Entertainment and IP rights clearance and negotiations

After graduating from Waseda University, I began my career at the record label Pony Canyon (“PC”), working in audio-visual content production. I later moved to an advertising agency, and eventually left to pursue entertainment law at Cardozo Law School in New York, where I earned an LL.M. at my own expense, along with a Certificate in Entertainment Marketing from New York University.

Since then, I have drafted and negotiated a wide range of agreements, handled licensing matters, and advised entertainment, IT, and content-related companies—providing support across both legal and publicity aspects of their business.

After obtaining my attorney license in California, I established an office in Los Angeles in addition to my practice in Japan. Both offices provide comprehensive support for entertainment-related matters, and I work seamlessly across jurisdictions as needed.

Services are available in both Japanese and English.

Copyright and other rights clearance

I provide comprehensive support for copyright clearance and other IP-related matters, including rights clearance for artists, songs, and digital content; infringement prevention and negotiation; trade secret and know-how protection; and the structuring and drafting of license agreements. My experience spans not only entertainment practices and industry customs, but also broader legal frameworks, allowing me to advise with both practical and strategic insight.

Regarding copyright:

In Japan, a creator automatically becomes the copyright owner at the moment of creation, and registration with the Agency for Cultural Affairs is not required to obtain rights or to file a lawsuit. Registration can be useful as evidence when works are copied or used without permission, but unlike in the United States—where registration is generally a prerequisite to filing suit—Japan does not require it for litigation.

In Japan, I believe that time and resources are better spent on how to protect and utilize creative works—whether copyrighted or not—and on structuring license agreements that clearly define how those works may be used. Registration may have value, but it is not a substitute for strategic protection and utilization.

Personal information, privacy, consumer protection

With the rise of content platforms such as social media, YouTube, and TikTok, influencers can now monetize their activities more easily, and the use of AI has become standard across industries. As these developments expand, so do legal concerns—including privacy, personal data protection, and consumer rights.

I provide consultation on a wide range of Internet and platform-related matters, including privacy and data protection issues, drafting privacy policies for content distribution, and preparing terms of use that comply with consumer protection requirements.

Publicity, Advertising, Performance Visas and Labor Issues

Having spent the first half of my career in advertising and public relations, I continue to advise on content strategy, corporate branding, publicity matters, and the preparation of pitch and presentation materials. I also assist artists, athletes, and fashion models who travel to Japan or the United States for concerts, competitions, or events and require the appropriate residency status for performance activities. In the United States, these procedures typically involve O or P visa classifications, while in Japan they fall under a “performance” status (a category commonly handled by certified administrative procedures specialists).

With respect to labor issues, including unfair dismissal, my experience as the Japan representative of a recruiting agency for five years and as legal counsel at both Japanese and international IT companies allows me to provide practical guidance grounded in a clear understanding of employment practices.

If your matter would be better addressed by another professional, I can connect you with trusted specialists through my office’s one-stop professional network.

Recent case

This will be an iconic case regarding AI copyright for fair use.

Excerpt from https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/court-definitively-rejects-fair-use-3114969/

Thomson Reuters v. ROSS – Thomson Reuters sued ROSS for unlawfully copying and using Westlaw, Thomson Reuters’ legal research platform, for the purpose of training its AI-based platform. The court ruled on February 11, 2025 that ROSS’s copying was not fair use, emphasizing the fact that ROSS’s copying was intended to create a product that directly competed with the platform.