Counsel

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. 15, 2021 Awards: Lawyers from Mori Hamada & Matsumoto were included in the 12th edition of The Best Lawyers™ in Japan

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Masafumi Masuda：News

Oct. 1, 2021 Public Service: Masafumi Masuda became an adviser to Blockchain Collaborative Consortium (BCCC)
Apr. 27, 2021 Public Service: The "Guidelines for NFT Businesses," in which Masafumi Masuda was involved in the formulation as Legal Counsel of the NFT Subcommittee, is released by Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)
Jan. 5, 2021 Public Service: Masafumi Masuda became the member of Study Group on Refinement of Regulations Utilizing Blockchain Technology, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO)

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Masafumi Masuda：Legal Topics

Special Report: The MHM Fintech Pla…

Masafumi Masuda：Newsletters

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Masafumi Masuda：Seminars

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

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

May 31, 2017External Seminars: "Kirkland & Ellis LLP 24th Annual Technology & Law Seminar - Recent Amendment to Japanese Personal Information Protection Act"

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Masafumi Masuda：Publications

Book: "Textbook for NFT: From Business, Blockchain, and Law to Accounting - The Future of NFT, When Digital Data Become Assets"
Magazine Article: "NFTs and Copyrights - Case Studies of Art NFTs"
Article: "Getting the Deal Through – Technology Disputes - Japan Chapter"

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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)

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-)

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
New York State Bar Association