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Masafumi Masuda

Masafumi has extensively advised on legal issues in numerous IT/digital matters across various industries, in particular gaming and web services. After serving as a drafter of reforming blockchain financial regulation in the government until 2020, he frequently employs his cutting-edge knowledge in blockchain-related fintech matters including newly recognized areas such as STO and NFT.

Contact Information

TEL: +81-3-6266-8742
FAX: +81-3-6266-8642

Contact

Practice Areas

Masafumi Masuda：Awards

Apr. 20, 2023 Awards: The Best Lawyers in Japan™ and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan™ (2024 edition)
Dec. 26, 2022 Awards: Top Rankings Received in The Nikkei's "Corporate Legal Tax Affairs and Lawyer Survey 2022"
Apr. 14, 2022 Awards: Lawyers from Mori Hamada & Matsumoto were included in the 13th edition of The Best Lawyers in Japan™ and the inaugural Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Japan™

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Masafumi Masuda：News

Jul. 20, 2023 Public Service: Release of guideline involving Masafumi Masuda as an external contributor, titled"Virtual City Guideline ver. 2.0," from VIRTUALCITY CONSORTIUM
Apr. 3, 2023 Public Service: Masafumi Masuda became a specially appointed professor at the Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University
Jan. 12, 2023 Public Service: Masafumi Masuda became a member of The Intellectual Property Strategy Committee, The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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Masafumi Masuda：Newsletters

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Masafumi Masuda：Seminars

Nov. 3, 2022External Seminars: 『Policy Trend and Current Discussion on Metaverse in Japan』

Sep. 7, 2021External Seminars: "Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) Challenges"

Sep. 20, 2017External Seminars: "Regulations and Compliance in the Japanese Online Gaming Market"

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Masafumi Masuda：Publications

Book: "Cryptoassets Law (2nd ed.)"
Book: "Introduction to Generative AI Law"
Book: "M&A Rules in Emerging Asian Countries - Fourth edition"

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Masafumi Masuda：Other

Background

The University of Tokyo (B. Eng., 2004)
Chuo Law School (J.D., 2007)
Media and Content Industry Division, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (in charge of systems) (2009-2010)
Stanford Law School (LL.M., 2016)
with Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Chicago (2016-2017)
Singapore Office, Mori Hamada & Matsumoto (2017-2018)
seconded to the Financial Markets Division of the Policy and Markets Bureau, Financial Services Agency (Special Officer) (in charge of drafting revisions for the Payment Services Act and the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act related to cryptocurrency and blockchain) (2018-2020)
Specially appointed professor at the Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University (part time position)（2023-）

Major Activities

Secretariat of Creative Commons (2009-)
Vice-Chairman of Text Notation System Development Committee, TTS Promotion Council, Japan Electronic Publishing Association (2010-)
Member of Examination Committee for Institutional Issues Concerning Network Game Industry, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2010-)
Research Member of Research Studies Commitee for Facilitating Legal Structures Relating to Content, Digital Content Association of Japan (2010-)
Auditor of Content Overseas Distribution Association (2010-2015)
Consulting Fellow of IAA, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (2010-2013)
Member of Examination Committee on Participatory Network Services, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2011)
Lecturer, Training of Measurement and Geographic Space Information Management and Training of Information System Supply Administration, College of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (2011)
Part-time Lecturer of Interfaculty Initiative in Information Studies, The University of Tokyo (2011-2012)
Member of the Examination Committee on Issues Concerning Content Development, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2012-)
Adviser for the Self-Regulation Working Group, Japan Online Game Association (2012-)
Member of Committee for Network Game Industry Environment Research, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2012-)
Auditor of Japan Social Game Association (2012-2015)
Member of Tokyo IP Inn, American Inns of Court (2013-)
Committee Assistant, Independent Investigative Committee of Experts on Ball Standardization Issues, Nippon Professional Baseball (2013-)
Lecturer at The Overseas Human Resources and Industry Development Association (HIDA) (2014-)
Mentor of TORANOMON HILLS INCUBATION CENTER "ARCH" (2020-)
Partner of PMI Legal Community, Public Meets Innovation (2020-)
Legal Counsel of the NFT Subcommittee, Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (2020-)
Member of Study Group on Refinement of Regulations Utilizing Blockchain Technology, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) (2021)
Adviser to Blockchain Collaborative Consortium (BCCC) (2021-)
Expert Member of the Web3PT (formerly Project Team on Study of NFT Policy), Digital Society Promotion Headquarters, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (2022-)
Adjunct Lecturer in the Degree Programs in Business Sciences, Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba (2022-)
Member of Study Group on Constructing Web-3.0-Era Creator Economies, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2022-)
Member of Study Group on Utilization of the Metaverse, Etc. for the Web 3 Era, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2022-)
Member of Study Group on Revision of the Interpretative Guidelines on Electronic Commerce and Information Property Trading, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2022-)
Expert Member of the Examination Task Force for the "Development of Basic Technology and Rules for the Expansion of Virtual Economy," Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, Cabinet Office (2022-)
Member of Public-Private Cooperation Council for Addressing New Legal Issues Concerning Contents, Etc. in the Metaverse, Cabinet Office (2022-)
Member of the Study Group on the Creation of a Sound NFT Marketplace, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2022-)
Member of Tomoiki Metaverse Study Group, Kanagawa Charter for a Society Living Together in Harmony, Kanagawa prefecture (2022-)
Member of The Intellectual Property Strategy Committee, The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2022-)

Practice Group

IT Practice Group
Fintech Practice Group
Crisis Management Practice Group
Litigation Practice Group
Consumer Law Practice Group
Data Security Practice Group
Intellectual Property Practice Group
China & Asia Practice Group

Bar Admissions

admitted in Japan, 2008; New York, 2017
Daini-Tokyo Bar Association