Sustainability and Web3: Can Web3 become a sustainable social infrastructure?

Introduction We are entering a new era of decentralized internet—Web3—driven by advancements such as blockchain-based payment networks and tokenized ecosystems. While this era can feel exciting and full of promise, it also raises key concerns: can the next phase of decentralized internet become a sustainable part of our social infrastructure? Over the course of this […]

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Masahiro Ohba has joined the firm and is currently working at our Akasaka Office.

Masahiro Ohba has joined the firm and is currently working at our Akasaka Office.

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Digital Asset Treasury Strategies and Legal Issues – Practical Considerations for Japanese Companies

1. Introduction: What is a Digital Asset Treasury Strategy? A digital asset treasury (“DAT”) strategy refers to a company’s approach to holding and managing digital assets (often referred to as “crypto assets” in Japan) as part of its corporate balance sheet. It incorporates digital assets into the portfolio as an alternative to, or complement to, […]

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AI Agents, Web3 AI Agents, and Japanese Law

In this article, we will introduce AI agents, which have been gaining popularity since 2025, by explaining (1) what an AI agent is, (2) what Web3 AI agents are, and (3) the legal issues surrounding AI agents. Because AI agents can take over any job, when considering the relationship between AI agents and the law, […]

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Crypto Payments and Japanese Law (2nd Edition)

I. Introduction As the price of cryptocurrencies rises, Bitcoin has established itself as “digital gold.”Bitcoin and stablecoins are rapidly becoming popular for everyday payments, particularly in South America and Africa, where financial infrastructure is insufficient. For example, in El Salvador, Bitcoin has been adopted as legal tender and is also used for tax payments and […]

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Osaka Expo: The legal issues of flying cars

I. Introduction Recently, I visited the “Flying Car Station” at the Osaka Kansai Expo and experienced the flying car exhibits. (Reference: https://www.expo2025.or.jp/future-index/smart-mobility/advanced-air-mobility / ) Figure1: A realistic flying car While the pavilion is open to visitors without reservations, those who make a reservation in advance can board a parked flying car and experience a video […]

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ACCELERATING INNOVATION IN BUSINESS, FINANCE, AND TECHNOLOGY.

Combining years of experience in the field of corporate deals and capital markets with an in-depth understanding of new technologies we are uniquely positioned to develop innovative solutions for our clients.

Services

The FinTech industry is without doubt one of the most dynamic industries globally. Sitting at the intersection between traditional finance and technology it is also one of the most complex regulatory areas. We enjoy working in this environment and are consistently ranked among the top FinTech lawyers in Japan.

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Mergers and acquisitions are key strategies for companies to stimulate growth, gain a competitive advantage and increase their market share. We assist our clients in structuring their deals, setting up joint ventures and help them with their general corporate matters. Our clients range from early stage start-ups to established national and international players.

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Our lawyers have worked for leading law firms in the US, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore for many years and have a wealth of experience in debt and equity issues, derivatives and structured products. Having a strong foothold in FinTech, we are further ideally positioned to help our clients to stay ahead of the curve and to drive financial innovation.

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Our services cover the whole lifecycle of funds and range from the structuring and formation to capital raising, investment, operation management, and liquidations. We further assist foreign funds with their regulatory matters and portfolio investments in Japan.

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Companies developing or deploying cutting-edge technologies do not only require specialized knowledge of the respective technologies but also an in-depth understanding of the legal risks and the regulatory environment. Our lawyers constantly expand their knowledge to stay ahead of the curve and advise clients on matters relating to product regulation, IP and personal data protection.

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Asia Business Law Journal
Awarded in the “Technology, Media & Telecommunications” category in 2023 Japan Law Firm Awards

Awarded in the “FinTech” and “Technology, Media & Telecommunications” categories in 2024 Japan Law Firm Awards

Best Lawyers
So Saito:

Recognized for Financial Institution Regulatory Law and FinTech Practice (2021–2023)
Recognized for Banking and Finance Law, Financial Institution Regulatory Law, and FinTech Practice (2024–2026)

Yuki Sato:
Recognized for Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law (2022–2026)

Chambers & Partners
So Saito has been ranked as a Top FinTech Lawyer from 2019 to 2025.

Legal 500 Asia Pacific
Our firm received high recognition in the “FinTech” and “Investment Funds” categories.

So Saito: Leading Individual in the “FinTech” category (2022–2025)
Yuki Sato: Recognized in the “Investment Funds” category (2022–2025)

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