Languages: Japanese, English
Bar Admission: Japan (1997), Member of Tokyo Bar Association
Education: LL.B., Waseda University
International Study: Visiting Scholar, University of California, Berkeley (2001–2002)

About Masayuki Honda

Masayuki Honda is a distinguished Japanese attorney specializing in international family law, human rights, and cross-border legal matters. With over 25 years of legal experience, he has earned recognition for his leadership in international cooperation, judicial training, and human rights advocacy—particularly in protecting the rights of children and foreign nationals in Japan.

Mr. Honda serves as the official representative of JPBP and is listed with multiple foreign embassies, including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway, as a recommended English-speaking lawyer. His work spans Hague Convention cases, joint custody disputes, foreign judgment enforcement, cross-border criminal defense, and international human rights law.

Education

• LL.B. – Waseda University, Japan
• Visiting Scholar – University of California, Berkeley (2001–2002)

Bar Admission

• Admitted to the Bar, Japan (1997)
• Member, Tokyo Bar Association

Career Highlights

• 1997–Present: Member, Tokyo Bar Association Committee on the Protection of Foreigners’ Human Rights
• Legal Counselor, Tokyo Bar Association (Civil, Consumer, and Family Matters)
• 2000: Member, Judicial Survey Mission of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA) to Cambodia and Laos
• 2002–2005: Project Member, JFBA/JICA Cambodian Lawyer Training Project
• 2004–Present: Adviser, Electronic Commerce Promotion Council of Japan (ECOM)
• 2004–Present: Registered Bankruptcy Trustee, Tokyo District Court
• 2006: JFBA Representative, United Nations Assembly on the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (Vienna)
• 2008–Present: Legal Counselor, JFBA Traffic Accident Consultation Center
• 2009: Trainer, ILAC/IBA Program for Iraqi Lawyers on International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Prague, Czech Republic)
• 2010–Present: Guest Lecturer, Tokai University Law School
• 2014–Present: Listed Lawyer, JFBA Hague Convention Lawyer Referral Service
• Current: Listed Embassy Lawyer (US, UK, Australia, Canada, NZ, Norway); Registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Hague Child Return Assistance

Professional Focus

• International Divorce and Child Custody
• Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
• Joint Custody and Parental Rights under Japanese and International Law
• Human Rights of Foreign Nationals in Japan
• Cross-Border Criminal Defense and Not-Guilty Verdicts for Foreign Defendants
• Enforcement of Foreign Judgments
• International Investment and Accident Victim Relief

Background and Approach

Mr. Honda’s global outlook is shaped by his early years living in Bangkok, Thailand, and his career-long dedication to international collaboration and justice reform. His extensive participation in legal assistance projects with JICA and JFBA reflects a deep commitment to strengthening legal systems abroad and improving human rights protections in Japan.

He is known for combining strategic legal reasoning with empathy, especially in cases involving children caught in cross-border family conflicts. His work often bridges the gap between Japanese family law and international legal frameworks, making him a trusted advisor for clients navigating complex international disputes.

Major Cases and Legal Precedents

• Tokyo Family Court Judgment (March 29, 2021) – Private International Law (Published in Family Law and Judgment No. 38 & Hanrei Jiho No. 2527)
• Tokyo High Court Decision (September 3, 2020) – Hague Convention Case (Published in Family Law and Judgment No. 36)
• Tokyo District Court Judgment (June 17, 2019) – Hague Convention-related (Published in Hanrei Hisho)
• Tokyo District Court Judgment (May 25, 2017) – Foreign Judgment Recognition and Enforcement (Published in Hanrei Hisho)
• Tokyo High Court Decision (May 19, 2017) – Joint Custody, Private International Law (Published in Jurist No. 1523 and other legal journals)
• Chiba District Court Judgment (July 19, 2005) – Not-Guilty Verdict in Drug Smuggling Case (Published in Hanrei Times No. 1206)

Public Service and International Roles

• Official Representative, JPBP
• Listed Lawyer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Child Return Assistance to Foreign States)
• Lecturer and Mentor for Young Lawyers on International Human Rights and Family Law
• Speaker and Delegate in United Nations and international legal assemblies

Languages

• Japanese (Native)
• English (Fluent)

Philosophy

Representative Honda believes that justice transcends borders. His life’s work reflects the conviction that human dignity, fairness, and family integrity must remain central in all legal processes—especially those affecting children and foreign nationals navigating Japan’s legal system.