ものとするFormal rule: shall or is to
ものとする formally establishes an action, requirement, or procedure as a governing rule. In laws, contracts, policies, and official procedures, it often corresponds to “shall” or “is to.”
What the construction does
This construction does more than describe what usually happens. The provision itself establishes what is required. Its English translation should therefore preserve that rule-setting force with wording such as “shall,” “must,” or “is to,” depending on the document and legal context.
Positive and negative provisions
A positive form establishes a required action or procedure; a negative form establishes a prohibition.
申請者は、通知を受けた日から十日以内に必要書類を提出するものとする。
The applicant shall submit the required documents within ten days of receiving notice.
AnalyzeThe provision identifies the responsible party, the deadline, and the required action.
利用者は、管理者の許可なく資料を外部に持ち出さないものとする。
Users shall not remove materials from the premises without the administrator’s permission.
AnalyzeThe negative verb establishes prohibited conduct rather than merely predicting that users will not do it.
Make the rule unambiguous
Formal provisions commonly state who must act, what triggers the rule, what action is required, and any deadline or condition. Although Japanese can omit information understood from context, omitting the responsible party in an isolated rule may leave unclear who has the duty.
A procedure triggered by a condition
契約内容を変更する場合は、双方が書面で合意するものとする。
If the terms of the contract are changed, both parties shall agree to the change in writing.
AnalyzeThe condition activates a formally established procedure.
Rule, assumption, existing arrangement, or decision?
ものとする has identical wording when a document sets a working assumption or treats something as having a particular status. The difference is its job: the present point governs conduct or procedure, while the assumption use supplies a basis for analysis. By contrast, ことになっている reports a rule or arrangement that is already established, 提出すること gives a concise instruction, and ことにする expresses a person’s or group’s decision.
More examples
審査委員会は、受付日から三十日以内に結果を申請者へ通知するものとする。
The review committee shall notify the applicant of the result within thirty days of the acceptance date.
Analyze主催者は、競技中に重大な機器故障が発生した場合、競技を一時中断するものとする。
If a serious equipment failure occurs during the event, the organizer shall temporarily suspend the competition.
Analyze管理部門は、本施設の利用記録を五年間保存するものとする。
The administrative department shall retain the facility’s usage records for five years.
Analyze職員は、業務上知り得た情報を第三者に開示しないものとする。
Employees shall not disclose to third parties information learned through their work.
Analyze参加者は、係員の指示なく指定区域に立ち入らないものとする。
Participants shall not enter designated areas without instructions from an official.
Analyze利害関係を有する委員は、当該案件の審議に加わらないものとする。
A committee member with a conflict of interest shall not participate in deliberations on the matter concerned.
Analyze