Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone

Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone (Law No. 30 of 1977, as amended by Law No. 73 of 1996) Extent of the territorial sea Article 1 1. The territorial sea of Japan comprises the areas of the sea extending from the baseline to the line 12 nautical miles seaward thereof. Provided that, where any part of that line lies beyond the median line as measured from the baseline, the median line (or the line which may be agreed upon between Japan and a foreign country as a substitute for the median line) shall be substituted for that part of the line. 2. "The median line" referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be the line every point of which is equidistant from the nearest point on the baseline and the nearest point on the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea pertaining to the foreign coast which is opposite to the coast of Japan is measured. Baseline Article 2 I. The baseline shall be the low-water line, the straight baseline and the straight line drawn across the mouth of or within a bay, or across the niouth of a river. Provided that, with respect to the Seto Naikai, which is internal waters, the baseline shall be the lines prescribed by Cabinet Order as the boundaries with other areas of the sea adjacent thereto. 2. Straight baselines referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by Cabinet Order, in accordance with article 7 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (hereinafter referred to as "the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea"). 3. In addition to the provision of the preceding paragraph, the criteria to be used in employing, as baseline, the lines provided for in paragraph 1 and any other matters necessary for the drawing of baselines shall be prescribed by Cabinet Order. Application of the laws and regulations of Japan pertaining to hot pursuit from within the internal waters or the territorial sea Article 3 The laws and regnlations of Japan (including penal provisions. The same shall apply in article 5) shall apply with respect to the execution of official duties by public officials of Japan in relation to hot pursuit from within the internal waters or the territorial sea of Japan undertaken in accordance with article 111 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea and the conduct obstructing such execution. The contiguous zone Article 4 1. There is hereby established the contiguous zone, as a zone in which Japan takes necessary measures to prevent or punish infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory in accordance with article 33, paragraph 1, of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Y Provisional translation provided by the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations. 2. The contiguous zone referred to in the preceding paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "the contiguous zone" for brevity) comprises the areas of the sea extending from the baseline to the line 24 nautical miles seaward thereof(excluding therefrom the territorial sea). Provided that, where any part of that line lies beyond the median line ("The median line" here is as defined in article 1, paragraph 2. The same shall apply hereinafter) as measured from the baseline, the median line (or the line which may be agreed upon between Japan and a foreign country as a substitute for the median line) shall be substituted for that part of the line. 3. In a part of the areas of the sea in which the mutual application with a foreign country beyond the median line of the measures prescribed in article 33, paragraph l, of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea is deemed appropriate, the contiguous zone may extend from the baseline to the line 24 nautical miles seaward thereof ( excluding therefrom the territorial sea of a foreign country), as prescribed by Cabinet Order, notwithstanding the provision of the preceding paragraph. Application of the laws and regulations of Japan in the contiguous zone Article 5 The laws and regulations of Japan shall apply with respect to the execution of official duties by public officials of Japan in the contiguous zone in relation to measures prescribed in paragraph 1 of the preceding article (including the execution of official duties in relation to hot pursuit from within the contiguous zone pertaining to the said execution of official duties undertaken in accordance with article 111 of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the conduct obstructing such execution. Supplementary Provisions Date of enforcement 1. This law shall be enforced on the date prescribed by Cabinet Order, which shall be within two months following the date of its promulgation. Extent of the territorial sea pertaining to the designated areas 2. For the time being, the provisions of article 1 shall not apply to the Si'iya Kaikyo, the Tugaru Kaikyo, the Tusima Kaiky0 Higasi Suido, the Tusima Kaiky0 Nisi Suido and the Osumi Kaikyo (including areas of the sea which are adjacent to these waters and which are recognized as forming respectively integral parts thereof from the point of view of the course normally used for navigation by vessels; hereinafter referred to as "the designated areas"). The territorial sea pertaining to the designated areas shall be respectively the areas of the sea extending from the baseline to the line 3 nautical miles seaward thereof and to the line drawn connecting with the said line. 3. The limits of the designated areas and the lines referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be prescribed by Cabinet Order. Supplementary Provisions (Law No. 73 of 1996) This law shall be enforced on the day when the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea enters into force for Japan.