(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to ensure the sound development of the meteorological service and thereby contribute to the improvement of the public welfare such as the maintenance of transportation safety, industrial prosperity by promoting the prevention of disasters and at the same time, to cooperate in world meteorological services (Article 1).

(2) OBJECTIVE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
Meteorological observation is in principle left to one's free will, but if one intends to conduct observations for purposes such as wide circulation or prevention of disasters, then technical standards must be met to conduct precise observation and to ensure uniformity of observation methods (Article 6), and observation devices which are certified must be used (Article 9).

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINISTERIAL ORDINANCES
Enforcement Order of the Meteorological Service Law
Meteorological Instruments Calibration Regulations

(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Items Covered (Meteorological instruments)
Thermometers, barometers, hygrometers, anemometers, pyranometers, rain gauges and snow gauges

2) Substance of regulations and other measures
Because use or circulation of erratic data as meteorological observations could invite social confusion in times of disaster response, meteorological observations conducted by governmental agencies other than the Meteorological Agency (excluding observations intended for research and educational purposes), or observations and other relevant acts conducted by others, for the purpose of disaster prevention or circulation of results, are obliged to use meteorological observation devices that have certain structure and performance, for the purpose of conducting precise observation.

3) Outlines of specifications and standards, and certifications and other measures
Two certifications are conducted for meteorological devices: "structural certifications" which serve to inspect whether such elements as materials, parts and their combinations are appropriate for the described device criteria; and "device-specific certifications" which serve to inspect precision of the individual meteorological devices. Standards for device-specific precision take into consideration the demands on observation precision set by the World Meteorological Organization, paying respect for international harmonization.
Along the certification procedures, systems of "model proof" and "designated measuring party" are introduced with a view to lessen the burden on the part of applicants and to utilize private technological capacity.

4) Registered certification organizations, model proof system and designated measuring party system
i. Registered certification organization
Certification is carried out by "registered certification organizations", registered to the Director General of the Meteorological Agency.

ii. Model proof system
Director General of the Meteorological Agency issues model proofs, upon application, for models of the meteorological instruments, which are subject to certification. For those meteorological instruments which were certified to be of certain structures will be waived from "structural certifications" when being certified.

iii. Designated measuring party system
Director General of the Meteorological Agency certifies, upon application, the measuring capacity of the parties, which measure precision of individual meteorological devices. When the above-designated parties, as designated measuring parties, certifies individual precision of meteorological instruments that have already received model proof, submission of documents from such certification can replace submission of actual meteorological instruments.

(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT AMENDMENTS
1)Relocation of administration of certification to designated certification agencies, and establishment of approved measuring party system (effective April 1, 2003)
2)Relocation of administration of certification from assigned certification agencies to registered certification agencies, which have registered to the Director General of the Meteorological Agency (effective March 1, 2004)

(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Office for Further Information)
Administration Division, Observations Department, Meteorological Agency
Tel: 03-3211-6018 http://www.kishou.go.jp/shinsei/kentei/index.html