Articles of Association
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This document is created as an English translation of the “Nippon Reishi Kyougikai Kaisoku” (Japanese version). In the event of any discrepancies between this English translation and the Japanese version, the Japanese version shall prevail.
Nippon Reishi Association Bylaws
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Article 1 Name
Chapter 2 Members
Article 5 Types of Members
Chapter 3 Officers
Article 14 Types and Number of Officers
Chapter 4 Meetings
Article 20 Types
Chapter 5 Secretariat
Article 32 Establishment of Secretariat
Chapter 6 Amendment and Dissolution of These Regulations
Article 34 Amendment of These Regulations
Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions
Article 36 Delegation
Article 1 Name
This association shall be called the Nippon Reishi Association (Nippon Reishi Association).
Article 2 OfficeThe main office of this association shall be located in Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Article 3 PurposeThe purpose of this association is to utilize Japanese-made Reishi (scientific name: Ganoderma lucidum / Japanese name: Reishi), hereinafter referred to as "Reishi," as a material contributing to the health industry, ensure the quality and safety of Reishi, and promote information exchange among member companies for the purpose of ensuring the quality and safety of Reishi.
Article 4 ActivitiesThis association shall conduct information exchange on the following items:
①
Quality control in each process of Reishi cultivation, cultivation, extraction, tabletting, and packaging.
② Compliance with various laws and prevention of violations.
③ Collection and research of research materials.
④ Liaison and cooperation with relevant government agencies.
② Compliance with various laws and prevention of violations.
③ Collection and research of research materials.
④ Liaison and cooperation with relevant government agencies.
Chapter 2 Members
Article 5 Types of Members
The members of this association shall be divided into the following three types:
Article 6 Admission①
Regular Members: Corporations engaged in the cultivation, production
processing/contract processing, and sale of Japanese-made Reishi. They have the right to vote at the general meeting (defined in Chapter 4) and the right to serve as officers of this association.
②
Overseas Members: Corporations engaged in the sale of Japanese-madeReishi overseas. They can participate in the general meeting but do not have voting rights.
③
Supporting Members: Organizations and corporations supporting the activities of this association.1. Those wishing to join must apply to the Secretariat (defined in Chapter 5) by submitting an application form.
2. Upon admission, a pre-investigation shall be conducted by the Secretariat, and a decision shall be made by the Board of Directors (defined in Article 28) based on the report. This document is created as an English translation of the “Nippon Reishi Kyougikai Kaisoku” (Japanese version). In the event of any discrepancies between this English translation and the Japanese version, the Japanese version shall prevail
Article 7 Membership Fees2. Upon admission, a pre-investigation shall be conducted by the Secretariat, and a decision shall be made by the Board of Directors (defined in Article 28) based on the report. This document is created as an English translation of the “Nippon Reishi Kyougikai Kaisoku” (Japanese version). In the event of any discrepancies between this English translation and the Japanese version, the Japanese version shall prevail
Membership fees shall not be collected from regular members, overseas members, or supporting members regardless of its member category its, and members shall bear the expenses related to the activities of this association themselves.
Article 8 Loss of Membership QualificationsA member shall lose their qualifications if they fall under the following items:
Article 9 Withdrawal①
When they withdraw.
② When they are expelled.
② When they are expelled.
1. Overseas members and supporting members may voluntarily withdraw by submitting a withdrawal request to the chairman.
2. Regular members can withdraw with the consent of more than half of the other regular members...
Article 10 Expulsion2. Regular members can withdraw with the consent of more than half of the other regular members...
1. If a member falls under the following items, they may be expelled by a decision of more than half of the votes at the general meeting. In this case, the member must be notified in writing at least 10 days before the general meeting, and they must be given the opportunity to explain themselves at the general meeting.
Article 11 Benefits①
When they violate these regulations (hereinafter referred to as "these regulations").
② When they damage the honor of this association or engage in acts contrary to its objectives.
2.
The Chairman shall, upon the decision mentioned in the preceding clause, notify the expelled member in writing, clearly stating the reasons for expulsion
② When they damage the honor of this association or engage in acts contrary to its objectives.
1. Members may participate in the activities conducted by this association on a priority basis and receive distribution of publications free of charge or for a fee.
2. Members may affix the seal of this association (for a fee) to products registered with this association to indicate their membership. The fee shall be determined separately.
3. Members may have their names displayed on the homepage operated by this association.
4. With the approval of the Board of Directors, this association may issue warnings under the name of this association against counterfeits or counterfeit goods.
Article 12 Duty to Comply2. Members may affix the seal of this association (for a fee) to products registered with this association to indicate their membership. The fee shall be determined separately.
3. Members may have their names displayed on the homepage operated by this association.
4. With the approval of the Board of Directors, this association may issue warnings under the name of this association against counterfeits or counterfeit goods.
1. Members must comply with relevant laws and regulations such as the Food Sanitation Act, Medical Practitioners Act, Pharmaceutical Affairs Law, Consumer Protection Act, Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, Act against Unfair Competition, Product Liability Act, Antimonopoly Act, etc.
2. Members must provide accurate information to users regarding product content, transaction conditions, etc., in their business activities.
3. Members must not engage in activities that may damage the position or intellectual property of this association or engage in activities similar to those of this association that may cause confusion.
4. Members must establish appropriate criteria for dealing with complaints from users, etc., and promptly and sincerely respond to complaints when they arise.
Article 13 Prohibited Activities2. Members must provide accurate information to users regarding product content, transaction conditions, etc., in their business activities.
3. Members must not engage in activities that may damage the position or intellectual property of this association or engage in activities similar to those of this association that may cause confusion.
4. Members must establish appropriate criteria for dealing with complaints from users, etc., and promptly and sincerely respond to complaints when they arise.
Members must not engage in the following activities:
①
Actions that violate the Antimonopoly Act or other applicable laws and regulations, such as price fixing, sales conditions, production restrictions, and handling of statistical information.
② Behaviors such as unfairly defaming competitors or their products.
③ Actions that damage the credit or authority of this association or cause distrust in this association's issued certificates.
④ Other actions similar to those listed above.
② Behaviors such as unfairly defaming competitors or their products.
③ Actions that damage the credit or authority of this association or cause distrust in this association's issued certificates.
④ Other actions similar to those listed above.
Chapter 3 Officers
Article 14 Types and Number of Officers
1. This association shall have the following officers: Directors: 3 members
3. The chairman, technical director, and secretary-general may be appointed from among the directors by resolution of the Board of Directors (defined in Article 28).
Article 15 Appointment of Officers3. The chairman, technical director, and secretary-general may be appointed from among the directors by resolution of the Board of Directors (defined in Article 28).
1. Directors must be employees of regular member companies.
2. Directors shall be appointed by mutual selection from among regular members.
Article 16 Duties of Officers2. Directors shall be appointed by mutual selection from among regular members.
1. The chairman shall represent this association and oversee its operations.
2. The technical director shall collect technical information on Reishi, write articles, and publish them on the homepage.
3. The secretary-general shall assist the chairman, execute the business of this association based on these regulations and resolutions of the general meeting.
Article 17 Term of Office of Officers2. The technical director shall collect technical information on Reishi, write articles, and publish them on the homepage.
3. The secretary-general shall assist the chairman, execute the business of this association based on these regulations and resolutions of the general meeting.
1. The term of office for officers shall be two years. However, reelection is not prohibited.
2. The term of office for officers appointed by supplementation or addition shall be the remaining period of the incumbent officers.
3. Officers must continue to perform their duties until a successor is appointed even after resigning or reaching the end of their term.
4. If an officer resigns during their term of office, they must apply to the Secretariat and obtain approval from the Board of Directors.
5. If an officer resigns during their term of office, the Secretariat shall promptly recommend a successor, and the Board of Directors shall approve the recommendation.
Article 18 Dismissal of Officers2. The term of office for officers appointed by supplementation or addition shall be the remaining period of the incumbent officers.
3. Officers must continue to perform their duties until a successor is appointed even after resigning or reaching the end of their term.
4. If an officer resigns during their term of office, they must apply to the Secretariat and obtain approval from the Board of Directors.
5. If an officer resigns during their term of office, the Secretariat shall promptly recommend a successor, and the Board of Directors shall approve the recommendation.
Officers may be dismissed by a resolution of more than two-thirds of the votes at a general meeting. In this case, the officer must be notified in writing at least 10 days before the general meeting, and they must be given the opportunity to explain themselves at the general meeting. Officers may be dismissed under the following circumstances:
Article 19 Remuneration of Officers①
When they are determined to be unable to perform their duties due to physical or mental illness.
Officers shall not receive any remuneration.
Chapter 4 Meetings
Article 20 Types
Meetings shall consist of general meetings and board meetings.
Article 21 Composition of General MeetingsGeneral meetings shall be composed of regular members.
Article 22 Functions of General Meetings1. General meetings shall decide on matters stipulated in these regulations and the following items:
Article 23 Types and Holding of General Meetings①
Activity plan for the next fiscal year
② Matters related to regulations and rules for enforcement of regulations.
③ Important matters concerning the operation of this association.
2. The chairman shall report on the activities of this association for each fiscal year (April 1 to the following March 31) at the general meeting.。② Matters related to regulations and rules for enforcement of regulations.
③ Important matters concerning the operation of this association.
1. Ordinary general meetings shall be held once a year.
2. Extraordinary general meetings shall be held when deemed necessary by the Board of Directors and a request for convocation is made.
Article 24 Convocation of General Meetings
2. Extraordinary general meetings shall be held when deemed necessary by the Board of Directors and a request for convocation is made.
1. General meetings shall be convened by the chairman.
2. If a request is made under the preceding article, the chairman must convene an extraordinary general meeting within 30 days from the date of the request.
3. When convening a general meeting, written notice stating the date, time, place, purpose, and agenda of the meeting must be sent at least 5 days in advance.
Article 25 Chairman of General Meetings2. If a request is made under the preceding article, the chairman must convene an extraordinary general meeting within 30 days from the date of the request.
3. When convening a general meeting, written notice stating the date, time, place, purpose, and agenda of the meeting must be sent at least 5 days in advance.
The chairman of a general meeting shall be elected from among the regular members present at that meeting.
Article 26 Quorum for Convening General MeetingsA general meeting may only be convened if more than half of the regular members are present. Regular members unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances may delegate another regular member as a proxy to vote on their behalf. In this case, the absent regular member shall be deemed present.
Article 27 Decision-making at General MeetingsThe deliberations at a general meeting shall be decided by a majority vote of the regular members present, and in the event of a tie, the decision shall be made by the chairman.
Article 28 Minutes of General Meetings1. The following items shall be recorded in the minutes of a general meeting
Article 29 Composition and Powers of the Board of Directors
①
Date, time, and place
② Total number of regular members, overseas members, and supporting members, and number of attendees
③ Agenda items and decisions
④ Overview of the meeting progress and results
2.
The minutes must be signed and stamped by the chairman and one person appointed as a signatory to the minutes at that meeting.② Total number of regular members, overseas members, and supporting members, and number of attendees
③ Agenda items and decisions
④ Overview of the meeting progress and results
The Board of Directors shall be composed of directors and shall decide on matters stipulated in these regulations and matters referred to it by the general meeting.
Article 30 Convocation and Chairman of the Board of Directors
①
Matters to be submitted to the General Meeting for deliberation.
② Matters related to the execution of resolutions adopted by the General Meeting.
② Matters related to the execution of resolutions adopted by the General Meeting.
The Board of Directors shall be convened by the chairman. When convening the Board of Directors, written notice stating the date, time, place, purpose, and agenda of the meeting must be sent at least 7 days in advance. The chairman shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors.
Article 31 Quorum for Convening the Board of DirectorsThe provisions of Articles 24 and 25 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the Board of Directors. In this case, the terms "general meeting" and "regular member" shall be replaced with "Board of Directors" and "director," respectively.
Chapter 5 Secretariat
Article 32 Establishment of Secretariat
1. A secretariat shall be established to handle the affairs of this association.
2. The secretariat shall appoint a secretary-general and, if necessary, other staff members.
3. The secretary-general and staff members shall be appointed and dismissed by the chairman with the approval of the Board of Directors.
4. Matters necessary for the organization and operation of the secretariat shall be separately determined by the chairman with the approval of the Board of Directors.
Article 33 Provision of Books and Documents2. The secretariat shall appoint a secretary-general and, if necessary, other staff members.
3. The secretary-general and staff members shall be appointed and dismissed by the chairman with the approval of the Board of Directors.
4. Matters necessary for the organization and operation of the secretariat shall be separately determined by the chairman with the approval of the Board of Directors.
The office specified in Article 2 must keep the following documents available at all times:
①
These regulations
② Documents related to members and staff
③ Documents related to permits, approvals, and registration
④ Documents related to the proceedings of the association's organs specified in these regulations
⑤ Other necessary documents
② Documents related to members and staff
③ Documents related to permits, approvals, and registration
④ Documents related to the proceedings of the association's organs specified in these regulations
⑤ Other necessary documents
Chapter 6 Amendment and Dissolution of These Regulations
Article 34 Amendment of These Regulations
These regulations may be amended by a resolution of more than half of the total number of regular members at a general meeting.
Article 35 DissolutionThis association may be dissolved by a resolution of more than two-thirds of the total number of regular members at a general meeting.
Chapter 7 Supplementary Provisions
Article 36 Delegation
In addition to what is stipulated in these regulations, matters necessary for the operation of this association shall be determined by resolution of the general meeting and stipulated by the Board of Directors.
Enacted on October 1, 2010
Revised on March 31, 2024
Revised on March 31, 2024