Our DE&I Activities

This page introduces the Japan Patent Attorneys Association's activities
related to DE&I.

Activities in Fiscal Year 2025

Seminar at Doshisha University for Students of Faculty of LawDetails

July 8, 2025
● DE&I and Patent Attorneys
“Attractiveness of the Profession of ‘Patent Attorney’” Lecturer: Ms. Keiko Kawakami, Patent Attorney

Discussion with Japan’s IP-related organizationsDetails

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).

Discussion with Japan’s IP-related organizations

STEM Career Introduction Event for Female StudentsDetails

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?.”

理工系分野の職場紹介(女子中高生・女子学生向け)イベント
理工系分野の職場紹介(女子中高生・女子学生向け)イベント

STEM Fields Career Introduction Event for Female StudentsDetails

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?”

STEM Fields Career Introduction Event for Female Students
STEM Fields Career Introduction Event for Female Students

Past Activities

Fiscal Year 2024

Seminar for Doshisha University Law StudentsDetails

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

Discussion with Prof. Daryl Lim, University of PennsylvaniaDetails

July 22, 2024

Discussion with Japan Federation of Bar AssociationsDetails

July 29, 2024

Discussion with Japan’s IP-related organizationsDetails

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).

Lecture Contents for Kyoto Women’s University Recurrent Education On-Demand CoursesDetails

Streaming started from October 2024
Kyoto Women’s University Recurrent Education On-Demand Courses “Career Development Seminar”
Lecturer: Ms. Akiko Kosaka, Patent Attorney

Lecture for Members as Training Program of the Japan Patent Attorneys AssociationDetails

October 24, 2024
“Trends in DE&I Promotion in the Intellectual Property Field”
Lecturer: Ms. Mai Miyaoka, the Japan Patent Office

Seminar for Kyoto Women’s University StudentsDetails

October 30, 2024
Kyoto Women’s University “Intellectual Property Rights and Patent Attorneys”
Lecturer: Ms. Hanae Endo, Patent Attorney; Mr. Yuichi Suganaga, Patent Attorney

Online presentation at the 1st Global Research Experts Meeting on Improving Gender and Diversity in IP and Innovation, organized by WIPODetails

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

DE&I Networking EventDetails

“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

DE&I Networking Event

DE&I seminar “Women in IP Meet up 25” co-hosted by the Japan Patent Office (JPO), Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group, and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion CommitteeDetails

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

Discussion with Japan’s IP-related organizationsDetails

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).

Discussion with Japan’s IP-related organizations

Fiscal Year 2023

Symposium “Encouraging Invention and Innovation by Promoting Diversity and Inclusion”Details

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

Discussion with the Japan Intellectual Property AssociationDetails

September 2023

Seminar for Students of Tokyo University of Marine Science and TechnologyDetails

November 2023

Seminar Introducing the Profession of Patent Attorneys for Students of Tokyo Metropolitan Osaki High SchoolDetails

November 2023

Presentation by Members of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association “Diversity as a Contributor to Patent Firm Management”.Details

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.

Seminar for Science and Engineering Students at the University of TokyoDetails

March 2024

Fiscal Year 2022

Seminar “Innovation and the SDGsDetails

June 2022
Lecturer: Ms. Reiko Sodeno, Professor, Department of Environmental Systems, Faculty of Systems Science and Engineering, Shibaura Institute of Technology

Monthly magazine “Patent”, Special Feature ≪Diversity≫Details

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

Questionnaire Survey for Foreign IP FirmDetails

We received insights from local representatives in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and China, regarding work styles, workplace environments, and diversity.

Presentation on Diversity in the Intellectual Property Industry by Members of the Japan Patent Attorneys AssociationDetails

October 2022
Various patent attorneys shared how they support innovations through promoting diversity within the field of Intellectual Property.

Seminar at Saitama UniversityDetails

December 2022

Seminar for Junior and Senior High School Students of Kobe CollegeDetails

December 2022

Declaration of Support for Diversity and Inclusion, the Patent Attorneys AssociationDetails

Declaration on January 24, 2023

Discussion with Japan Intellectual Property AssociationDetails

February 2023

Networking Meetings for MembersDetails

March 2023

Talk Event to Commemorate International Women’s Day Co-hosted by the Japan Patent Attorneys Association and WIPO Japan OfficeDetails

March 2023

Fiscal Year 2021

Establishment of the Diversity Promotion Committee*Details

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

Networking Meetings for Female MembersDetails

November 2021

Discussions with the Japan Patent OfficeDetails

November 2021

Seminar at Saitama UniversityDetails

December 2021

Back to DE&I top
Back to the top of the page