In January 1999, the Law to Promote Specified Non-profit Activities was promulgated in Japan giving non-profit organizations (NPOs) their first legal recognition. The legislation is in part a result of volunteer activities following the Kobe Earthquake which took more than six thousand lives.   Read article

The purpose of this law, promulgated on 25 March 1998, is to promote the sound development of specified non-profit activities in the form of volunteer and other activities freely performed by citizens to benefit society, through such measures as the provision of corporate status to organizations that undertake specified non-profit activities, and thereby to contribute to advancement of the public welfare.   Read article