the Government of Japan

“ An agency may, when particularly necessary, establish positions, which are equivalent to those of directors-general of departments, that have jurisdiction over affairs not under the jurisdiction of the secretariat and departments for the efficient performance of such affairs, and the establishment, the duties and the fixed number of such positions shall be specified by a Cabinet Order. ”

“ The Administrative Organs of the State to be established for the organization of the government shall be ministries, commissions and agencies, and the establishment and abolition thereof shall be prescribed separately by an Act. A ministry shall be established as an organ that takes charge of administrative matters under the control and jurisdiction of the Cabinet, and a commission and an agency shall be established under a ministry as its external organs. The organs to be established as Administrative Organs of the State as set forth in paragraph 2 shall be those listed in appended table 1. ”