Kaname Partners US, PC.

Registration

Japan (Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association)
, California, USA
, New York State, USA

Affiliation

First Tokyo Bar Association Children's Law Committee
First Tokyo Bar Association Family Law Committee
First Tokyo Bar Association Judicial Reform Promotion Center Study Group on IT Implementation of Court Procedures
Tokyo Bar Association Legal Services Joint Center AI Subcommittee
California Lawyers Association
New York State Bar Association

book

• "Practical Aspects of Civil Jury Trials in California Courts (Parts 1 & 2)" (NBL No. 1249 (September 1, 2023) and No. 1250 (September 15, 2023))
• "It's Okay to Receive Consultations Tomorrow! Basics and Practices of Criminal and Juvenile Cases" (Nihon Kajo Shuppan, co-authored)
• "Considering the Future of AI Lawyers and Human Lawyers" (Interface [CQ Publishing] July 2018 issue)
• "Protection of Assets and Inheritance Using Trusts" (Family Register Journal, March 2017, Vol. 751)
• A Guide to Juvenile Cases: Before Meeting a Juvenile for the First Time (Co-authored by the First Tokyo Bar Association)
• An Introduction to Juvenile Detention Centers for Attendants [2nd Edition] (Co-authored by the First Tokyo Bar Association)
• Juvenile Case Handbook (Seirin Shoin, co-authored)

Lectures etc

• "The Basics of Drafting and Reviewing English Contracts!" (Business Lawyers, July 2024)
• “Estate Planning & Wills Webinar & Workshop” (April 2021 Cornell University)
• "How to use words to improve work efficiency" (Tokyo Bar Association, September 2019)
• "Explanation of the Revised Inheritance Law (Wills / Succession of Rights and Obligations / Execution of Wills)" (July 2019, Tokyo Certified Public Tax Accountants Association)
• "Legal Challenges and Contractual Checkpoints When Utilizing AI" (June 2018, Globis University Tokyo)
• "Legal Challenges and Contractual Checkpoints When Utilizing AI" (2nd AI EXPO Public Seminar, April 2018)
• "Difficulties in Debt Collection and Countermeasures" (May 2016, BG PLUS MEDIA Co., Ltd. Win-Win Japan Seminar for Supporting Foreign Business Owners)
• Recent Trends in the "Vacant House Problem" (August 2015, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. Seminar)
• "Preparation and Solutions for Successful Inheritance" (Yokohama Bank)
• Moral education class (Waseda Jitsugyo Junior High School)
• Bullying prevention classes (elementary, junior high, and high schools in Tokyo)

01. Consultation in native Japanese

Attorney Ryosuke Toki is a native Japanese speaker, having grown up in Kobe and Yokohama, and can provide consultations in fluent Japanese.
Being bilingual, he can handle all aspects of legal work, ensuring smooth and efficient handling of legal and court cases without language barriers.

02. California-based comprehensive legal services

We specialize in legal and court cases within California.
While we often hear of bilingual lawyers lacking courtroom experience, lawyer Ryosuke Toki has experience in courtroom activities and provides practical, hands-on services rather than just paper-based advice.

03. Extensive practical experience within Japan

I registered as a lawyer in Japan in 2012 and have since worked for over 10 years at a Japanese law firm, handling domestic cases. Therefore, I possess knowledge of both Japanese and American law and practices, allowing me to provide a wide range of guidance. I am flexible and can handle various cases

Even if you don't want to, you may find yourself facing legal problems. You'll likely be confused by specialized legal terminology and procedures that you're not familiar with, even in Japanese. If that's in the United States, which isn't your home country, and in English, which isn't your native language, that confusion will be immeasurable

While there are many lawyers in Japan who can provide consultation in Japanese, it's not so easy when you're abroad. Even if you find a lawyer who speaks Japanese as a second language, their background and culture may differ from that of a Japanese person, leading to situations where you can't help but feel they have a different perspective

I registered as a lawyer in Japan in 2012 and have since handled a wide range of cases in Tokyo, including not only corporate-related matters but also civil litigation, inheritance, real estate, divorce, traffic accidents, criminal cases, and juvenile cases. I was born and raised in Japan and hold both Japanese and American lawyer qualifications. I am known for my friendly demeanor, approachability, and quick response time. Of course, I can provide consultations in native Japanese, so please feel free to contact me

Although we are based in Irvine, California, we offer consultations by phone and online (via Zoom, etc.), so you can consult with us regardless of where you live

We have listed some typical examples below, but please feel free to contact us if you are facing any legal issues. You will understand the peace of mind that comes from being able to consult with a Japanese lawyer who shares your language and cultural background once you have a consultation

divorce

One of the most common topics I receive inquiries about from Japanese people is divorce

A particularly common type of divorce case involves a Japanese national and an American citizen who are married, live in California, and decide to divorce, but have not reached an agreement with each other regarding property division, spousal support, child support, etc

There are many differences in laws and regulations between Japan and California, not just regarding divorce. A prime example of a major difference is spousal support. In Japan, the obligation to pay spousal support only arises during the marriage (once a divorce is finalized, the obligation ceases). However, in California, spousal support (commonly known as alimony), which has the same nature as spousal support in Japan, continues to be paid even after divorce. This creates a significant difference in the rights and obligations between spouses depending on whether Japanese or California law is applied

Another example is child support. In Japan, if child support is not paid, the parent requesting the support (the parent raising the child) must take steps to recover it (such as negotiations and enforcement procedures; if the amount of child support has not been determined, negotiations and mediation for that amount may also be necessary). If the whereabouts of the other party's assets are unknown, that must also be investigated. Since it is difficult to handle all procedures and investigations on one's own, people often hire lawyers, which can result in the amount of child support being reduced by the amount of legal fees

In California, on the other hand, there is a government agency called the Department of Child Support Service that handles the collection of child support payments. If the amount of child support has not been determined, they will file lawsuits and make legal arguments on your behalf, so you can secure child support without having to hire a lawyer. In addition, California has penalties for failing to pay child support, such as the suspension of your driver's license, so the system is designed to make it easier to collect child support compared to Japan

In California, there is no such thing as a divorce by mutual agreement through a divorce registration form, as is the case in Japan. Even if both parties agree to divorce, they must still file a divorce petition with the family court and obtain a divorce through a court judgment

Another potential problem in cross-border marriages is child abduction. In California, joint custody is the principle even after divorce, so even if one parent has custody, they are not allowed to leave the country without the consent of the other parent. If a petition is filed under the Hague Convention, the child may be brought back to California, and this is also considered international kidnapping under federal law, the International Child Abduction Act. Please keep this in mind when returning to Japan temporarily or traveling abroad

As you can see, there are many situations where procedures differ from those in Japan, and many problems that arise precisely because it is an international matter. Before you worry about it alone for a long time, please feel free to contact us for a consultation

inheritance

Inheritance laws also differ in many ways between Japan and California

First, Japan has a family register and resident registration system, so it is relatively easy to find out who the heirs are and where they live. On the other hand, California does not have a family register or resident registration system, so it is not easy to find out the existence and whereabouts of heirs, and one has to rely on various pieces of information to investigate. There are even companies that specialize in investigating heirs

In California, even if a will exists, probate (similar to the will probate procedure in Japan) must always be filed with the family court. In Japan, the will probate procedure is only required for holographic wills kept by the testator themselves (court proceedings are not required for notarized wills or holographic wills deposited with the Legal Affairs Bureau), so the procedures are significantly different

As mentioned above, in California there is no official way to confirm who the heirs are. Therefore, during probate proceedings, information such as "Mr./Ms. XX has passed away, and probate proceedings will be held on XX date at XX court" is published in newspapers to give those who may be heirs the opportunity to participate in the court proceedings. As a result, anyone can find out when probate proceedings are held, and the probate proceedings themselves are open to the public, so information such as what kind of will was left and what assets are covered by the will also becomes public. This is why there is a joke that when a celebrity dies, many people raise their hands and say, "I'm their illegitimate child."

This probate process not only involves the disclosure of information, but it also takes a long time to complete. Many people create a trust to avoid this

Furthermore, it is common to create a Power of Attorney (POA), similar to a letter of authorization in Japan, in case one becomes unable to make decisions regarding their own finances or health. In Japan, however, the only way to deal with such situations is through the guardianship system, which requires procedures at the family court, so this is another significant difference

Preparing for retirement by creating a will, trust, and POA (Provision of Ownership Agreement) is called estate planning. It is a common retirement and inheritance planning method in the United States, and many lawyers handle it

Japanese citizens who own assets (bank accounts or real estate) in Japan need to be aware of one more thing: even if you create a will or trust in California, the procedure for changing the name on the property in Japan becomes extremely complicated. For assets in Japan, please make sure to create a notarized will in accordance with Japanese law. A consul at the consulate general can perform the duties of a notary public (Article 984 of the Civil Code), so it is possible to create a notarized will even if you are in California

I am a licensed lawyer in Japan and have handled many inheritance cases in Japan, so I have extensive knowledge of procedures based on Japanese law. I am also well aware of the points of concern and considerations unique to Japanese people, so please feel free to consult with me

 

business

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With the recent trend of globalization, you may find yourself dealing with foreign companies as trading partners, or users based overseas, increasing your exposure to English and foreign regulations. When foreign law is specified as the legal basis for a contract, you must review that law to avoid unforeseen risks. Personal data regulations are becoming stricter worldwide, so for example, if a user resides in Europe, you need to check the GDPR, and if they reside in California, you need to check the CCPA, and confirm that the requirements are met

In California, employment contracts are generally at-will, meaning that either the employer or the employee can terminate (fire) the contract at any time. However, this does not mean that employers can freely fire employees whenever they are dissatisfied. For example, the United States is a country with very strict laws against discrimination. California is no exception, and if it is determined that there was a discriminatory element in the reason for dismissal, the dismissal may be deemed invalid, and the employer may be subject to a claim for damages. In particular, if the dismissal is deemed malicious, depending on the severity of the offense and the size of the company, substantial punitive damages may be awarded, so caution is necessary

There are many lawyers in Japan who hold foreign legal qualifications. They can likely handle legal matters, regulations, and contract review without any problems. However, if you become involved in a dispute or lawsuit abroad, you will definitely need a local lawyer

So, is it sufficient to consult with a local lawyer in English? Even if it were in Japanese, would you be able to fully understand all the unfamiliar legal terminology and procedures? What if it's America, which isn't your home country, and English isn't your native language? Even if there is a lawyer who speaks Japanese as a second language, if they were born and raised in a different environment and culture in Japan, there will inevitably be many situations where a Japanese person will feel that they have a different perspective. I believe we must avoid misunderstandings due to communication errors

I registered as a lawyer in Japan in 2012 and have since handled a wide range of cases in Tokyo, including not only corporate-related matters but also civil litigation, inheritance, real estate, divorce, traffic accidents, criminal cases, and juvenile cases. I was born and raised in Japan and hold both Japanese and American lawyer qualifications. I am known for my friendly demeanor, approachability, and quick response time. Of course, I can provide consultations in native Japanese, so please feel free to contact me

My particular strengths include being based in Irvine, California, and having experience in courtroom defense (civil, family, and criminal cases), giving me a deep understanding of local judicial practices. Furthermore, living locally allows me to experience the local culture on a daily basis