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▼Pro Bono Projects
▼Diversity & Inclusion
▼Public Sector Activities　
▼Bar Association Activities　
▼Educational Activities　

 

Pro Bono Projects

The firm actively participates in pro bono projects, including legal education projects and refugee assistance activities, mainly through team-based endeavors undertaken by our younger lawyers.

Further, lawyers of the firm participate in various activities that encourage respect for diversity among individuals. As an example, one of our lawyers is a director of Lawyers for LGBT and Allies Network (LLAN).

• Chihiro Tsukada and Misato Kobayashi present a lecture on legal topics to senior high school students at The Second High School, Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Firm receives double awards for Pro Bono and Japan Domestic Law Advisers of the Year on Chambers Asia-Pacific & Greater China Region Awards 2022
• Firm sponsors the "JAR Charity Run & Walk - DAN DAN RUN 2022"
• Kotaro Motoshima, Misato Kobayashi, Masumi Sato, Akifumi Suzuki, Yuichiro Ishida, Yuta Kawasaki, and Takuma Mori conduct a program for providing law-related education, etc. mainly to senior high school students living in children’s homes
• Eiko Hakoda and Hiroshi Yamauchi participate in the Career Design Program 2022 (2nd session)
• Misato Kobayashi presented a lecture on legal topics to senior high school students at The Second High School, Tokyo University of Agriculture
   

Diversity & Inclusion

• MHM developed a legal framework and provided legal assistance for NFT Art Charity Auctions held by Famiee that issues certificates verifying family relationships, including relationships between same-sex couples, utilizing blockchain technology
• Firm listed in ALB Japan D&I List 2022
• Announcement on the beginning of MHM Pride 2022
• Yoshikazu Abe became a lecturer on "LGBT Laws and Society," a WSC Contribution Course at Waseda University
   

Public Sector Activities

Many lawyers at the firm serve in internships at governmental offices or serve as members of various councils, research groups and advisory panels that participate in planning policies and drafting legislation.

Cabinet Secretariat

One lawyer has been assigned to Cabinet Secretariat as a fixed-term government employee.

Cabinet Office

• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Study Group on Intellectual Property Ecosystem Centered on Start-ups and Universities, Cabinet Office
• Tetsuji Odan became the mentor of "S-Booster 2022"
• Takane Hori became a member of Working Group for the National Strategic Special Zones, Cabinet Office
• Yuko Nihonmatsu became a member of the Committee of the PPP/PFI Promotion Office, Cabinet Office
• Masafumi Masuda became a 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
• Yusuke Takamiya became a member of the Study Group on Guidelines for Activities by Business Operators to Achieve a Green Society, Japan Fair Trade Commission
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Study Group on Intellectual Property Governance at Universities, Cabinet Office
• Masafumi Masuda became a member of Public-Private Cooperation Council for Addressing New Legal Issues Concerning Contents, Etc. in the Metaverse, Cabinet Office
• Daisuke Tsuta became a member of the Study Group for the Prevention of Obscuration of Damage from Cyber Cases, National Police Agency

Consumer Affairs Agency

One lawyer has been assigned to CAA as a fixed-term government employee.

Digital Agency

• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Working Group of Provisional Council for Digital Administrative Research (Study Group on Digitization of Legal Affairs) of the Digital Agency

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)

• Masafumi Masuda became a member of Study Group on Utilization of the Metaverse, Etc. for the Web 3 Era, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

• Tetsuji Odan made a presentation at the "Roadmap Study Group for Realization of Innovative Future Space Transportation Systems (15th Meeting)" held by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)​

• Takamasa Horio became the outside member of the "Evaluation Committee on the Technical Proposal for Network Service Dedicated to Information Exchange on Medical Products," Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

• Noboru Kitayama became a member of Study Group on Management Information Databases of Medical Corporations, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

One lawyer has been assigned to MHLW as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

• Yusuke Takamiya became a member of Study Group on Competition Policy for Achieving a Green Society, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Takeshi Komatsu made a presentation titled "Singapore's AI and Governance Initiatives" at the "5th Meeting of the Expert Group on How AI Principles Should be Implemented" held by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Task Force for Creation of New Markets for Startups, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Tetsuji Odan became a member of Task Force for Creation of New Markets for Startups, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masafumi Masuda became a member of the Study Group on Constructing Web-3.0-Era Creator Economies, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Hideaki Umetsu became a member of Working Group on Bribery of Foreign Public Officials, Unfair Competition Prevention Subcommittee, Intellectual Property Committee, Industrial Structure Council, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Yohsuke Higashi became a member of Study Group on Challenges for and Case Studies in Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions in Japan, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masafumi Masuda became a member of Study Group on Revision of the Interpretative Guidelines on Electronic Commerce and Information Property Trading, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Shimpei Ochi became a temporary expert advisor, Minister's Secretariat, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of Working Group on Institutional Designs for Implementation of Agile Governance, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Gaku Ishiwata became a member of the Fair Acquisition Study Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masafumi Masuda became a member of the Study Group on the Creation of a Sound NFT Marketplace, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

​Four lawyers have been assigned to METI as a fixed-term government employee.

Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

• Jiro Kiyama became the member of Working Group for Examination of Gas Business Systems
• Mihoko Shima became a member of the Ammonia and Other Decarbonized Fuel Policy Subcommittee, Natural Resources and Fuel Committee of the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI
• Jiro Kiyama became a member of Working Group for Examining Practices to Realize Ideal Wholesale Electricity Markets, Supply and Demand Adjustment Markets, and Supply and Demand Operations, Agency of Natural Resources and Energy
• Jiro Kiyama became a member of Third-Party Review Committee on Subsidies for Business Expenses Related to Measures to Promote Efficiency of Electricity Use
• Mihoko Shima became a member of Working Group for Examination of CCS Business and Domestic Law, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Hiroto Dogauchi became a member of Working Group for Examination of CCS Business and Domestic Law, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Jiro Kiyama became a member of Third-Party Review Committee on Subsidies for Business Expenses Related to Measures to Avoid Drastic Changes in Electricity and Gas Prices

Patent Office

• Takahiro Iijima became a mentor for the IP Acceleration Program for Startups (IPAS), Japan Patent Office
• Masakazu Masujima became a member of the Committee on "Research on Contract Guidelines to Promote Open Innovation" for Research on Issues Concerning Industrial Property Rights Systems for FY 2022, Japan Patent Office

The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

• Wataru Ishida Certified as a Support Institution for Business Innovation, Small and Medium Enterprise Agency

Other public organizations

• Masafumi Masuda participates as an expert member in the "Project Team on Study of NFT Policy" established in the Digital Society Promotion Headquarters, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
• Yusuke Takamiya invited as an expert to the Research Commission on Market Competitiveness Policy organized by the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, where he gave a lecture
• Mugi Sekido became a director of Japan Association of Arbitrators
• Yutaka Miyoshi became the Standing Member of Executive Committee (Chairman of Legal Committee), Japan Football Association
• The "Guidelines for NFT Businesses 2nd Edition," in which Masafumi Masuda was involved in the formulation as Legal Counsel of the NFT Subcommittee, is released by Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)
• Kohei Morita became a member of the Review Committee on the Master Plan for Cross-regional Interconnection Developed by OCCTO and Interconnection Utilization Rules
• Yoshinori Tatsuno became a Deputy Secretary General, Japan International Dispute Resolution Center
• Takamasa Horio became a member of Planning Committee on Educational Materials for Ongoing Seminars, Japan Association for the Advancement of Medical Equipment
• Atsushi Okada states opinions regarding Japan's approach to AI/data transactions as member of Japanese delegation at Working Group on Electronic Commerce of UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law)
• Daisuke Tsuta became a member of the Study Group on Sharing and Disclosure of Information concerning Damage from Cyber Attacks, Steering Committee for the Cybersecurity Council
• Japan Association of Public Meets Innovation, in which Masafumi Masuda serves as Legal Community Partner, releases "Suggestions Regarding Rulemaking for Start-ups"
• Takahiro Iijima became the observer of "Study Group on International Legal Standards Governing Space Activities 2022," Keio Advanced Research Center for Space Law, Institute of Space Law and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 
• Takahiro Iijima became a member of "Study Group on Legal Issues Concerning Advanced Space Activities 2022," Keio Advanced Research Center for Space Law, Institute of Space Law and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) 
• Tomohiro Nishimura became a member of Legal Affairs Committee, Japan Association of Athletics Federations
• "Web3.JP," in which Masafumi Masuda serves as an advisor, makes a policy recommendation to Web3PT of the Digital Society Promotion Headquarters, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
• Takamasa Horio became a member of Legislation Committee, Japan Pharmaceutical Association
• Daisuke Oda became a DX advisor to SARBLAB-DX Onboard, The Second Association of Regional Banks
• Masayuki Ishibashi became a member of Study Group on Proprietary Trading Systems (PTSs) for Unlisted Securities, Etc., Japan Securities Dealers Association and Japan Security Token Offering Association
• The "Guidelines on Random-type Sales of NFTs," whose formulation included the involvement of Masafumi Masuda, are released
• Takane Hori became a member of Study Group on Future Vision of Corporate Transactions, Digital Architecture Design Center, Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA)
• Masafumi Masuda became a member of Tomoiki Metaverse Study Group, Kanagawa Charter for a Society Living Together in Harmony, Kanagawa prefecture

 

Bar Association Activities

Many of our lawyers engage in pro bono activities in addition to their regular duties at the firm. Examples of activities in 2022 are provided below.

• Hideaki Umetsu became a commissioner of Future of Legal Services Commission of International Bar Association (IBA)
• Tetsushi Kamimura became a Vice Chairperson of Legal Apprenticeship Committee, Japan Federation of Bar Association
• Satoshi Kawai became a member of the Discipline Maintenance Committee, Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association
   

Educational Activities

A number of lawyers from the firm teach at law schools, universities and legal organizations. In 2022, 34 lawyers taught in 19 educational institutions throughout Japan (listed below), and 9 lawyers were newly appointed to help foster the next generation of legal professionals. These institutions vary from public universities and law schools to legal organizations.

The firm has also been offering the opportunity to experience the work of a lawyer and actively strives to train future legal professionals by accepting legal apprentices for practical training and training at a large-scale firm, as well as through other programs such as externships for students.

 

Tohoku Region
The Research Support and Industry- Academic Collaboration Center, Iwate University	Takuya Iizuka
Tohoku University School of Law	Ko Fujita and Akira Marumo
Hokuriku Region
School of Law, Kanazawa University	Hiromasa Arai
Kanto Region
Graduate Schools of Aoyama Gakuin University	Atsushi Okada
Keio University	Yuriko Yamazaki
Keio University Law School	Hideki Utsunomiya and Taro Omoto
Graduate School of Law, Chuo University	Shuya Nomura
The University of Tokyo	Yoshinori Tatsuno
Graduate Schools for Law and Politics, Faculty of Law, The University of Tokyo	Shigehiko Ishimoto, Gaku Ishiwata, Shuhei Uchida and Takahiro Iijima
Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo	Hiroki Habuka
Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University	Seiichi Okazaki, Yusuke Ishii, Yusuke Ueda and Ryo Kiuchi
Waseda University	Takashi Uchida and Yoshikazu Abe
Waseda Law School	Hajime Tanahashi, Tetsushi Kamimura, Mitsuhiro Tateishi and Yusuke Fujii
Ochanomizu University	Naoto Shimamura
Graduate School of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba	Masafumi Masuda and Daisuke Tsuta
Chubu Region
Nagoya University Graduate school of Law	Yoshihiro Kojima and Toshimitsu Nemoto
Kansai Region
Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University	Kohei Morita, Akira Matsushita and Hiroki Habuka
Kyoto University of the Arts	Takao Kitano
Overseas
Cornell Law School	Takayuki Kihira