Office: Mugita Law Office
Address: 2-14-13, #601, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 102-0051, Japan
Phone: +81 3 5562 0571
Fax: +81 3 5562 9481
Email: imazatok@tkh.att.ne.jp

About Keiko Imazato

Keiko Imazato is a highly respected Tokyo-based attorney specializing in international family law and cross-border dispute resolution. Admitted to practice in Japan (1988) and the State of New York (1996), Keiko brings over three decades of experience in complex international family, custody, and Hague Convention matters. Her expertise and leadership have established her as one of Japan’s foremost authorities on international divorce, child custody, and mediation.

Keiko holds degrees from Kyoto University (BA) and George Washington University (LL.M.). Her dual qualification and cross-cultural experience allow her to represent both Japanese and foreign clients with clarity, empathy, and global perspective.

Professional Highlights

• Admitted: Japan (1988); State of New York, USA (1996)
• Chair, Hague Convention Committee – Tokyo Bar Association
• Member, Family Law Committee – Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
• Committee Member – National Bar Examination (International Private Law), Ministry of Justice of Japan
• Certified Trust Practitioner – Member, Civil Trust Centre
• Mediator/Conciliator – Tokyo Summary Court, Tokyo Bar Association ADR Center, MiKK (Germany), Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC), and Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office

Practice Areas

• International Family Law and Cross-Border Divorce
• Hague Convention and Child Abduction Cases
• International Child Custody, Visitation, and Relocation
• Collaborative Law and Mediation
• Child Support and Spousal Maintenance
• Property Division and Financial Settlements
• Pre- and Post-Nuptial Agreements
• Adoption, Surrogacy, and Same-Sex Partnerships
• Emergency Procedures and Injunctions
• Enforcement of Custody, Support, and Property Orders
• Parentage and Paternity Disputes
• Trusts and Asset Protection

Leadership and Contributions

Keiko is widely recognized for her pioneering role in bringing mediation and collaborative practice into Japan’s international family law framework. She has worked extensively with both Japanese and global mediation institutions to promote constructive, non-adversarial dispute resolution in cross-border family conflicts.

As Chair of the Hague Convention Committee of the Tokyo Bar Association, Keiko has advised on numerous high-profile child abduction cases under the 1980 Hague Convention. She also serves as an expert witness in international relocation cases and provides testimony for courts and government agencies abroad.

Her professional philosophy centers on protecting the best interests of the child and fostering solutions that respect cultural diversity, family integrity, and human dignity.

Education

• LL.B. – Kyoto University, Japan
• LL.M. – George Washington University, USA

Languages

• English (Fluent)
• Japanese (Native)
• French (Proficient)

Approach and Values

Keiko combines legal precision with cultural understanding, providing clients with transparent, practical, and compassionate guidance through emotionally complex situations. Whether representing parents in cross-border custody disputes or mediating delicate international divorces, her mission is to achieve fair, sustainable, and humane outcomes for all parties involved.

Professional Philosophy

“Family law is not just about rights—it’s about relationships. In every case, my goal is to restore balance, dignity, and understanding between people, across cultures and borders.”