｜ Kyowa Patent and Law Office

YAMASHITA  Kazuya

Background

Kazuya Yamashita graduated from the Engineering Faculty of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo) in 1993, completed the master’s program of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the same university’s Graduate School of Science and Engineering in 1995, then joined an electrical appliance manufacturer where he worked as an engineer in the development and design of electric switching devices.
After passing the patent attorney’s examination in 2006, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2007, where he provides various services, such as rights acquisition, preparation of written expert opinions and comments regarding rights in Japan and overseas. His clients include major general electrical equipment manufacturers, major printing companies, and semiconductor manufacturing equipment manufacturers.

MURATA  Takahisa

Background

Takahisa Murata graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Engineering in 2000, after which he worked for a tire manufacturer.
In 2005, he passed the patent attorney’s examination and joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office. At Kyowa, he provides various services for clients, including patent rights acquisition in Japan and overseas, preparation of expert opinions and comments regarding rights in Japan, assistance with obtaining expert opinions and comments regarding overseas rights, and the enforcement of patent rights in Japan and overseas.

MORI  Hideyuki

Background

Hideyuki Mori graduated from the University of Tokyo, the Department of Engineering in 1984, after which he joined an automobile manufacturer. There, he worked as an engineer in development of materials for automobile components for nine years.
After passing the patent attorney’s examination, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 1995, where he assists clients with IP services, with a focus on rights acquisition in Japan and overseas. His clients are manufacturers of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, automotive components, and electrical appliances. He also has experience in invalidation trials, opposition claims, and appeals against trial decisions.

KAWASAKI  Ryo

Background

Ryo Kawasaki graduated from Chuo University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering in 2012 and later completed the master’s program at the same university’s Graduate School of Science and Engineering.
He then joined a medical equipment manufacturing company, where he worked for about two years in the development and design of medical equipment such as X-ray diagnostic imaging equipment and dental equipment. Subsequently, he was transferred to the company’s intellectual property office, where he spent about four years working in a variety of areas, including invention discovery, rights acquisition, prior-art searches, clearance surveys, and intellectual property management related to X-ray diagnostic imaging equipment, OCT equipment, and dental equipment.
After passing the patent attorney’s examination in 2019, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2021. His work at Kyowa focuses on rights acquisition services primarily in the fields of medical equipment, optics, and sanitary goods.

ASAKURA  SatoruCounsel

Background

After receiving in 1976 his Masters Degree from the Department of Industrial Designs, Faculty of Engineering of Chiba University, Satoru Asakura worked for thirteen years as an examiner at the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and for four years at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.
He joined Kyowa in 2006 and became a managing partner in 2015 after being the head of the Designs Department, while conducting lectures at universities such as Chiba University and Takushoku University He coauthored in 2001 the “JPO’s Standard Text for Industrial Property Rights (Design)” published by the Japan Institute for Promoting Invention and Innovation.

Articles

• "Green Paper on Legal Protection of Industrial Design" 1991 EC Committee Revision - Japan - Design Protection Association「DESIGN PROTECT No.110 2016」

SARUYAMA  Jumpei

Background

After graduating from Meiji University’s School of Law, Jumpei Saruyama worked in an administrative position at a patent firm for two years. He registered as a patent attorney in 2014 and worked for a major patent firm for four years.
Since joining Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2018, he has been engaged in trademark and design rights acquisition services in Japan and overseas for various clients, including foreign corporations, major general electrical manufacturers, and companies in the IoT sector. He also handles infringement cases and counterfeit measures and provides comprehensive services for varying trademark cases. He is well versed in the various administrative procedures, making use of his experience in patents-related clerical work.
He is a member of the Trademark Committee of the Japan Patent Attorney Association, serving as its vice-chair from 2021. In this role, he is mainly involved in discussions on SCT and Madrid Protocol revisions and regulations.
He is an active member of several external organizations, including the Japan Trademark Association and the JAFBIC Trademark Committee.

SOEDA  Keisuke

Background

After graduating from Waseda University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences in 2006, Keisuke Soeda joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2007 and registered as a patent attorney in 2013. He has been serving as an Examination Committee member of the Intellectual Property Council, established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), since 2023, as a member of the Trademark Committee of AIPPI since 2021, a member of the Design Committee of APAA Japan Group since 2014 and the vice chairman of the Design Committee of the Japan Foods & Biotechnology Intellectual Property Rights Center (JAFBIC) since 2019.
In 2019, he has lectured on the use of the Hague system in preparation for future IP implementation at a WIPO International Application System Seminar hosted by the WIPO Japan Office. In 2020, he presented on the effect of the 2019 revision of the Design Act at a seminar hosted by JAFBIC’s Design Committee.
He became a member of the Trademark Committee of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) in 2021.
He holds licenses of Class I junior high school teaching (English), chief telecommunications engineer (transmission and switching), First-Class Technical Radio Operator for On-the-Ground Services, Maritime First-Class Technical Radio Operator, and Advanced Information Processing Engineer (SC).

Articles

• How to use the international design registration system using the Hague system and points to keep in mind - Monthly Journal “A.I.P.P.I.” (Japanese publication), AIPPI JAPAN, Sept. 2016
• Amendment of fields in the application form for patent applications - Chizai Kanri [Intellectual property management], Mar. 2014

NAGAI  HiroshiCounsel

Background

Hiroshi Nagai worked as an engineer for the Research and Development Department and later the Management Department of the Metropolitan Government after receiving his master’s degree in Science and Engineering in 1977 from Waseda University.
He joined Kyowa in 1985 and became a managing partner in 2015 after being the head of the Mechanical Department for almost two decades. For over 30 years, he has been advising, assisting and supporting small, medium and large companies in mechanical technologies, accumulating a vast experience in litigation and disputes in Japan and abroad.

SHUMUTA  Minato

Background

After graduating from Keio University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering (Department of System Design Engineering) in 2015, Minato Shumuta joined the Japanese branch of a German automotive components manufacturer. He worked as an engineer for about four and a half years, developing gasoline engine control units for passenger cars for the European, Chinese, and Japanese markets. His development work focused primarily on model/market conformity of self-diagnosis features (deterioration/failure detection) of exhaust emission control systems, such as three-way catalysts, as well as in-vehicle testing of products delivered to customers.
During his time with said company, he traveled to its head office in Germany, where he was involved in coordination and development work with the Japanese branch office. He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2019 and passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2020. At Kyowa, he works in applications and intermediate processing related to automotive components, optical films, looms, hydraulic systems, etc., as well as rights acquisition in Japan and overseas.

WATANUKI  Chikara

Background

After graduating from Waseda University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering (Department of Physics) in 2006, Chikara Watanuki completed the master's program in the Department of Physics and Applied Physics of the same university’s Graduate School of Science and Engineering, then joined a major electronics manufacturer and worked in the R&D division for about eight years and in the intellectual property division for about four years. In the R&D division, his work focused on fluid analysis and structural analysis for inkjet printers and multifunctional devices, and simulation technology development. In the IP division, he was involved in a variety of duties, including the discovery of inventions related to inkjet printers, handling of applications in Japan and overseas, intermediate procedures in Japan and overseas, evaluation of inventions, and responses to patents of other companies. He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2013.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2018, where he is involved in handling of applications and intermediate processing in Japan and overseas. His various clients include major general electrical equipment manufacturers, major printing companies, and major chemical manufacturers.