While no laws have designated Tokyo as the Japanese capital, many laws have defined a "capital area" (首都圏 shuto-ken?) that incorporates Tokyo. Article 2 of the Capital Area Consolidation Law (首都圏整備法?) of 1956 states that "In this Act, the term 'capital area' shall denote a broad region comprising both the territory of Tokyo Metropolis as well as outlying regions designated by cabinet order." This clearly implies that the government has designated Tokyo as the capital of Japan, although (again) it is not explicitly stated, and the definition of the "capital area" is purposely restricted to the terms of that specific law.[4]