Click below to jump to information relevant to that content.

▼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.

• Firm sponsors the "Charity Run & Walk - DAN DAN RUN 2023" supported by the Japan Association for Refugees
• Hiromasa Yamauchi, Kotaro Motoshima, Misato Kobayashi, Masumi Sato, Yuichiro Ishida, Yuta Kawasaki, Takuma Mori, Mio Fukumoto conduct a program for providing law-related education, etc. to junior and senior high school students living in children’s homes

Diversity & Inclusion

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).

• June 1,2023 : Announcement on the beginning of MHM Pride 2023
• August 4,2023：Report on MHM Pride 2023
• November 8, 2023：MHM awarded "Gold" in the PRIDE Index 2023
• December 1, 2023：In collaboration with the Lawyers for LGBT & Allies Network (LLAN), MHM provides English translation of complaints, evidence materials, and judgments regarding lawsuits pushing for same-sex marriage rights pending in courts throughout Japan

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

• Hideaki Umetsu became a Member of the Expert Committee on Security Clearance Systems, Etc. in the Economic Safety Field, Cabinet Secretariat

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

Cabinet Office

• Atsushi Okada becomes a member of the AI Strategy Council, Cabinet Office
• Atsushi Okada becomes a member of the "Committee for Intellectual Property Rights in the Age of AI," Cabinet Office
• Takane Hori becomes a member of the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform (Start-up and Investment Working Group, Working Style and Investment in Human Resources Working Group), Cabinet Office
• Masakazu Masujima becomes a member of the Council for Promotion of Regulatory Reform (Start-up and Investment Working Group), Cabinet Office

Fair Trade Commission

• Mariko Morita becomes a member of "Committee for Regulation on Trading Concerning Enterprises Certified for Specific Entrustment," Japan Fair Trade Commission

National Police Agency

• Daisuke Tsuta becomes a member of Study Group on Ensuring the Safety and Security of a Cashless Society (National Police Agency)

Personal Information Protection Committee (PPC)

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

Financial Services Agency (FSA)

• Report released by the “Study Group on Finance and Restructuring Practice Utilizing All Asset Security” on an investigation commissioned by the Financial Services Agency in which one of the firm’s attorneys-at-law was involved
• Gaku Ishiwata becomes an expert member of the Working Group on Tender Offer Rules and Large Shareholding Reporting Rules of the Financial System Council, Financial Services Agency

Three lawyers have been assigned to FSA as a fixed-term government employee.

Children and Families Agency

• Takashi Uchida becomes Chairperson of the Expert Committee on Systems for Checking Sex Offense Records, Etc. of Persons Engaged in Child-Related Work, Children and Families Agency

Digital Agency

• Masakazu Masujima becomes a member of the Committee for Reform of Digital-Related Systems, the Digital Agency
• Masakazu Masujima becomes a member of the Study Group on Global Data Governance, organized by the Digital Agency and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Masakazu Masujima serves as a judge for the "Legal API Hackathon," organized by the Digital Agency, Government of Japan (held from November 10, 2023 (Friday) through November 17, 2023 (Friday))
• Norihito Sato becomes a member of the Sub-Working Group on the Examination of Social Rules Concerning Automated Vehicles in the AI Era, Digital Agency

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIAC)

• Masafumi Masuda becomes a member of the Study Group on the Realisation of a Safe and Secure Metaverse, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

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

• Noboru Kitayama becomes a Research Collaborator of the Legal Team, Academic Infrastructure Development Team for the Project for Utilization of Local Governments’ Tax Data to Promote EBPM in the Category of Local Government Data Development

Agency for Cultural Affairs

• Atsushi Okada states his opinions regarding policy on copyright and AI as an expert at the Commission on Legal Affairs of the Subdivision on Copyright, the Council for Cultural Affairs, Agency for Cultural Affairs

The Japan Academy

• Shinsaku Iwahara is elected to be a new member of The Japan Academy

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW)​

• Takamasa Horio becomes a Research Collaborator for the "Research and Study on Enhancing Pharmacists' Operations Dealing with Property and People in a Society with Interconnected Communities," Health Labour Sciences Research
• Akiko Sueoka becomes a member of Pharmaceutical Affairs Council, Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
• Akiko Sueoka becomes a member of SaMD Investigation Commission, Subcommittee on Medical Devices and  In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents, Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
• Akiko Sueoka becomes a member of the Second Committee on New Drugs, Pharmaceutical Affairs Council, Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
• Akiko Sueoka becomes a member of Study Group on Distribution Systems for Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
• Akiko Sueoka becomes a member of Subcommittee on Medical Devices and In-Vitro Diagnostic Reagents, Pharmaceutical Affairs and Food Sanitation Council, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
• Masakazu Masujima becomes an Adjunct Specialist at "Medical Innovation Support Office," Project Commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
• Yasutaka Tokuda becomes a Research Collaborator for "Research for Revision of the Guidelines on Whether Programs Constitute Medical Devices," Health Labour Sciences Research
• Takamasa Horio becomes a Research Collaborator for "Research for Revision of the Guidelines on Whether Programs Constitute Medical Devices," Health Labour Sciences Research

Two lawyers have been assigned to MHLW as a fixed-term government employee.

Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

• Hiroshi Yamauchi becomes a member of Study Group for Ensuring Consumer Product Safety, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Jiro Kiyama becomes a member of Executive Office Review Committee on Subsidies for Promotion of New Businesses for Small and Medium-Sized Companies (Side Jobs and Multiple Jobs Support Program)
• Takane Hori becomes a member of Task Force for Creation of New Markets for Startups, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Daisuke Tsuta becomes a member of Study Group for Promoting Sharing of Information Concerning Damage from Cyber Attacks, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Mihoko Shima becomes a member of the Subcommittee on the Basic System for Industrial Security, Committee for Security and Consumer Products Safety of the Industrial Structure Council, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• Firm's lawyers involved in the Revision of the “Guidebook for Introducing Incentive Plans for Sustainable Corporate Growth as Board Members’ Compensation to Encourage Companies to Promote Proactive Business Management”

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

Patent Office

• Masakazu Masujima becomes a member of the Committee on "Research on Model Contracts for Promoting Open Innovation Utilizing University Intellectual Property" for Research on Issues Concerning Industrial Property Rights Systems, Japan Patent Office
• Mihoko Shima becomes a temporary member of the Industrial Structure Council, the Japan Patent Office, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT)

• Norihito Sato becomes an external advisory committee member of the Small/Startup Business Innovation Research Promotion Program (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism)

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

Other public organizations

• Masafumi Masuda becomes a member of The Intellectual Property Strategy Committee, The Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Industry
• Susumu Sasaki becomes a lecturer for Training to Ensure Skills as Counsel in Proceedings Alleging Specific Infringement, Japan Patent Attorneys Association
• Kaei Ro becomes the Task Force Member and Working Team Member of the Task Force for Examining Responses to External Transmission Rules, Japan Interactive Advertising Association (JIAA)
• Hiroki Saito becomes a director of the International Literary and Artistic Association of Japan
• Atsushi Okada becomes a Working Group Member of the Project Team for the Evolution and Implementation of AI, Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
• Hideki Matsui becomes a director of Japan-Taiwan Jurists Association
• Yoshikazu Abe becomes a Director of the Japan LAWASIA Friendship Association
• Daisuke Tsuta becomes a director of The Association for Cybersecurity Law and Policy, Japan (ACLPJ)
• Hideaki Umetsu participates in the session titled "Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence in Asia: Principles and Practices in Action" as a speaker at the United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia-Pacific
• Hiroyuki Tanaka becomes a Chairperson of Generative AI Section / Member of Privacy Section, AI and Law Society
• Kaei Ro gave a lecture titled "Legal knowledge necessary for responding to consultations on contracts for telecommunications and devices" as part of training for Consumer Affairs Consultants by the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan
• Release of guideline involving Masafumi Masuda as an external contributor, titled "Virtual City Guideline ver. 2.0," from VIRTUALCITY CONSORTIUM
• Lexi Takamatsu becomes a member of YSIAC (Young SIAC) Council
• Mugi Sekido becomes a Chairperson (Director) of the Global Human Resources Development Committee of Japan Association of Arbitrators
• Masanori Sato becomes a member of Study Group on "Ownership and Trust in Digital Era: Examination Based on Economical and Comparative Analysis," organized by Trust Forum Foundation
• Naoki Shiraiwa becomes a General Planning Council of Hiratsuka City
• Atsushi Okada becomes a member of Expert Committee for the "Guidelines for Utilization of Text Generation AI," Tokyo Metropolitan Government
• Masakazu Masujima becomes a member of Incubation Lab Examination Committee of Information-Technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA/DADC)
• Kenji Ito becomes a Vice President of Japan Competition Law Forum
• Ryosuke Onobori becomes a legal advisor for Stable Coin Subcommittee, Japan Cryptoasset Business Association
• Mugi Sekido becomes a member of the Arbitration and Mediation Rules Revision Committee of The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association

 

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 2023 are provided below.

 

• Yohsuke Higashi becomes Corporate M&A Law Committee Liaison Officer of International Bar Association (IBA) Asia Pacific Regional Forum
• Katsumasa Suzuki served as a Co-chair of "4th Asia-based International Financial Law Conference" organized by International Bar Association
• Kunimasa Fukushima becomes a member of Criminal Defence Committee, Daini Tokyo Bar Association
• Daisuke Tsuta becomes the member of Working Group on Information Security for Attorney Services, Japan Federation of Bar Associations
• Tetsushi Kamimura becomes a Chairperson of Legal Apprenticeship Committee, Japan Federation of Bar Associations
• Satoshi Kawai becomes the Chair of the ADR Center, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations
• Satoshi Kawai becomes the Vice-Chairperson 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 2023, 40 lawyers taught in 25 educational institutions throughout Japan (listed below), and 8 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, Taro Omoto and Yuma Yoshikawa
Keio University Graduate School of Law	Hiroyuki Tanaka
Graduate School of Media and Governance of Keio University	Daisuke Tsuta
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 Ryo Chikasawa
Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Tokyo	Hiroki Habuka
Institute of Business Law and Comparative Law & Politics, Graduate Schools for Law and Politics University of Tokyo (IBC)	Hideki Matsui
Graduate School of Law, Hitotsubashi University	Seiichi Okazaki, Yusuke Ishii, Masafumi Masuda, Yusuke Ueda and Ryo Kiuchi
Waseda University	Takashi Uchida
Waseda Law School	Hajime Tanahashi, Tetsushi Kamimura, Mitsuhiro Tateishi and Yusuke Fujii
Ochanomizu University	Naoto Shimamura
Graduate School of Business Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba	Masafumi Masuda, Daisuke Tsuta, Hiroki Habuka and Katsuya Terai
Sophia University	Colin Trehearne
Rikkyo University	Yusuke Takamiya
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
Ho Chi Minh City University of Law	Tetsu Yuasa