This page introduces the Japan Patent Attorneys Association's activities
related to DE&I.
May 13, 2026
(Participate in only Session on Public-Private Partnership held on May 13th)
The DE&I Promotion Committee of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association together with the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) reported on our activities.
July 8, 2025
● DE&I and Patent Attorneys
“Attractiveness of the Profession of ‘Patent Attorney’” Lecturer: Ms. Keiko Kawakami, Patent Attorney
July 23, 2025
The DE&I Promotion Committee of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association held a discussion with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) Design Management Project and the DE&I Society Working Group of the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA).
August 6–7, 2025
Ms. Ohda Akari, patent attorney, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee, participated as a speaker in the “Girls Meet STEM Tour,” hosted by the Japan Patent Office. The session was titled “Discover at the JPO: What Kind of Jobs Protect Our Important Ideas?.”
August 27, 2025
Ms. Makino Hitomi, patent attorney, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee, participated as a speaker in the “Girls Meet STEM Tour,” hosted by the Japan Patent Office. The session was titled “Discover at the National Museum of Nature and Science! What Kind of Jobs Protect Our Important Ideas?”
Oct. 29, 2025
At the Yomiuri Shimbun endowed course, Mr. Takuji Kato, patent attorney and Ms. Hitomi Makino, patent attorney gave a lecture titled “DE&I and Patent Attorneys” to undergraduate students in their 1st through 4th years and continuing education students.
November 5, 2025
Lecturers：
Shosu Masashi (Mr.), Patent Attorney at DKS Co. Ltd.
“Patent Attorneys Advancing Their Careers Within Corporations”
Kanako Onishi (Ms.), Patent Attorney at Harness IP.
“Building a Multifaceted IP Career Through Overseas Relocation: Working at a U.S. Patent Law Firm”
Takashi Tsurumi (Mr.), Patent Attorney at Nisshin Seifun Welna Inc.
“Diversity in the Life and Work of a Patent Attorney Whose Spouse Is Assigned Overseas”
January 28, 2026
Part 1: Panel Discussion
Motivations for Joining Committee Work
Strategies for Balancing Work, Life, and Committee Activities
Challenges and Solutions
Messages to Aspiring Committee Members
Lecturers：
Yuriko HAMADA (Ms.), Patent Attorney
Keiko HONDA (Ms.), Patent Attorney
Keiko KAWAKAMI (Ms.), Patent Attorney
Miho IKEGAMI (Ms.), Patent Attorney
Part 2: Workshop & Presentation
Part 3: Open Networking Time
January 30, 2026
The DE&I Promotion Committee of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association hosted a seminar for its members, featuring a guest speaker from the Gender Equality Bureau of the Cabinet Office of Japan.
In the seminar, the representative from the Cabinet Office provided an in-depth explanation of the latest “Basic Plan for Gender Equality,” Japan’s current nationwide initiative, and delivered a lecture on the active participation of women in the economic sector.
Following this, the DE&I Promotion Committee gave a presentation outlining the findings of their ongoing studies. This included the value that DE&I brings to the field of intellectual property, as well as the current status and challenges facing the JPAA.
Program Overview
Part 1: Keynote Speech by the Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office
● Speaker: Mr. Ichiro Tekuramori, Director, Promotion Division, Gender Equality Bureau, Cabinet Office
● Topics:
o Japan’s Current Basic Plan for Gender Equality
o Women’s empowerment and active participation in the economic field
o Q&A Session
Part 2: Presentation by the DE&I Promotion Committee
● Speakers: Mr. Masahiro Takashita & Ms. Miho Ikegami, Executive Directors in charge of the DE&I Promotion Committee
● Topics:
o The objectives of DE&I and its value to Intellectual Property
o Current status and challenges of the JPAA
o Discussion and Q&A Session
February 2, 2026
The DE&I Promotion Committee of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association held a discussion with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) Design Management Project and the DE&I Society Working Group of the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA).
July 9, 2024
Doshisha University Faculty of Law Special Lecture
Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Attorneys
– Attractiveness of the Profession of “Patent Attorney” – Lecturer: Ms. Keiko Kawakami, Patent Attorney
July 22, 2024
July 29, 2024
July 31, 2024
The DE&I Promotion Committee of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association held a discussion with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) Design Management Project and the DE&I Society Working Group of the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA).
Streaming started from October 2024
Kyoto Women’s University Recurrent Education On-Demand Courses “Career Development Seminar”
Lecturer: Ms. Akiko Kosaka, Patent Attorney
October 24, 2024
“Trends in DE&I Promotion in the Intellectual Property Field”
Lecturer: Ms. Mai Miyaoka, the Japan Patent Office
October 30, 2024
Kyoto Women’s University “Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Attorneys”
Lecturer: Ms. Hanae Endo, Patent Attorney; Mr. Yuichi Suganaga, Patent Attorney
November 25, 2024
“First IPGAP Global Research Experts Meeting on Improving Gender and Diversity in IP and Innovation” hosted by WIPO
“Report on Questionnaire Survey on Diversity in the Japan Patent Attorneys Association”
Lecturer: Ms. Mami Hino, Patent Attorney, the DE&I Promotion Committee, JPAA
Credit: WIPO/Berrod
“Diversity Also Matters for In-house Patent Attorneys”
January 15, 2025
■ Lecturers
Shosu Masashi (Mr.), Patent Attorney at DKS Co. Ltd.
Sakurai Rie (Ms.), Patent Attorney at KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Tanaka Nobuo (Mr.), Patent Attorney at Yokogawa Electric Corporation
January 24, 2025
■Keynote Speech
“Japan’s Current Status and Issues Concerning the Promotion of Women’s Activities and Expectations for the Intellectual Property Industry”
Ms. Miko Oyama, Keidanren, the Japan Business Federation
■Panel Discussion:
“How to Create a Career for Women in the Intellectual Property Industry?”
Panelists
Ms. Mina Asano , Japan Patent Office
Mr. Masahiro Takashita, Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Mr. Yuki Yato, Sony Intellectual Property Services Corporation
February 19, 2025
The DE&I Promotion Committee of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association held a discussion with the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) Design Management Project and the DE&I Society Working Group of the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA).
June 2023
Keynote Speech: Prof. Colleen V. Chien (Santa Clara University School of Law)
Panel Discussion: Ms. Toshiko Takenaka, Mr. Kensuke Hirota, Ms. Kyoko Izumi, Mr. Taichiro Okayama, Ms. Rumi Ichikawa
For the event report Click here
September 2023
November 2023
November 2023
January 2024
Following FY2022, several members shared their experiences and knowledge about positive effects produced by incorporating D&I into the management of their firm.
March 2024
June 2022
Lecturer: Ms. Reiko Sodeno, Professor, Department of Environmental Systems, Faculty of Systems Science and Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology
June 2022 Issue
The June 2022 issue of monthly magazine “Patent”, the journal of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association, featured “Diversity” and four articles on diversity.
・Report: Report of Diversity Survey in JPAA（2022）— Diversity Promotion Committee 2021 Research and Study Group
・Report: Discussion: Promotion of Diversity in the Intellectual Property Industry — Diversity Promotion Committee 2021
・Report: Talk between Former Chief Justice of the IP High Court TAKABE Makiko and JPAA President SUGIMURA Junko — Diversity Promotion Committee 2021
・Introduction: A Korean Patent Attorney Trying to Find a Job in the Japanese IP Industry － The Benefits of and Difficulties in Accepting Foreign Human Resources － KIM Jin Baek, MIN Tae Ho
We received insights from local representatives in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and China, regarding work styles, workplace environments, and diversity.
October 2022
Various patent attorneys shared how they support innovations through promoting diversity within the field of Intellectual Property.
December 2022
December 2022
Declaration on January 24, 2023
February 2023
March 2023
March 2023
April 2021
The Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) established the Diversity Promotion Committee with the aim of enabling all patent attorneys to play an active and vigorous role in the profession, thereby enhancing the JPAA’s contribution to the society and improving its status in the society.
*”Diversity & Equity Promotion Committee” from April 2023, “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Promotion Committee” from April 2024
A questionnaire survey on diversity was conducted for all members. The results of the survey were published in the June 2022 issue of monthly magazine “Patent”.
November 2021
November 2021
December 2021
