Profiles - 協和特許法律事務所

MIYAJIMA  ManabuManaging Partner

Background

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, the Department of Engineering, Manabu Miyajima was admitted to the bar and registered as a patent attorney in Japan in 2001.
In 2008, he received his LL.M. in Trade Regulation from New York University School of Law (Fulbright Scholar) and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2009.
After obtaining a master’s degree from the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law in 2014, he became a Kyowa partner in 2015.
He is an active member of AIPPI, INTA and APAA.

Articles

• Case law study - Intellectual Property High Court 2010.1.14 (2008 (Gyo-ke)) No. 10235 Case: Enablement Requirements: Gist of the Invention Certification and the Lipase Supreme Court Decision - A.I.P.P.I: Journal of the Japanese Group of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property, Vol. 57, No. 1, pp. 6-22, others

KAWASAKI  YasushiPartner

Background

After graduating from Waseda University (Science and Engineering Department) in 1986, Yasushi Kawasaki worked as an engineer for the Research and Development Department of a measuring instruments manufacturer for six years. In 1992, he passed the Japan Patent Attorney Examination while employed at a patent firm where he prepared specifications for electronical inventions, such as electrical equipment for automobiles, digital cameras, control devices for construction equipment and measuring instruments.
In 1997, he joined Kyowa and became a partner in 2015. At Kyowa, he is mainly involved in acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as preparing expert opinion and consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad.

SEKINE  TakeshiPartner

Background

After graduating from Keio University (Engineering Department) in 1990, Takeshi Sekine worked for Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Corporation as a plant engineer for about two years. He then worked at a patent firm for four years and was registered as a patent attorney in 1995. At the firm, he prepared specifications for mechanical inventions, such as motorcycles and automobiles.
In 1996, he joined Kyowa and became a partner in 2015. At Kyowa, his expertise mainly covers acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad in the field of electro-technology and various control systems, as well as consulting.

AKAOKA  AkiraPartner

Background

After graduating from the Physics Department, Science Faculty of Tohoku University in 1993, Akira Akaoka worked for four years as a device engineer in the Research and Development department and later in the Management department of a semiconductor manufacturer. He then worked at a patent firm preparing specifications for electronical inventions and was registered as a patent attorney in 2000.
He joined Kyowa in 2000 and became a partner in 2015. At Kyowa, his duties are mainly acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as preparing of expert opinion and consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad.

ASANO  MakotoPartner

Background

After graduating from Yokohama National University (Engineering Department) in 1993 and obtaining his MSc degree at the University of Tokyo in 1995, Makoto Asano worked as an engineer with polyester, nylon and polyamide fibers for the Research and Development department of a chemical manufacturer for five years.
In 2001, he passed the Japan Patent Attorney examination and joined Kyowa. He became a partner in 2015.
At Kyowa, his duties are mainly acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as preparing of expert opinion and consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad. Along Kyowa attorneys at Law, he has worked in numerous chemical lawsuits.

Articles

• Fluorescence Studies of the Volume Phase Transition in Methanol/Water Mixed Solvent of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Gels Labeled with Dansyl Group - M. Asano, K. Horie, T. Yamashita, Polym. Gels Networks, 3, 281-293 (1995)
• Fluorescence Studies of Dansyl-Labeled Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) Gels and Polymers in Mixed Water/Methanol Solutions - M. Asano, F.M. Winnik, T. Yamashita, K. Horie, Macromolecules, 28(17), 5861-5866 (1995)

SUZUKI  NobuoPartner

Background

Nobuo Suzuki worked as an IT engineer for the Research and Development department of a precision equipment manufacturers after graduating from Keio University (Engineering Department) in 1997. He then engaged in the development of network and server structure as well as system development.
He joined Kyowa in 2000 and became a partner in 2015. At Kyowa, he is mainly involved in acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad and conducting as seminars.

SORIMACHI  HiroshiPartner

Background

After graduating from Meiji Pharmaceutical University (Pharmacy Department) in 1995 and obtaining his MSc degree from Chiba University in 1997, Hiroshi Sorimachi worked as a researcher in the R&D department of a pharmaceutical company for almost five years, while preparing for the Japan Patent Attorney examination which he passed in 2002. During two of these years, he worked as a researcher in combinatorial chemistry in the U.S.
In 2003, he joined Kyowa and became a partner in 2015. At Kyowa, his duties are mainly acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad in biochemistry, pharmacy and food, as well as consulting.

HOTTA  YukihiroPartner

Background

After graduating from Osaka University (Engineering Department) in 1995, Yukihiro Hotta worked as an engineer for the Research and Development department of an aluminum processing company for four years. In 2002, he passed the Japan Patent Attorney examination for which he prepared while working for the Bureau of Transportation of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and in the Management Operations of Railway Facilities.
He joined Kyowa in 2003 and became a partner in 2015. An intellectual property attorney specialized in mechanical engineering, he is now the head of the Mechanical Department.
At Kyowa, his expertise mainly covers acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as preparing of expert opinion and consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad.

DU  RuolingPartner

Background

After graduating from Shanghai East China University of Politics and Law in 1987 and being admitted to the bar in China in 1989, Ms. Ruoling Du received in 1999 her master’s degree in International Economic Law from Yokohama National University and was registered as a licensed foreign lawyer in Japan in 2005.
At Kyowa, she has been involved in a considerable number of lawsuits of various background in China.
While acting as a member of AIPPI and INTA as well as of China Trademark Association, she continuously keeps up to date with developments in Chinese IP.

MOTOMIYA  Teruhisa

Background

After graduating from Nihon University, the Department of Law, Teruhisa Motomiya passed the Japan Patent Attorney examination in 1988. He handled trademark, design and unfair competition cases at a patent firm for twenty-four years.
He chaired the Trademarks Committee of Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) from April 2004 to March 2007. He was a member of the Trademark System Committee of the Industrial Structure Council (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) from July 2004 to October 2006. In 2015, he joined Kyowa where he became the Head of the Trademark Department. At Kyowa, he is mainly involved in acquiring and maintaining of trademark rights in Japan and abroad, as well as consulting with regard to trademarks in Japan and abroad and conducting seminars.

Notable Cases

• Toy Blocks for Assembling case (JPN Reg. No. 4478665) Tokyo High Court in 2000 (Gyo-ke) No. 101 / 2001 February 28: Favorable decision in revocation case
• Guylian Seashells Chocolate Bar case (International Registration No. 803104) Intellectual Property High Court judgement handed on 2008 June 30 (Gyo-ke) No. 10293: Trial decision was rescinded in favor of the client

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.

DEGUCHI  Tomoya

Background

After receiving in 1999 his master’s degree in Engineering from Tohoku University, Tomoya Deguchi worked for almost four years as a semiconductor process engineer and later in the Intellectual Property department of an electronics manufacturer. In 2004, he passed the Patent Bar examination after preparing specifications for electronical inventions at a patent firm for one year.
Joining Kyowa in 2005, his duties are mainly acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as preparing of expert opinion and consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad.

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.

YAMANOI  Takashi

Background

After receiving in 1998 his master’s degree from the Graduate School of Science of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo), Takashi Yamanoi worked for the intellectual property department of a precision equipment manufacturer for four years where his main duties were acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights of electro-photographic technology. He was registered as a patent attorney in 2002 and worked at a patent firm for three years.
At the firm, he prepared specifications for control technology, image processing technology and information processing inventions of office automation devices manufacturers, and for semiconductor technology inventions of communication devices manufacturers.
In 2005, he joined Kyowa where his expertise mainly covers acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad.

TAKADA  Yasuhiko

Background

After graduating from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Engineering (Department of Electronic Engineering) in 2000, Yasuhiko Takada passed the bar examination in 2003 and joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office after completing his judicial apprenticeship in 2005.
　　 Registering as an attorney at law and patent attorney in 2005, he has worked in legal consultations, expert opinions, contract negotiations, warning cases, litigation cases related to intellectual property law, trial cases against the Japan Patent Office, and patent applications.

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.

YOSHIDA  Shoji

Background

After receiving in 1998 his master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Tokyo, Shoji Yoshida worked for almost nine years as an engineer in the Research and Development department and in the Management department of a leading telecommunication systems company. He was then engaged in the development of optical communication apparatus, firmware and ASIC devices for a major domestic carrier. He was a member of Japan’s delegation at ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union Telecommunication Standardization Sector) for four years.
After passing the Japan Patent Attorney examination in 2006, he joined Kyowa where he is involved in acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad. He acted as a member of the Patent Board of the Japan Patent Attorney Association (JPAA) in 2016 and 2017, and acted as a member of the Patent System Operation Consultation Board of JPAA in 2022. He belongs to the Central Institute of Intellectual Property of JPAA, and the Small and Medium Enterprise and Start-up Support Board of the JPAA Kanto in 2024. He was appointed as a technical advisor of the Intellectual Property High Court, Tokyo District Court and Osaka District Court in 2024. In 2026, he received a Training Achievement Award from the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) in recognition of his long-term contributions as an instructor in workshops on drafting invention disclosure documents for corporate engineers and intellectual property professionals.

KOJIMA  Kazumasa

Background

In 2003, Kazumasa Kojima joined a prefectural government office after graduating from the Science Faculty (Chemistry) of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo). Assigned to a food laboratory, he worked in food products composition analysis, development of functional food products, and development of food packaging materials for four years. During this time, he passed the patent attorney’s examination (2006).
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2007, where he assists clients with IP services, with a focus on rights acquisition in Japan and overseas. His clients include Japanese and overseas companies, including food companies, consumer goods businesses, general chemical companies, and oil and energy companies, as well as government agencies. In addition to rights acquisition, he has a wealth of experience in areas such as expert opinions, invalidation trials, opposition claims, and appeals against trial decisions.
In recent years, he has handled numerous dispute cases in collaboration with Kyowa attorneys at law with chemistry background.

KASHIWA  Nobuyuki

Background

After graduating from the University of Tokyo and becoming licensed as a pharmacist in 2002, Nobuyuki Kashiwa obtained his master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Tokyo Graduate School in 2004. He was registered as an attorney at law in 2008, and as a patent attorney in 2010.
After joining Kyowa in 2008, he has handled numerous contentious matters, primarily representing Japanese and foreign pharmaceutical, chemical, food, and consumer goods companies in patent infringement litigation, preliminary injunction proceedings, appeals against JPO trial decisions, warning-letter negotiations, invalidation trials, hantei advisory opinion proceedings, and oppositions. He has extensive experience in contract-related matters, legal opinions, various legal consultations, and intellectual property matters involving trademarks, designs, copyrights, and unfair competition, as well as general civil and corporate legal matters.
In addition to his legal practice, since 2015 he is a member of the Editorial Board of AIPPI Japan’s periodical. Starting in 2026, he is serving as an instructor in the Japan Patent Attorneys Association’s litigation representative specialization training program for patent attorneys seeking to qualify as infringement litigation representatives.

Articles

• Therapeutic Antibody Invention Claimed by Functional Limitations: Intellectual Property High Court Ruled the Claim Did Not Fulfill the Support Requirement Judgment of the Intellectual Property High Court, Fourth Division on January 26, 2023 (2021 (Gyo-Ke) 10093, 10094; “Antibody Preparation Case”) - AIPPI Japan Journal International Edition (Vol. 49 No.2 2024)
• Intellectual Property High Court Judgement regarding the Description Requirement and Correction Requirement for a Use Limitation in Pharmaceutical Inventions (2020 (Gyo-Ke) 10135; "Pregabalin Case" - AIPPI Japan Journal International Edition (Vol. 48 No.2 2023)
• The Equol-Containing Extract: A case in which the Intellectual Property High Court Recognized the Presumption of Article 104 of the Patent Act and Ruled in Favor of the Patentee - JIPA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Vol. 73 No. 3 2023)
• Calculation Methods Regarding Damages Based on Article 102, Paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Patent Act (Grand Panel Decision of Intellectual Property High Court Dated June 7, 2019 - AIPPI Japan Journal (Vol. 65 No. 3 2020)
• Intellectual Property in Electronics and Software - A Global Guide to Rights and Their Applications Second Edition - Globe Law and Business (2019)
• The Supreme Court Decision Regarding the Requirements for Infringement under the Doctrine of Equivalents - AIPPI Japan Journal International Edition (Vol. 43 No.1 2018)
• The Intellectual Property High Court Grand Panel Decision on the Requirements for Infringement under the Doctrine of Equivalents - AIPPI Japan Journal International Edition (Vol. 42 No.1 2017)
• Consideration Regarding Experimental Data in Datamining Patentability of Numerically Limited Inventions - JIPA INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (Vol. 65 No. 8 2015)
• Unpredictable Remarkable Effects in Determining Inventive Step (Supreme Court Decision Dated August 27, 2019) - SHINNIPPON-HOKI “Practical Methods for Preventing Troubles Relating to Intellectual Property”
• Clarity and the Diaper Decision - Managing Intellectual Property SURVEY 2011

OKAMURA  Kazuro

Background

Kazuro Okamura graduated from Kyoto University’s Faculty of Engineering in 1999, completed the master’s program of the Department of Material Science and Engineering of the same university’s Graduate School of Engineering, then joined a major optical communication equipment manufacturer where he worked as an engineer in the development and design of optical communication equipment for seven years. His research concentrated on electronic circuits and electronic component mounted boards. He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2007 then joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2008. At Kyowa, he has been assisting clients with IP-related operations, with a focus on rights acquisition services in Japan and overseas, but also expert opinion and comment services, patent invalidation trials, and oppositions to grants of patent. His clients include manufacturers of materials, pre-forms, components, and finished products.

SUZUKI  Hiroyasu

Background

Hiroyasu Suzuki graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences) in 1994. Upon completing its master’s course in 1996, he joined a patent firm specialized in biotechnology. He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 1998. After working at a major patent and law firm and others, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2014. He assists clients with IP services, with a focus on rights acquisition in Japan and overseas. His clients include Japanese and overseas companies, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers, general chemical manufacturers, food manufacturers, and metal material manufacturers. Apart from rights acquisition, he is involved in expert opinion preparation, invalidation trials, and opposition claims in collaboration with attorneys at law at Kyowa.

MURAKOSHI  Suguru

Background

Suguru Murakoshi joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office after graduating from Keio University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering) in 1999 and passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2001. He currently handles applications and intermediate processing in relation to automobiles, optical films, packaging machines, and hydraulic systems, as well as rights acquisition services in Japan and overseas.
He has great English communication skills (TOEIC 910 in 2013).

SUZUKI  Kenshi

Background

After graduating from Tokyo University of Science (Science Department) in 1997, Kenshi Suzuki worked at a patent firm for seventeen years and was registered as a patent attorney in 2001. At this firm, he prepared specifications for electronical inventions, such as printers, car navigation systems, electric storage devices and lenses of optical goods.
In 2014, he joined Kyowa. At Kyowa, his duties mainly cover acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad in the field of electro technology and various control systems like semiconductor devices, communications and information technology, image processing and software.

YANAGIMOTO  Akiyuki

Background

After graduating from Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Engineering (Department of Mechanical Engineering) in 1998, Akiyuki Yanagimoto completed the master’s program of the Division of Mechanical Science of the same university’s Graduate School of Engineering. He obtained his Ph.D. (Engineering) from the same Division in 2004, after which he joined the Japan Patent Office (JPO).
At the JPO, he worked for about ten years as a patent examiner, examining patent applications for mechanical technologies overall, including printed wiring boards, mounting technologies, vehicle seats, office chairs, beds, children's furniture, display cases, vending machines, ticket vending machines, ticket gates, cash registers, room entry and exit management devices, attendance management devices, drive recorders, and ETC-related devices. He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2012. He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2014, where he provides a variety of services, including preparation of patent specifications, acquisition of rights for local cases, for international applications designating Japan, and for Japanese applications designating foreign countries. His various clients include manufacturers of materials, machinery, and equipment.

HANAWA  Kazuya

Background

After graduating from the Engineering Faculty (Mechanical and Intelligent Systems) of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo), Kazuya Hanawa joined a container manufacturer, where he worked as an engineer for about three years in the development and design of containers filling equipment. He later worked in the company’s intellectual property division for about three years. He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2014.
Since joining Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2015, he has been assisting clients with IP-related operations, with a focus on rights acquisition services in Japan and overseas. His various clients include materials manufacturers, preforming manufacturers, component manufacturers, and finished product manufacturers.

ISHIHARA  Nobuhito

Background

Nobuhito Ishihara graduated in 2000 from Waseda University, the Department of Science and Engineering. Obtained his master’s degree in Theoretical and Applied Physics (2002) and a doctoral degree in Engineering (2008) from Waseda University, the Graduate School of Science and Engineering. During this time, he participated in research for the Japan Patent Office and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. As an associate professor, he taught optics, information processing, mathematics, electromagnetics, electronics while continuing his own research in optics, image processing and optimization.
As a PhD, he worked for seven years at a software company developing image processing technologies　(medical instruments, testing apparatuses, onboard cameras, etc.) and program optimization methods.
After passing the bar examination in 2014, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office where he is involved in domestic and international patent acquisition and examination for leading general electronics manufacturers, software companies, and venture businesses.

ENDO  Kosuke

Background

Kosuke Endo graduated from Tohoku University’s Faculty of Science (Department of Biology) in 1997. After completing the master’s program of the Department of Biology of the same university’s Graduate School of Science, he worked for a food manufacturer where he spent seven years working in the pharmaceutical R&D division, focusing on the production of peptides from micro-organisms and the development of preparations from peptide pharmaceuticals.
He then joined the Japan Patent Office, where he worked for seven years as a fixed-term examiner analyzing patent applications in biotechnology and for oral preparations, adhesive preparations, genetic therapy drugs, other pharmaceutical products, cosmetic products, and food products.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2013, where he works on filing applications for Japanese and overseas companies in fields such as food production, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, oil and energy, rights acquisition procedures, and applications for the extension of term of patent rights.

WATANABE  Kaori

Background

After graduating from Tsuda University’s College of Liberal Arts (Department of International and Cultural Studies), Kaori Watanabe worked for another patent and law firm for about seven years, mainly in trademark applications and rights acquisition services for various clients, such as transportation industry clients, major apparel manufacturers in Japan and overseas, and machinery manufacturers. She passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2009.
Since joining Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2014, she has branched out into the handling of infringements and disputes related to trademark rights in Japan and overseas as well as trademark rights acquisition for various clients, with a focus on international consumer goods manufacturers, major Japanese cosmetics manufacturers, and financial clients in Japan.
Belonging to several external organizations such as the Japan Trademark Association and the JAFBIC Trademark Committee, she is constantly working on expanding her IP knowledge.

ISHIKAWA  Daisaku

Background

After graduating from Tohoku University’s Faculty of Science in 2010, Daisaku Ishikawa completed the master’s program at the University of Tokyo Graduate School, then joined a patent firm in Osaka Prefecture, where he worked for almost three years.
He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2016 and joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office the following year.
At Kyowa, he belongs to the Mechanical department and is involved in domestic and international application procedures and rights acquisition services regarding mechanical inventions.

MINAMI  Daigo

Background

After graduating from the Department of Mechanical and Systems Engineering of Doshisha University in 1998, Daigo Minami worked for eight years as a power semiconductor’s engineer of a Japanese leading electrical manufacturer. He then worked at a patent firm preparing specifications for electronical inventions (semiconductor products, optical apparatus, communication devices, ink-jet printers) for nine years.
He joined Kyowa in 2015 and registered as a patent attorney in 2019 after passing the patent attorney bar examination the previous year. At Kyowa, his duties mainly cover acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as preparing of expert opinion and consulting with regard to patent rights in Japan and abroad.

MAEKAWA  Hideaki

Background

Hideaki Maekawa graduated from the Science Faculty (Chemistry) of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo) in 1983, and from the Chemistry Department master’s program of the same university’s Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering in 1985. He joined a photographic manufacturer, where he was involved in elemental research and product development of highly-sensitive negative films and rapid-processing photographic paper for about seven years.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 1992, after which he obtained his qualifications as a patent attorney. At Kyowa, he has worked in a variety of areas, including assisting Japanese and overseas clients to file patent applications and acquire rights, providing expert opinions and comments, arguing patent invalidation trials, and lodging oppositions to grant of patent. He has presented at patent-related seminars at the request of Japanese clients.

SHINBATA  Hiroyuki

Background

Hiroyuki Shinbata obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Department of Applied Physics of Tohoku University before joining a major electric appliances manufacturer. As a member of a bio-element project conducted by the former Ministry of International Trade and Industry, he did basic research into recognition systems (self-organization of the perceptual brain), before moving onto research into practical applications of recognition systems (such as cancer cell classification, fingerprint classification, snow accumulation forecasting). He later worked in the development of the image processing aspects of digital radiography (DR) systems as a member of a start-up team.
After passing the patent attorney’s examination in 2002, he was transferred to the Intellectual Property Department. As the leader of the rights acquisition group (medical devices, lithography devices, network cameras, mixed-reality technology, industry-academia collaboration for creation of medical devices), he worked in rights acquisition, invention discovery and evaluation, patent clearance, and the planning of intellectual property strategy. During that period, he gained experience in areas such as patent due diligence in three corporate acquisition projects and in technical presentations for examiners of the China National Intellectual Property Administration.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2014. At Kyowa, he is involved in intellectual property rights-related services such as helping clients to acquire rights and providing expert opinions and comments. His clients include major general electrical equipment manufacturers and start-ups.

ENAMI  Kaoru

Background

After graduating from Ochanomizu University’s Faculty of Science (Department of Physics), Kaoru Enami worked at another patent law firm for about six years, mainly in rights acquisition services related to telecommunications equipment and construction machinery. She passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2011.
Since joining Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2016, she has been assisting clients with IP-related operations, with a focus on rights acquisition services in Japan and overseas. Her various clients include component manufacturers and finished product manufacturers.

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.

NARUSE  Koki

Background

After graduating from the Department of Electrical, Information and Physics Engineering of Tohoku University’s School of Engineering in 2010, Koki Naruse completed the master’s program in the Department of Applied Physics of the same university’s Graduate School of Engineering. After receiving his Ph.D. (Engineering) from the same department in 2015, he conducted research into superconducting magnets for a year as a postdoctoral researcher.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2016 and passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2017. His work at Kyowa focuses on rights acquisition services.

NAKASHIMA  Shingo

Background

In 2009, Shingo Nakashima graduated from Tohoku University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Department of Pharmacy) and registered as a pharmacist. After completing the master's program in the Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences Major of the same university’s Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2011, he took up employment at a pharmaceutical manufacturer where he worked eight years in the research, development, and manufacture of therapeutic drugs for skin diseases, primarily helping to bring acne treatments to market. While working here, he passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2018.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office the following year, where he assists various Japanese and overseas clients, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, cosmetics manufacturers, and food manufacturers, with IP operations, with a focus on rights acquisition.

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.

SUZUKI  Takanori

Background

Takanori Suzuki graduated from the Tokyo Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Urban Liberal Arts (now the Faculty of Science) in 2006, skipping the fourth year to advance to the master’s program of the university’s Graduate School of Human Health Sciences. During his master's degree, he engaged in research on food ingredients.
After completing the master’s program, he took up employment with an ICT services company in 2011, where he worked as a system engineer in the development of control programs for chemical plants in parallel with which he studied for and passed the patent attorney’s examination (2014).
He then worked five years in rights acquisition, mainly of technical side of manufacturing daily necessities in Japan and overseas, at another patent firm, as a domestic and overseas patent prosecutor. During this time, in 2018, he passed the examination which qualifies him as a Patent Infringement Litigator in Japan.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2021. At Kyowa, he works in acquisition of rights, in Japan and overseas, with a focus on packaging materials.

NAKAMURA  Yusuke

Background

After graduating from Keio University’s Faculty of Law, Department of Law and from University of Tokyo Law School, Yusuke Nakamura engaged in legal and intellectual property-related work at a clothing manufacturer, during which he passed the patent attorney exam in 2018. He registered as a patent attorney in 2019 and was involved in domestic and foreign trademark application and rights acquisition business mainly for SMEs at a patent law office.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2021, where he is involved in domestic and foreign trademark application and rights acquisition as a member of the Trademarks section.

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.

MUKAI  Tsubasa

Background

After receiving in 2014 his master’s degree in Engineering from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tsubasa Mukai worked for Hokuriku Electric Power Company for about three years where his main duties were maintaining communication networks for power systems and smart meter servers. In 2018 he joined Fukui Prefectural Office in 2018 where he did maintenance work for disaster prevention administrative radio and sewage treatment facilities for four years.

He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2018. In 2022, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office.

NIEDA Shoji

Background

After graduating in 2013 from the Department of Economics of the University of Tokyo, Shoji Nieda enrolled in Keio University Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 2022 and worked for an Intellectual Property law firm in Kansai region.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2022. As an attorney at Law with a background in technology and economics, he handles infringement lawsuits against manufacturers in Japan and overseas, lawsuits against trial decisions, warning negotiations, contract-related work, expert opinions, various legal consultations, as well as trademarks, designs, copyrights, unfair competition and other general corporate legal affairs.

SHIMOYAMA  Jun

Background

After graduating from Tokyo University of Science (Pharmacy Department) in 2008 and obtaining his MSc degree from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the same university in 2010, Jun Shimoyama joined a pharmaceutical company. Here he worked almost seven years in the R&D department where, apart from researching topical agents, his work included patent applications, contracts, and public relations.
After passing the Japan Patent Attorney examination in 2016, he joined a patent office and a law firm where, as a patent attorney, he was involved in patent application proceedings, acquisition of rights, trials, and infringement litigation mainly in medicine and biotechnology. In 2022, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office.

FUSHIMI  Shunsuke

Background

Shunsuke Fushimi graduated from the Engineering Faculty (Department of Organic Materials Engineering) of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo) in 1996, completed the master’s program of the Department of Organic Materials Engineering of the same university’s Graduate School of Science and Engineering in 1998, then joined a flexible printed wiring boards manufacturer where he worked as an engineer in Development.
He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2006, then worked for more than 15 years at a major patent and law firm preparing specifications for domestic industrial gas and chemical manufacturers. In 2023, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office where his duties are mainly acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad, as well as consulting.

OGAWA  Hiroyuki

Background

After graduating from the Faculty of Agricultural Chemistry, Department of Agriculture of The University of Tokyo in 1993, Hiroyuki Ogawa completed the master’s program in the Department of Biotechnology, the Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Science, the University of Tokyo in 1995. After receiving his Ph.D. in Agriculture from the same department in 1998 and conducting postdoctoral research, he worked for two private companies in microbial analysis technology development. He then worked at a patent firm and was registered as a patent attorney in 2012, and was registered as an infringement litigation representative in 2018.
His duties were mainly acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad for medical device manufacturers, general chemical manufacturers, etc. He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2024 where he provides intellectual property support with a focus on rights acquisition for a variety of domestic and international clients, including pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food manufacturers.

TAGUCHI  Katsutoshi

Background

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics of Saitama University in March 1997, Katsutoshi Taguchi worked in Sales at a trading company. In 2002, he moved to a patent firm where he handled first domestic, then foreign patent prosecution and assisted in trademark practice. He was registered as a patent attorney in 2020, acted as a trademark patent attorney at another patent firm and joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2024. Here his main duties are searching, acquiring and maintaining of trademarks in Japan and abroad for various manufacturers.

YAMAMOTO  Hiromi

Background

After graduating from the Department of Chemical System Engineering of the University of Tokyo in March 2000, Hiromi Yamamoto worked at a patent firm in acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan for semiconductor-related manufacturers, electronic device manufacturers, and abroad for chemical corporations, as well as in oppositions, and invalidation trials for over twenty years.
She was registered as a patent attorney in 2012, and was registered as an infringement litigation representative in 2018.
She joined Kyowa in 2024 where she assists clients with IP-related operations, with a focus on rights acquisition in Japan and overseas (chemical manufacturers).

KANNO  Yoshiaki

Background

After graduating from the Science Faculty (Physics) of Tokyo University of Science in 1986, Mr. Yoshiaki Kanno was registered as a patent attorney in 2001 and was registered as an infringement litigation representative in 2005.
In 2011, he joined a patent firm in Tokyo, where he consulted in copyright matters, focusing on domestic and international rights acquisition for a variety of clients such as individual inventors, small and medium-sized parts manufacturers, and finished product manufacturers.
In 2025, he joined Kyowa Patent Law Office.
Actively engaged in intellectual property system design through external organizations such as the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, he joined the "Proposal for the Establishment of Electronic Publishing Rights" as the second chair of the Copyright Committee of the JPAA in 2011 and co-authored the "70 Selected Intellectual Property Cases for Practitioners" published for the 2006-2021 and the 2024 editions.

YANAGIMACHI  Ayumi

Background

After graduating from University of Tsukuba, College of Social Sciences where she majored in Law, Ayumi Yanagimachi worked for a distribution company for about seven years.
As a patent attorney (she passed examination in 2004), she worked from 2005 to 2024 at major patent firms where she mainly engaged in domestic and international trademark research, applications, trial case handling, as well as consulting with regard to trademarks in Japan and abroad.
She was registered as a patent attorney in 2005 and as an infringement litigation representative in 2013. She joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2025, where she handles domestic and foreign trademark applications and rights acquisition as a member of Trademarks.

AOYAMA  Soichiro

Background

After graduating from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of Nagoya Institute of Technology, he completed his master's degree at the same university's graduate school. As part of his graduate studies, he researched the development of a simulator for the optical film stretching process. After completing his master's degree, he worked for seven years as a systems engineer in the development and design of IoT systems, logistics systems, and fully automated systems for food factories.
He obtained the Fundamental Information Technology Engineer (FE) qualification in 2016, the Database Specialist (DB) qualification in 2020, and registered as a patent attorney in 2025 after joining Kyowa Patent Law Office in 2022. He is involved in rights acquisition, mainly in the electrical and semiconductor industries.

YAMADA  Yuki

Background

After graduating from the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology in 1997, he joined a machinery manufacturer, where he worked for almost nine years. He passed the Patent Attorney Examination in 2008. After working at a major patent and law firm in Tokyo, he joined Kyowa Patent Law Office in 2026, where he primarily engages in intellectual property support services focused on domestic and international patent applications.

SUZUKI  Kei

Background

Kei Suzuki graduated from the School of Materials and Chemical Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology in 2020, and completed his master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering at the same institution in 2022. During his undergraduate and graduate studies, he conducted research on the electrical properties of semiconductor materials using computational chemistry methods.
In 2022, he joined a chemical manufacturer, where he engaged in research and development of chemical products. His work focused on evaluating the properties and performance of carbon black for battery applications.
He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2023 and passed the Japanese Patent Attorney Examination in 2025. At the firm, he is engaged in both domestic and foreign patent drafting and prosecution for a wide range of clients such as general chemical manufacturers, consumer goods companies, petroleum and energy-related companies, and electronic materials manufacturers.

SAITO  Ninna

Background

Ninna Saito joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2025 after graduating from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of The University of Tokyo in 2024. She passed the Japanese Patent Attorney Examination in the same year.
While at university, she conducted research on the synthesis of novel organomanganese complexes and their application to hydrogenation catalysts, as well as on the isolation of Lewis acidic carbenes.
At the firm, she leverages her experience in a broad range of organic chemistry fields—from organometallic catalysis to structural organic chemistry—in support of intellectual property cases, primarily focusing on patent filing and prosecution. Her clients include a wide variety of domestic and international companies, such as general chemical manufacturers, petroleum and energy companies, electronic materials manufacturers, cosmetics companies, and food manufacturers.

KOMABA  Daishi

Background

After graduating from the Faculty of Business Administration of Toyo University in 2001, Mr. Komaba worked in the financial systems division of an information technology company. In 2011, he passed the Japanese Patent Attorney Examination and joined a major patent firm, where he primarily engaged in acquiring and maintaining of domestic and international designs and trademarks, as well as giving lectures.
In 2026, Mr. Komaba joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office. His duties are acquiring and maintaining designs and trademarks for domestic and international clients, such as manufacturers in the machinery, food, and consumer goods industries. He is also an active member of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association.

MISUNO  Satoshi

Background

Having graduated in 2001 from the Department of International Trade, Faculty of Economics of Kanagawa University, he was employed in the food and service industry before becoming a Patent Attorney in 2011.
He subsequently worked approximately ten years for patent firms in Tokyo and Yokohama, where he developed extensive experience in domestic and international trademark prosecution, trademark portfolio management, and brand protection.
In 2026, he joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office, where his duties center on obtaining and protecting trademark rights in Japan and abroad as a member of the Trademark Section.

YOSHIMOTO  Hiroshi

Background

Hiroshi Yoshimoto worked for almost five years as an engineer in the Research and Development department of an information processing and communications company after receiving in 1982 his master’s degree in Engineering from Keio University.
After joining Kyowa in 1986, he passed the Japan Patent Attorney examination in 1988. At Kyowa, his duties include acquiring and maintaining of intellectual property rights in Japan and abroad in electrical devices, information processing and communications, printing and solar panels.

YOSHITAKE  KenjiCounsel

Background

Kenji Yoshitake worked for the Ministry of Transportation for six years after graduating from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law. He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 1972.
While handling intellectual property rights as an attorney at law and patent attorney, he was appointed president and chairman of the firm in 2001. He was registered as a candidate for the WIPO List of Neutrals and a candidate arbitrator with the Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center. He also served as the deputy chair of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) Committee on Intellectual Property Rights and as an instructor for training programs prior to being granted the right to represent clients in actions alleging specific infringement by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association. Through these activities, he has contributed to the development of theory and education concerning intellectual property infringement litigation and non-litigation dispute resolution procedures.
He served as a senior director and executive director of AIPPI Japan, working to achieve international harmonization of intellectual property systems. As chair of the Nakamatsu Memorial Scholarship Committee, he led a scholarship program to facilitate study of Japanese intellectual property by international students, and contributed to the development of intellectual property human resources in Asia.
In addition, he served as a member of APAA for ten years and as a member of the APAA Japan Group for nine years, energetically implementing anti-counterfeit measures in Asia.

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.

AGATA  YuzoCounsel

Background

After graduating from the Engineering Faculty of Tokyo Institute of Technology (renamed Institute of Science Tokyo) in 1972, Yuzo Agata joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 1972 and was registered as a patent attorney in 1974. In 2025 he rejoins Kyowa after managing his own patent firm.
He has acted for over 50 years in the field of intellectual property, advising and assisting in patent protection for domestic and overseas companies, mainly manufacturers of electrical and mechanical control devices.

SAKURAGI  NobuyoshiCounsel

Background

After graduating from the Faculty of Law of Kyushu University in 1967, he joined the IP Department of Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. (later Toshiba Corporation) where he handled patent licensing agreements.
He registered as a patent attorney in 1977 and was certified as a Specific Infringement Litigation Representative in 2007. In 1982, he was assigned as vice director of Toshiba Washington Patent Office where he coordinated with U.S. patent firms and researched the U.S. patent environment, which at the time was particularly challenging for Japanese companies due to the import exclusion orders under Section 337 of the U.S. Tariff Act.
After returning to Japan, he held various IP-related positions, including in strategic planning, software protection, design and trademark matters, before leaving Toshiba at the end of 1996.
He established Sakuragi Patent Office in January 1997, renamed it Sakuragi International Patent Office in 2013, and joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in December 2025.

Articles

• Japan Trademark Association (JTA): Vice President, Design Committee Chairman, member of International Committee
  Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APPA): Headquarters Director, Japan Division Director and Vice Chairman, Design Committee Member, Trademark Committee Member
  International Trademark Association (INTA): Member
  Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA): standing committee member, Executive Director, Trademark Committee member, Design Committee member