{"id":441,"date":"2021-01-08T03:03:22","date_gmt":"2021-01-07T18:03:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp\/?page_id=441"},"modified":"2026-02-27T20:11:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T11:11:09","slug":"lawyers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/en\/lawyers\/","title":{"rendered":"Our lawyers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Takashi ITO<\/a> | Kenji YANO<\/a> | Nahoko AMEMIMYA <\/a>| Takeshi HARIGAYA<\/a> | Yayoi Hasegawa<\/a> | Maho Takenoshita | Paralegals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Takashi ITO<\/h3>

<\/p>

Attorney (Illinois, Japan), Financial Planner (CFP)<\/p>

Profile<\/h4>

Born in Kashima City, Ibaraki Prefecture
2001 University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law (LLB)
2005 Admitted as Attorney in Japan
2007-2009 Head of the Noshiro Himawari Fund Law Office
2014-2015 New York University (Visiting Researcher)
2016 Admitted as Attorney in Illinois, USA
2019 Managing Partner, Tokyo Public Law Office, Foreign and International Service Section (FISS)
2021 Co-founder, Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office

Professional Members<\/strong>
<\/span>\u30fbTokyo Bar Association
\u30fbIllinois Bar Association
\u30fbExecutive Director of Lawyers Network for Foreigners<\/a>
\u30fbEnglish Speakling Lawyers List of the Embassies in Japan (US, UK, Australia, etc.)
\u30fbApplication handling lawyer (Tokyo Immigration Bureau)

Committee Members<\/strong><\/span>
\u30fbTemporary member of the Consumer Affairs Agency Consumer Safety Investigation Committee
\u30fbExecutive Secretary, Product Liability and Whistleblower Subcommittee, Consumer Affairs Committee, Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
Publications<\/strong><\/span>
<Product Liability><\/strong>
\u30fb\u201cPractice of establishing a fact of Defect in Product Liability\u201d (Minjihokenkyukai, 2015).
\u30fb\u201cComparison of US and Japanese Product Liability, Especially the Proof of Defects\u201d (Jiyu to Seigi, June 2016).
\u30fbWhat the Debate on Autonomous Vehicles and Product Liability Asks of Us\u3000(Foreword Essay, FY2019 Activity Report, Japan Automobile Product Liability Consultation Center)
\u30fbOverview and Challenges of Laws Related to Product Safety\u3000(Journal of Consumer Affairs Research, December 2023)
\u30fbToward Product Liability in the Digital Society (Gendai Shohisha Hou, March 2024)
\u30fbOn the 2024 Amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Act\u3000(Consumer Law News, October 2024)
\u30fbKey Points of the Amendment to the Consumer Product Safety Act (Consumer Information, November 2024)

<Estate Planning<\/strong>><\/strong>
\u30fbHow to read and check family register useful for estate planning practice (revised edition) (Business Kyoiku Shuppansha, 2020).
\u30fbEstate Planning Q & A – Law, Tax, Insurance, Life Planning – (Shinnippon-Hoki Publishing, 2019)
and many others.

Website
<\/strong><\/span>Consultation Room on Product Liability<\/a><\/p><\/div>

\"Profile<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Kenji YANO <\/h3>

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Attorney (Japan), LLM (UCL, UK)<\/p>

Profile<\/h4>

Kenji YANO<\/strong>\u00a0is a founding partner of Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office and specialises in complex cross-border family law.

He advises and represents clients in high-conflict and high-value cross-border matters, including international divorce, child custody and relocation, complex financial disputes, and Hague Convention proceedings. His practice covers litigation, mediation and arbitration, with a particular focus on cases involving internationally mobile families.

He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and a member of the International Society of Family Law (ISFL).

CAREER<\/strong><\/span>
2007\u00a0\u00a0Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Law (LLB, Japan)
2009\u00a0\u00a0Kobe University School of Law (JD, Japan)
2010\u00a0\u00a0Admitted as Attorney in Japan
2011-2017\u00a0\u00a0Associate, Usui & Partners (Tokyo, Japan)
2018\u00a0\u00a0LLM in Human Rights Law, University College London (UCL) (London, UK)
2019\u00a0\u00a0Dawson Cornwell (London, UK)
2020\u00a0\u00a0Partner at Tokyo Public Law Office, Foreign and International Service Section (FISS) (Tokyo,\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
Japan)
2021\u00a0\u00a0Co-founder, Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office (Tokyo, Japan)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS\u00a0<\/u><\/strong>
I. International Leadership & Global Practice<\/strong>
\u2022 Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)<\/a>
\u2022 Member, International Society of Family Law (ISFL)<\/a>
\u2022 Listed Attorney, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (Central Authority under the Hague Convention)
\u2022 Deputy Chairman, Hague Convention on Child Abduction Committee, Daiichi-Tokyo Bar Association
\u2022 Vice-Chairman, International Family Affairs ADR Subcommittee (Arbitration Center)
\u2022 Member, Japan Association of Arbitrators (JAA)
II. Bar Association and Legislative Committees<\/strong>
\u2022 Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
\u2003\u2013 Domestic Relations Legislation (International Family Law & Hague Convention Section)
\u2003\u2013 Listed Attorney for Hague Convention cases
\u2022 Daiichi-Tokyo Bar Association
\u2003\u2013 Family Law Legislation Committee
\u2003\u2013 Human Rights Protection Committee (Foreign Affairs Section)
\u2003\u2013 Committee on Children\u2019s Law (School Issues Task Force)
III. Government and Public Appointments<\/strong>
\u2022 Member, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Network Conference on Spousal Violence (since 2023)
\u2022 Member, Musashino City Board of Education Bullying Countermeasures Committee (since 2023)
IV. International Networks and Diplomatic Listings<\/strong>
\u2022 Secretariat Member, Foreign Lawyers Network (LNF)
\u2022 Listed English-Speaking Lawyer (US & UK Embassies in Japan)
\u2022 Listed Family Law Specialist (Australian Embassy in Japan)
\u2022 Registered Lawyer for Entry and Residence Procedures (Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau)
V. Academic Memberships<\/strong>
\u2022 Society for the Study of Family and Law (Japan)
\u2022 Family and Law Study Group (Japan)
\u2022 International Private Law Association (Japan)
VI. Civic Engagement<\/strong>
\u2022 Member, Fathering Japan (NPO)

PUBLICATIONS<\/u><\/strong>
(Selected Publications)<\/u><\/strong>
– Chambers Global Practice Guides \u2013 Child Relocation 2025, Law and Practice<\/a> \uff08sole contributor from Japan, September 2025\uff09
– Chambers Global Practice Guides – Family Law 2026, Law and Practice<\/a>\uff08sole contributor from Japan, February 2026)
– Chambers Global Practice Guides – Family Law 2026, Trends and Developments<\/a>\uff08sole contributor from Japan, February 2026: commentary on the Reform of Japanese Family Law\uff09

(Books and Articles)<\/u><\/strong>
–\u00a0\u2018A Relational Welfare Approach to Child Contact\u2019\u00a0(Hanrei Jiho No.2417, 2019)<\/a>
–\u00a0\u2018The best interests of children in England & Wales\u00a0\u2013\u00a0from individualistic understanding to
relational understanding\u2019\u00a0in\u00a0\u201cHow to Protect Children after Divorce\u201d\u00a0Section3-9 (Nihon Hyoronsha, 2020)<\/a>
–\u00a0\u2018Report on Custody and Parental Rights\/Responsibility in Australia\u2019\u00a0(Co-author, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, 2019)<\/a>
–\u00a0\u2019Q&A and Case Commentary: Practical Points of the Amendment to the Civil Code, etc. for Enforcement in April 2023: Adjacent, Co-ownership, Land with Unknown Owner, Inheritance and Registration<\/a>\u00a0(Shin Nihon Hoki, Co-author, 2022)
–\u00a0\u2019Divorce of Vietnamese nationals and its resolution<\/a>\u2018\u00a0(Koseki Jiho Journal, vol. 832, 2022).
–\u00a0\u2019Q&A: Legal Consultation in times of Disaster<\/a>\u2018\u00a0(Keiso Shobo, Co-author, 2023).
–\u00a0\u2018Joint Custody and Child-Rearing Plans for Children of Foreign-National Couples in Divorce Cases<\/a>\u2019\u00a0(Koseki Jiho Journal, vol. 850, 2024)
–\u00a0\u2018Practical Q&A 142 Questions on International Family Law Cases<\/a>\u2019\u00a0(Nippon Kajo Publishing, 2024)

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE<\/u><\/strong>
\u2022 Acted as arbitrator in international family law arbitration proceedings seated in Singapore
\u2022 Provided expert opinions on Japanese family law in proceedings before courts and authorities in England, Australia, Canada, the United States and South Africa

RESEARCH
<\/u><\/strong>His research focuses on comparative family law and the concept of the child\u2019s best interests.
He has developed particular interest in \u201cRelational Welfare Theory\u201d, drawing on the Ethics of Care and relational theory scholarship in England and Wales, and actively introduces comparative family law developments into Japanese practice.

LANGUAGES<\/strong><\/span>
Japanese (native) and English

MESSAGES<\/strong><\/span>
Since his admission as an attorney in Japan, Kenji Yano has been engaged in complex civil and commercial litigation, corporate advisory work, and crisis management and investigation matters.
He now focuses primarily on international family law, including cross-border divorce, child custody, relocation, Hague Convention proceedings, and complex financial disputes. His practice also extends to arbitration, investigations, and legal issues involving foreign nationals.
He advises internationally mobile families, private clients, and professionals on highly complex cross-border matters, and represents clients before Japanese courts and in international proceedings.
He conducts his practice in both Japanese and English and regularly collaborates with overseas counsel.<\/p><\/div>

\"Profile<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Nahoko AMEMIYA<\/h3>

<\/p>

Attorney (Japan, France)<\/p>

Profile<\/h4>

1998 University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law (LLB)
2010 University of Paris I (LLM)
2012 Admitted as Atttorney in Japan
2012 Haruka Law Office
2016 Partner, Tokyo Public Law Office , Foreign and International Service Section (FISS)
2020 Meguro International Law Office
2021 Admitted to the French Bar (Paris Bar Association)
2022 Joined Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office

*Ms Amemiya is currently practising in Paris.<\/span>

Personal Website
<\/strong><\/span>https:\/\/www.avocat-amemiya.com<\/a>

Professional Memberships
<\/strong><\/span>\u30fbTokyo Bar Association Committee on the Rights of Foreigners
\u30fbLawyers Network for Foreigners<\/a>
\u30fbLawyers for Foreign Labour Issues
\u30fbLawyer at the Embassy of France in Japan and the Embassy of Japan in France
\u30fbApplication handling lawyer (Tokyo Immigration Bureau)

Publications
<\/strong><\/span>\u30fbSocial Insurance for Foreign Workers (Japan Times, February 2018)
\u30fb“Q&A on Preventing Troubles Related to Employment of Foreign Nationals”<\/a> (Co-author, Labour Research Institute, 2018)

Lectures
<\/strong><\/span>\u30fbFrench Seminar: About the Japanese Judicial System (Justice au Japon, Mode d’emploi)’ (November 2016, jointly organised by the Tokyo Bar Association and Fran\u00e7ais du Monde)
\u30fb ‘Higher Education, Schooling and Status of Residence’ (June 2017, Kanagawa International and Multicultural Social Work Study Group)
\u30fbFrench Seminar: ‘Conf\u00e9rences sur le droit du marriage et de la famille au Japon’ (April, May and June 2018, jointly organised by the Tokyo Bar Association and Fran\u00e7ais du Monde).
<\/p><\/div>

\"Profile<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Takeshi HARIGAYA<\/h3>

<\/p>

Attorney (Japan)<\/p>

Profile<\/h4>

Born in Fukushima Prefecture
2012 Tsukuba University, Social and International Studies
2015 Tohoku University School of Law (JD)
2016 Admitted as Attorney in Japan
2016 Gotanda Law Office (Tokyo)
2019 Partner, Tokyo Public Law Office, Foreign and International Service Section (FISS)
2021 Co-founder, Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office

Professional Members
<\/strong><\/span>\u30fbJapan Federation of Bar Associations (Foreign Workers Acceptance Project Team, Human Rights Committee)
\u30fbTokyo Bar Association (Committee on Foreigner\u2019s Rights)
\u30fbLawyers Network for Foreigners
\u30fbEnglish Speakling Lawyers List of the Embassies in Japan (US, UK, Australia, etc.)
\u30fbForeign Technical Self-Learning Issues Lawyers Association
\u30fbForeign Labor Attorney
\u30fbMedical Affairs Attorney
\u30fbConsumer Organization Japan (NPO)
\u30fbApplication handling lawyer (Tokyo Immigration Bureau)

Publications<\/strong><\/span>
\u30fbForeign Technical Intern Trainee Legal Support Manual (Foreign Technical Intern Trainee Attorney Liaison Board, Akashi Shoten, 2018).
\u30fb\u201cStatement on the Survey Results Regarding Technical Intern Trainees Missing from Trainees\u201d (\u201cJyuumin To Jichi\u201d Institute for Local Government Affairs, 2019).

Lectures<\/strong><\/span>
\u30fb\u201cCurrent Status and Future Prospects of Accepting Foreign Workers\u201d (July 2018, Tokyo Bar Association Summer Training Course).
\u30fb\u201cGovernment\u2019s Policy on Bone 2018 and New Acceptance of Foreigners\u201d (October 2018, Japan Bar Association 61st Human Rights Conference Symposium 1st Working Group).
\u30fb\u201cTokyo Bar Association\u2019s Proposal for Elimination of Racial Discrimination Model Ordinance-Explanation of Points-\u201d (Dec. 2018, exchange meeting with Tokyo Bar Association Foreign Resident Support Organization).
\u30fb\u201cIntroduction to Foreign Cases\u201d (February 2019, Lawyers Network for Foreigners).
\u30fb\u201cSystem of Accepting Foreign Workers \u2013 Institutional issues-\u201d (February 2019, OCNet \/ Legato Ota).
\u30fb\u201cOverview of the \u201cSpecific Skills\u201d System and \u201cComprehensive Measures\u201d (May 2019, Symposium of the Lawyers Network for Foreigners General Assembly).
\u30fb\u201cCurrent Situation of Acceptance by \u201cSpecific Skills\u201d and \u201cPractice of Lawyers\u201d (July 2019, Tokyo Bar Association Summer Training Course).

\u30fb\u201cFundamentals of Foreign Cases\u201d (September 2019, Shiga Bar Association).
\u30fb\u201cIntroduction to Foreign Cases\u201d (January 2020, Shizuoka Prefectural Bar Association).
\u30fb\u201cIntroduction to Foreign Cases\u201d (February 2020, Lawyers Network for Foreigners).

Msssages<\/strong><\/span>
After admitted as an attorney, I have handled cases in a wide range of fields; I have been particularly focused on medical cases (patient side) and foreign cases.
I have been working on public interest issues regarding the acceptance of foreign workers and the realization of a multicultural society that has become a hot topic in recent years.
I believe that the best option to solve the issues clients have is to listen carefully to the client\u2019s voice, discover any issues and help as an expert. I strive to provide my clients with such a service.<\/p><\/div>

\"Profile<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Yayoi HASEGAWA<\/h3>

<\/p>

Attorney (Japan)<\/p>

Profile<\/h4>

1996 Kyoto University, Faculty of Law (LLB)
1996 Aozora Bank(formerly Nippon Credit Bank)
2010 Admitted as Attorney in Japan
2010 Tokyo Kita Law Office
2018 Tokyo Public Law Office,
\u3000\u3000\u3000Foreign and International Service Section (FISS)
2020 Sakakibara Law Office
2022 Joined TKP law
2023 Queen Mary University of London, LL.M. in Human Rights Law

Professional Affiliations<\/strong>
Officer, Office of International Affairs in Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
Member, Committee on International Human Rights of JFBA
Member, Committee on Equality of Men and Women of JFBA
Secretariat, Lawyers Network for Foreigners<\/a>

Lectures & Presentations<\/strong>
“Japan\u2019s Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets”-2014, Belgium, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) Conference
“The situation of foreign residents in Japan” -2016, Davao, Philippines, the International Conference for People’s Rights in the Philippines (ICCPR)   
 “The Legal Profession and Foreign Residents in Japan”-2019, Public lecture at Seigakuin University (Tokyo)

Publications<\/strong>
“Field Study of Japanese-Filipino Children (JFC) in Manila and Cebu, Philippines” (Co-authored, self-publishing,2018)
“Bringing an International Human Rights Protection System to Japan – Towards the Realization of the Individual Communications System and a Domestic Human Rights Institution” (Co-authored, Akashi Shoten, 2020)
“150 Selected Cases of Individual Communications under International Human Rights Law” (Co-authored, Gendai Jinbunsha, 2023)
“142 Practical Q&As on Cross-Border Family Law Cases – Insights from the LNF Mailing List” (Co-authored, Nihon Kajo Publishing, 2024)
<\/p><\/div>

\"Profile<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Maho TAKENOSHITA<\/h3>

<\/p>

Attorney (NY, Japan)<\/p>

Profile<\/h4>

2025 Joined TKP law

(Profile under preparation)
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Paralegal<\/h3>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Messages<\/h4>

\u3000We support our clients in Japanese, English and Vietnamese.
\u3000<\/p><\/div>

\"Profile<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Takashi ITO | Kenji YANO | Nahoko AMEMIMYA | Takeshi HARIGAYA | Yayoi Hasegawa | Maho Takenoshita | Paralegals<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":108,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_locale":"en_GB","_original_post":"http:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp\/?page_id=58","vkexunit_cta_each_option":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-441","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","en-GB"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=441"}],"version-history":[{"count":58,"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1665,"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/441\/revisions\/1665"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tkp-law.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}