Article 2

1. Each Party shall designate the Central Authorities that are to perform the functions provided for in this Treaty. For the Russian Federation, the Central Authorities shall be the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation and the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation. For Japan, the Central Authorities shall be the Minister of Justice and the National Public Safety Commission and persons designated by them. The Parties shall notify each other of the functions of their Central Authorities in writing through diplomatic channels.

2. In case of changes of the Central Authorities or their functions of either Party, the other Party shall promptly be notified thereof through diplomatic channels.

3. Requests for assistance under this Treaty shall be made by the Central Authority of the requesting Party to the Central Authority of the requested Party. If a received request comes within the functions of another Central Authority of the requested Party, the said request shall promptly be forwarded to that Central Authority, and the Central Authority of the requesting Party shall be notified thereof.

4. The Central Authorities of the Parties shall communicate directly with one another for the purposes of this Treaty.