SpaceMiningData
National statuteJapanIn force

Japan: Act on the Promotion of Business Activities Related to the Exploration and Development of Space Resources (Act No. 83 of 2021)

Japanese statute that adds a space resources business-activity plan to the satellite-management permit of the Space Activities Act, requires the Prime Minister to publish permits, and provides that a permitted operator acquires ownership of resources it mines under the approved plan by possessing them with intent to own.

Facts

Level
National statute
Scope
National
Country
Japan
Citation
令和三年法律第八十三号 (Act No. 83 of 2021), promulgated 23 June 2021
Adopted
2021-06-23
In force
2021-12-23
Status
In forceCabinet Office lists two permits issued under the Act (2022-11-04 and 2024-12-17) and counts by fiscal year (FY2021: 0, FY2022: 1, FY2023: 0, FY2024: 1, FY2025: 0).

Resource provisions

A paraphrase followed by the source wording.

Art. 5: an operator conducting space resources business activities acquires ownership of space resources mined in accordance with the business activity plan attached to its permit, by possessing them with the intention to own. Art. 3: the permit is a Space Activities Act satellite-management permit (Art. 20(1)) with a business activity plan, granted by the Prime Minister after consulting the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Art. 4: permits are published. Art. 6: the Act must not hinder performance of Japan's treaty obligations.

Article 5 A person that conducts business activities related to exploring and developing space resources acquires the ownership of space resources that have been mined, etc. in accordance with the business activity plan related to the license, etc. for exploring and developing space resources, by possessing the space resources with the intention to own them. [2]

Authorizations that cite it

CountryHolder and missionInstrumentGrantedLinked mission
JapanJapan Space Resources Act permit to ispace for HAKUTO-R Mission 1 (2022)Holder: ispace, inc.Space resources authorization2022-11-04GrantedHAKUTO-R Mission 1 (ispace M1 lander)Flew. Outcome: failure
JapanJapan Space Resources Act permit to ispace for Mission 2 (RESILIENCE) (2024)Holder: ispace, inc.Space resources authorization2024-12-17GrantedSMBC x HAKUTO-R Venture Moon (ispace Mission 2, RESILIENCE lander)Flew. Outcome: failure

Open evidence gaps

  • English text is an unofficial translation (Japanese Law Translation / CAO bilingual PDF); the Japanese text is authoritative.

Sources

6 sources
  1. [1]宇宙資源の探査及び開発に関する事業活動の促進に関する法律（令和三年法律第八十三号）(e-Gov law data)
    Digital Agency, Government of Japan (e-Gov)LegislationPublished 2021-06-23Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle 第五条 (Article 5)
    当該採掘等をした者が所有の意思をもって占有することによって、その所有権を取得する
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]Act on the Promotion of Business Activities for Exploring and Developing Space Resources (Act No. 83 of June 23, 2021), bilingual text
    Cabinet Office, Government of Japan (translation: Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice)LegislationPublished 2021-06-23Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle Article 5, page 6
    Article 5 A person that conducts business activities related to exploring and developing space resources acquires the ownership of space resources that have been mined, etc. in accordance with the business activity plan related to the license, etc. for exploring and developing space resources, by possessing the space resources with the intention to own them.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed. Translation is unofficial.
  3. [3]Act No. 83 of 2021 - title and number
    Cabinet Office, Government of JapanLegislationPublished 2021-06-23Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: citation, adopted datepage 1
    (Act No. 83 of June 23, 2021)
    Quote matched the source text when accessed. Translation is unofficial.
  4. [4]Act No. 83 of 2021 - Supplementary Provisions Art. 1 (effective date)
    Cabinet Office, Government of JapanLegislationPublished 2021-06-23Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: in force datearticle Supplementary Provisions, Article 1, page 7
    Article 1 This Act comes into effect as of the day on which six months have elapsed from the date of its promulgation
    Quote matched the source text when accessed. Translation is unofficial.
  5. [5]Space Resources Act - Article 4 (publication of permits)
    Digital Agency, Government of Japan (e-Gov)LegislationPublished 2021-06-23Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: resource provisionsarticle 第四条 (Article 4)
    宇宙資源の探査及び開発の許可等をしたときは、その旨及び次に掲げる事項
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]宇宙資源法に関する申請受付について (applications and list of permits under the Space Resources Act)
    Cabinet Office, National Space Policy SecretariatGovernment recordAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: status
    令和3年度 0 令和4年度 1 令和5年度 0 令和6年度 1 令和7年度 0
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.