Profiles ｜ Kyowa Patent and Law Office

KASHIWA  Nobuyuki

Background

After graduating from the University of Tokyo (licensed as 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. He handles various types of litigations and disputes.
He is a member of the Reviewers’ Committee of AIPPI Japan Group Journals while engaging in various AIPPI activities.

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 Tokyo Institute of Technology’s School of Engineering (Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering), 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.

IMAOKA  Tomoki

Background

Tomoki Imaoka graduated from Waseda University’s Department of Law in 1993, after which he worked for a precision equipment manufacturer for four and a half years. He enrolled in the University of Nottingham’s master’s program in international environmental law in 1997, where he studied global warming and environmental pollution international laws.
After graduating from the master’s program in 2000, he worked for a patent and law firm and was engaged in clerical work in patent and trademarks. He passed the patent attorney’s examination in 2004.
As a patent attorney, he has been engaged in trademark applications and trademark rights acquisition services for machinery and pharmaceutical products manufacturers. He joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office in 2006. At Kyowa, leveraging his language skills, he provides a variety of services, including trademark rights acquisition and handling of infringements and disputes related to trademark rights in Japan and overseas for various clients, with a focus on foreign corporations such as global automobile manufacturers.
He is also actively involved in trade activities such as participating in the JAFBIC Trademark Committee and in practical workshops at the Japan Trademark Association.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

SUZUKI  Izumi

Background

After graduating from Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts’ Faculty of Liberal Arts (Department of English), Izumi Suzuki studied assistance for developing countries, obtaining MAs from Nagoya University’s Graduate School of International Development and the School of Development Studies of the University of East Anglia in the UK. Returning to Japan, she worked in official development assistance at consulting firms and implementing agencies for about 15 years.
In 2019, she registered as a patent attorney and joined Kyowa Patent and Law Office, where she works in trademark services.