts, Cabinet Orders, Imperial Ordinances, Ministerial Ordinances and Rules (e-Gov). For drug and device companies, it is the most reliable source for the consolidated Japanese text of the PMD Act, its Enforcement Order and Enforcement Regulations, and ordinances such as GMP and QMS.

It does not generally hold administrative notifications (tsuchi); those remain on MHLW and PMDA websites.

Law API v2: point-in-time text

The Digital Agency released Law API Version 2 on March 14, 2025. New features include (e-Gov release notice):

  • Searching laws as they stood at a specific point in time
  • Retrieving individual provisions as of that time
  • Searching repealed laws
  • Downloading full law text files

Version 1 remains available “for the time being”, and the data covers laws from April 1, 2017 onward. The API is also listed in the government API catalog (API catalog).

Point-in-time retrieval matters for the PMD Act because the 2025 amendment takes effect in stages between November 2025 and 2028. A question such as “what did the Act require on May 1, 2026?” has a different answer from “what does it require today?”.

English versions

e-Gov is Japanese only. English translations of some laws are on the separate Japanese Law Translation database, but the PMD Act translation there reflects amendments only up to Act No. 50 of 2015 (Japanese Law Translation). Use English for orientation and Japanese for requirements.

Reuse terms

e-Gov content belongs to the Digital Agency unless otherwise noted, and the Public Data License 1.0 applies unless a rights notice says otherwise. Users must cite the source (for example, “Source: e-Gov portal”), state when they have edited content, and not present edited information as a government publication; logos and services with their own terms are excluded (e-Gov terms). PDL1.0 permits commercial use and is compatible with CC BY 4.0 (Digital Agency).

The terms also say the Digital Agency will generally give at least 90 days’ notice before discontinuing or significantly changing services, so plan for API changes.

Using e-Gov law text in AI and RAG

  1. Use the API, not page scraping, and record API version and retrieval date.
  2. Store point-in-time versions with their effective dates rather than overwriting.
  3. Keep article numbers and paragraph structure for precise citations.
  4. Separate law from notifications collected elsewhere.
  5. Attribute and mark edits in any translation or summary.

Common mistakes

  • Answering questions about past events with today’s text.
  • Expecting notifications on e-Gov.
  • Relying on outdated English translations.
  • Forgetting PDL1.0 attribution in AI outputs.

Checklist

  • Retrieve PMD Act and ordinances through Law API v2
  • Store versions with effective dates
  • Link 2025 amendment provisions to their start dates
  • Collect notifications separately from MHLW and PMDA
  • Add e-Gov attribution to outputs

How AskDona helps

AskDona reads your procedures against the Japanese law text you load, including a specific point-in-time version, and cites the article and your document page for each finding. Run a sample Japan law-to-procedure check on one procedure. AskDona shows the evidence; your regulatory team decides.

Editor’s note: API details come from the Digital Agency’s v2 release notice; consult the API specification for current features. Licensing notes are not legal advice; our “conditional use” rating is a first-pass judgment.

FAQ

What is e-Gov Law Search? The Japanese government’s official database of laws and regulations.

Can I get past versions of a law? Yes. Law API v2, released March 14, 2025, supports point-in-time retrieval.

Is e-Gov available in English? No. Some English translations exist on the Japanese Law Translation database.

Can I use e-Gov law data commercially? Generally yes under PDL1.0 with attribution and edit notices.

References

All pages opened and checked by October 26, 2026.

SourceTypeUsed for
e-Gov Law SearchGovernment databaseScope
e-Gov: Law API v2 release noticeGovernment noticeAPI v2 features
e-Gov API catalog: Law APIGovernment catalogAPI listing
e-Gov: Terms of useGovernment termsPDL1.0, notice period
Digital Agency: PDL1.0Government licenseCommercial use
Japanese Law Translation: PMD ActGovernment databaseEnglish version