Firm: Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Languages: Japanese, English
Website: Under maintenance

About Kenji Yano

Kenji Yano is a partner at Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office and one of Japan’s leading experts in international family law. With deep experience in cross-border divorce, custody disputes, relocation, Hague Convention cases, and complex financial matters, Kenji has built a global reputation for excellence and cross-cultural legal understanding.

He regularly represents both Japanese and international clients in family disputes that span multiple jurisdictions, providing litigation, mediation, and arbitration services with clarity, empathy, and precision. Kenji is a Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL) and a member of the International Society of Family Law (ISFL), reflecting his global standing in this highly specialized field.

Education

• LL.B., Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Law (2007)
• J.D., Kobe University School of Law (2009)
• LL.M. in Human Rights Law, University College London (UCL), UK (2018)

Professional Background

• Attorney, Usui & Partners (Tokyo, 2011–2017)
• Associate, Dawson Cornwell (London, 2019)
• Partner, Tokyo Public Law Office – Foreign and International Service Section (FISS) (2020)
• Co-founder, Tokyo Kokusai Partners Law Office (2021–present)

Areas of Expertise

• International and Cross-Border Divorce
• Child Custody and Parental Responsibility
• Relocation and International Child Abduction (Hague Convention)
• Complex Financial and Property Disputes
• Alternative Dispute Resolution and Family Arbitration
• Cases Involving Foreign Nationals in Japan

Professional Memberships and Roles

• Fellow, International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
• Member, Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)
• Deputy Chairman, Hague Convention Committee – Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association
• Vice-Chairman, International Family Affairs ADR Subcommittee, Arbitration Center
• Member, Family Law and Human Rights Committees, Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association
• Listed Attorney, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Hague Convention on Child Abduction)
• Listed Family Law Specialist, Australian Embassy in Japan
• English-Speaking Lawyer, United States and United Kingdom Embassies in Japan
• Member, International Society of Family Law (ISFL)
• Member, Society for the Study of Family and Law (Japan)
• Member, International Private Law Association (Japan)

Public and Community Service

• Member, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Network Conference on Spousal Violence (since 2023)
• Member, Musashino City Board of Education Bullying Countermeasures Committee (since 2023)
• Member, Fathering Japan (NPO)

Publications and Research

Kenji has published widely in Japan and internationally, contributing to legal scholarship on the best interests of the child, relational welfare theory, and comparative family law. His research explores how the principles of care ethics and relational theory can inform the practice of family law, particularly in custody and welfare cases.

Selected Publications

• Contributor: Chambers Global Practice Guides – Child Relocation 2025 (sole contributor from Japan)
• A Relational Welfare Approach to Child Contact, Hanrei Jiho, No.2417 (2019)
• The Best Interests of Children in England & Wales – From Individualistic Understanding to Relational Understanding, Nihon Hyoronsha (2020)
• Report on Custody and Parental Responsibility in Australia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2019)
• Divorce of Vietnamese Nationals and its Resolution, Koseki Jiho Journal, Vol.832 (2022)
• Joint Custody and Child-Rearing Plans for Children of Foreign-National Couples, Koseki Jiho Journal, Vol.850 (2024)
• Practical Q&A: 142 Questions on International Family Law Cases, Nippon Kajo Publishing (2024)

International Experience

• Arbitrator in international family law arbitration proceedings seated in Singapore
• Expert witness on Japanese family law before courts and authorities in the UK, Australia, Canada, the US, and South Africa

Approach and Philosophy

Kenji is recognized for his calm, analytical, and empathetic approach. He provides clients with clear legal strategies tailored to their cultural and emotional circumstances. His practice emphasizes cross-cultural understanding, international cooperation, and respect for family integrity.

Through his commitment to both the law and the human side of family disputes, Kenji strives to help clients navigate difficult transitions with dignity and clarity. His guiding belief: “A well-informed client makes the best decisions.”

Languages

• Japanese (Native)
• English (Fluent)