PATENT ATTORNEYS
Representative PartnerNoboru Fujimoto
Mr. Noboru Fujimoto is a founder and an acting senior partner of Fujimoto & Partners. Mr. Fujimoto established the intellectual
property services companies Nets Co., Ltd. and Patra Co., Ltd, the success of which allowed him to found the umbrella
organization Sun Group to fully support our clients’ business and intellectual property-related needs.
Mr. Fujimoto specializes in litigation cases particularly in the fields of industrial machinery and equipment, as well as industrial
design. He has effectively litigated more than one hundred cases, establishing Fujimoto & Partners as a leader in IP enforcement
and protection in Japan.
Mr. Fujimoto also specializes in negotiations for licensing and assignment of patent, design and trademark rights. For the past
several decades, he has lectured on the relationship between law and business strategy at numerous companies including those
from the leading Japanese pharmaceutical, chemical and machinery industries. He is also regularly invited to speak at universities
in the Osaka area on intellectual property law. He is a member of AIPPI.
- －Education：
- Kansai University, Faculty of Law
- －Specialized field：
- Mechanics, Industrial designs, and IP-related legal affairs (expert testimony, contract and negotiation)
- －Professional Activities：
- 1994 Vice President of Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
1998 ADR Member of Institute of Intellectual Property(IIP)
2002 Award winning of Medal with Yellow Ribbon
2004-2005 Provisional Member of the JPO's Advisory Panel for the Industrial Property
Member of Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
Member of Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI)
Hiroaki NakataniPartner
Mr. Hiroaki Nakatani is a partner in the 1st Patent Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked for a manufacturing company that is engaged with cotton
spinning, dyeing, finishing of fibers and manufacturing of various chemical products.
In the company, he was involved in developing dyeing techniques for cloth, and resin finishing techniques. After he joined Fujimoto & Partners, he has worked extensively
with companies from the pharmaceutical and chemical industries on the development of their intellectual property rights.
Mr. Nakatani prepares and prosecutes patent applications, particularly in the
chemical industry, and further provides patent validity and infringement opinions.
- －Education：
- Kobe University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Technochemistry
- －Specialized field：
- Organic chemistry, Fiber engineering, etc.
- －Professional Activities：
- 2009 Chairman of Patent Attorney Regulation Committee of JPAA Kinki
Branch
2013-2018 Member of Patent System Operation Consultation Committee of
JPAA
2019 Member of Patent Committee of JPAA
2023 Member of Patent System Operation Consultative Committee of JPAA
Member of Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
Shinichi NomuraPartner
Mr. Shinichi Nomura joined Fujimoto & Partners in 2004 and is a partner in the
Design Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked in the IP department
of a company that manufactures iron products, cast steel products, steel structural
components, machine products, etc.
After he joined Fujimoto & Partners, he handles prosecution of design applications,
appeals and trials, prepares opinions of design registrability and infringement, and
counsels clients concerning IP-related matters particularly in design field.
He has experienced in design practice of housing equipment, furniture, office
supplies, automobile tires, sporting goods, etc.
- －Education：
- Kansai University, Graduate School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering Department
- －Specialized field：
- Industrial Design
- －Professional Activities：
- 2018 Chairman of Design Committee of Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
2019-2020 Vice Chairman of Design Committee of Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
2021 Member of Design Committee of JPAA
Lecturer of Japan Intellectual Property Association(JIPA)
Member of Design Committee of APAA
Member of Kansai Practical Committee, Kansai Branch of JPAA
Yuichi KoyamaAssociate
Mr. Yuichi Koyama works in the International Group. He joined Fujimoto & Partners in
1999. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked for a manufacturing company as an
engineer for planning and designing new material recycling systems and plants. After he
joined Fujimoto & Partners, he handles patent prosecution, appeals and trials, and prepares opinions of patent validity and infringement, and counsels clients concerning IP-related
matters. He has experienced in patent practice of chemical engineering field, such as water-
treatment plant, incinerating plant, and other technical field, such as batteries, cement and
concrete products, optical film, etc.
※From 2011 to 2012, he worked in the Patent Law Firm in the United States as a trainee
and handled many patent prosecutions before the USPTO.
- －Education：
- Osaka Prefecture University with master’s degree in chemical engineering
- －Specialized field：
- Chemical machinery, Chemical processes, Organic and Inorganic materials, Machinery
- －Professional Activities：
- 2012-2016 Member of International Affairs Committee of JPAA Kinki Branch
Member of Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
- －My principles：
- I will provide the most ardent IP service possible for my clients.
Akira KitadaAssociate
Mr. Akira Kitada works in the firm’s 3rd Patent Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto &
Partners, he was involved in designing tools for manufacturing parts of airplanes and
rockets, as well as program designing in an industrial design company.
After he joined Fujimoto & Partners, he handles mainly patent prosecution, provides patent validity and infringement opinions, and counsels clients concerning IP-related matters,
particularly in the machinery field. He has experienced in patent practice of printing press,
linear actuator, motor, medicine dividing and packing machine, etc.
- －Education：
- Kansai University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering
- －Specialized field：
- Machinery (Medical equipment, Printing machinery, Photovoltaic power generation equipment, Electric power equipment, Special purpose vehicles, Transport machinery, Packaging machinery, etc.), Machinery control and System-related
- －Professional Activities：
- 2011-2018 Member of Patent Committee of JPAA
2012-2015 Vice Chairman of Patent Committee of JPAA
2016 Chairman of Patent Committee of JPAA
2017-2018 Vice Chairman of Patent Committee of JPAA
2019-2021 Member of Intellectual Property Management Center of JPAA
2019-2021 Member of Team for Financial institutions of KIZUNA Project of JPAA
2021- Member of IP Enforcement Facilitation Committee of JPAA
- －My principles：
- For my clients, I will employ creative IP solutions until all avenues are exhausted.
Takaaki Ishii Associate
Mr. Takaaki Ishii works in the firm’s Design Group. He has rich experiences in filing and
prosecuting design applications for articles in various fields, such as garments, household
articles and equipments, amusement and entertainment articles, industrial machinery, and
electronic devices.
- －Education：
- Kinki University, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
- －Specialized field：
- Design, Unfair Competition, etc.
- －Professional Activities：
- 2015- Counselor of the intellectual property comprehensive support desks of Japan Patent Office(JPO)
2018 Member of Unfair Competition Prevention Act Committee of JPAA
2019- Member of Design Committee of JPAA
2021-2022 Vice Chairman of Design Committee of JPAA
2023- Chairman of Design Committee of the JPAA
- －My principles：
- My earnest desire is to give satisfaction to our clients wishing to enjoy the design protection for their various products.
Shigeyuki TanakaAssociate
Mr. Shigeyuki Tanaka works in the firm's Trademark Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto &
Partners, he worked for a manufacturing company. After he joined Fujimoto & Partners,
he is in charge of preparation, filing and prosecution of trademark applications, and
preparation of trademark availability opinions.
- －Education：
- Kwansei Gakuin University with a bachelor's degree in literature department
- －Specialized field：
- Trademark, Unfair competition
- －Professional Activities：
- 2014-2021 Member of IP Spread ＆ Suppor Committee of JPAA KANSAI Branch
2018 Vice Chairman of IP Promotion and Support Committee of JPAA KANSAI Branch
2020-2021 Member of Trademark Committee of JPAA
2022- Vice Director-General of JPAA Kansai
- －My principles：
- I will do my best to provide useful advice and information for my clients in order for them to generate profit.
Rioko ShiraiAssociate
Ms. Rioko Shirai works in the firm's Trademark Group. She is very experienced
in preparation, filing and prosecution of trademark applications, preparation of trademark
availability opinions, providing legal advice regarding trademarks and related unfair
competition and copyright issues, trademark law, unfair competition law and copyright law
for a wide variety of clients on a worldwide basis.
- －Education：
- Kobe University, Faculty of Economics
- －Specialized field：
- Trademark, Unfair competition, Copyright
- －Professional Activities：
- 2011-2013 Member of Trademark Committee of JPAA
2014 Member of Copyright Committee of JPAA
2015-2017 Vice Chairman of Copyright Committee of JPAA
2014-2016 Lecturer for Trademark apprentices（beginner class） at JPAA
2017 Lecturer for Trademark apprentices（first step class） at JPAA
2017 Lecturer for Copyright judgment at JPAA
2017-2019 Lecturer for Trademark （step-up class） at JPAA
2023- Member of Practical Committee (trademark), Kansai Branch of JPAA
Member of Japan Trademark Association (JTA)
- －My principles：
- To satisfy my client’s needs, I will provide an effective method of obtaining and using IP rights from the filing stage to the post-issued stage.
Hiroyuki OhkawaAssociate
Mr. Hiroyuki Ohkawa works in the firm’s 3nd Patent Group. He studied heat transfer
engineering at the university. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he was involved in
design work of cooling tower at a manufacturing company. After he joined Fujimoto &
Partners, he is in charge of drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the mechanics
and control engineering fields.
He has experienced in patent practice of industrial machinery, food processing machinery,
housing equipment, tool, etc.
- －Education：
- Ehime University with a bachelor's degree in production machinery engineering
- －Specialized field：
- Machinery (Medical equipment, Printing machinery, Chemical machinery, Cell culture equipment, Electric motors, Electric tools, Special purpose vehicles, Transport machinery, etc.), Control
- －Professional Activities：
- 2008 Organizer of the External Affairs of Kansai Patent Attorneys Study Group(KTK)
2018-2019 Member of IP Spread ＆ Suppor Committee of JPAA KANSAI Branch
2020 Member of Unfair Competition Prevention Act Committee of JPAA
- －My principles：
- I have gained valuable experience in both the sales and manufacturing departments while at the previous company.
I am able to utilize this experience in order to further my work in IP.
Satoshi KumeAssociate
Mr. Satoshi Kume works in the firm’s 1st Patent Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked for a different patent law firm where he handled patent applications for domestic and international clients in the fields of resin composite materials and electronic components. He also engaged in a project where he prepared the Japanese translation of the summaries of US patent applications for the IPDL （Industrial Property Digital Library）.
- －Education：
- Kyoto University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry
- －Specialized field：
- Organic chemistry, Communication, Control
- －Professional Activities：
- 2021- Member of Patent Committee of the JPAA
- －My principles：
- Provide high quality services exceeding beyond clients’ expectation.
Nanae KitamuraAssociate
Ms. Nanae Kitamura works in the firm's International Group. She has long experiences in
trademark applications and design applications in various countries including not only Asian countries and Western countries, but also Middle East countries, and Middle and South
American countries, and is well aware of local practices in those countries, which contribute to effective protections of our client’s trademark and design rights.
- －Education：
- Kwansei Gakuin University, School of Law, Department of Law
- －Specialized field：
- International trademark and design rights
- －My principles：
- As an IP professional, I will provide our clients with high-quality services.
Kasumi YokotaAssociate
Ms. Kasumi Yokota works in the firm's 1st Patent Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto &
Partners, she worked as a chemical engineer for a Japanese automobile company, where she engaged in R&D on purification catalyst for emissions from diesel vehicles, and then worked for two patent law firms where she prepared and prosecuted patent applications, particularly in the fields of inorganic chemistry , such as ceramics, catalytic filters and cement, organic
chemistry, such as cleaning agents, coating materials, liquid crystal displays and printer inks, biochemistry, and metallic materials for domestic and international companies.
- －Education：
- Master's degree from Tokyo Institute of Technology Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry
- －Specialized field：
- Organic chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Organic and Inorganic materials, Chemical machinery
- －Professional Activities：
- 2015-2016 Member of JPAA Education Institute
2017-2018 Member of JPAA Public Relations Center
2019- Sub-Director of JPAA Public Relations Center
2021-2022 Council
- －My principles：
- I will think together with our clients and make various proposals to them from not only the legal point of view but also the
technical point of view when preparing and prosecuting patent applications on the basis of my technological knowledge and experiences obtained through the R&D activities in the company and the patent law firms.
Kazutoyo DokeiAssociate
Mr. Kazutoyo Dokei works in the firm's 1st Patent Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto &
Partners, he worked as a chemical engineer for a Japanese chemical company, where he
engaged in R&D on pharmaceutical intermediate synthesis and pharmaceutical stock
solution synthesis.
- －Education：
- Kwanseigakuin University, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry
- －Specialized field：
- Organic chemistry (Polysaccharides, Polymers, Rubber products, etc.), Pharmaceuticals, Textile engineering
- －My principles：
- I will draft a patent specification with care, taking into account various situations surrounding the clients to provide a high
quality patent specification, and then do my best in prosecution of the patent application to obtain a patent right most
suitable for the clients through tight contact with the clients.
Zhan XinAssociate
Ms. Zhan Xin works in the firm’s International Group. She is a patent attorney licensed to
practice in China. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, she worked for a patent law firm in China from 2005 to 2014, where she accumulated experience in prosecution of Chinese
patent applications, and hence has extensive knowledge of the Chinese patent practices.
She is familiar with both the Chinese language and the Japanese language, and has technical backgrounds in mechanical engineering, medical machinery, etc. She devotes herself to
provide both Chinese and Japanese clients with high quality services in the firm’s
International Group on the basis of her experiences in Chinese patent law firm and our firm.
- －Education：
- Dalian University of Technology, School of Mechanical Engineering
- －Specialized field：
- Automobiles, construction machinery, spinning machinery and medical machinery
- －My principles：
- A journey of thousand miles may not be achieved without accumulation of each single step, just as the enormous ocean may not be formed without gathering every brook or stream.
Kensuke FujimotoAssociate
Mr. Kensuke Fujimoto works in the firm’s 2nd Patent Group. He has started his professional career at Fujimoto & Partners after graduated from the university.
He is committed to ensuring the quality of patent applications including the patent
specification to support the clients’ businesses.
- －Education：
- Osaka Institute of Technology, Graduate School of Intellectual Property
- －Specialized field：
- Machinery (medical equipment, Office automation equipment, Housing equipment, Photovoltaic power generation equipment, Electric power equipment, Special purpose vehicles, Transport machinery, etc.), Machine control and System-related
- －My principles：
- Work hard to do the best possible job.
Takuro HiramatsuAssociate
Mr. Takuro HIramatsu works in the firm’s 1st Patent Group. After graduated from the university, he worked as a research worker for a Japanese leading mayonnaise company where he engaged in functionality assessment of food packaging materials, lipid analysis of enzyme-treated yolk as a mayonnaise raw material, which involves, for example, confirmatory studies of competitors’ patents relating to the enzyme-treated yolk. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked for a patent law firm where he experienced as a patent attorney in drafting and prosecuting works for the domestic and international applications on the inventions in chemical, biological and fiber fields. He also acts as a part-time lecturer in charge of the IP overview at Ryukoku University.
- －Education：
- Kyoto University, Graduate School of Agriculture, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology
- －Specialized field：
- Biotechnology, Organic chemistry, Food engineering, Electrochemistry
- －Professional Activities：
- 2018-2023 Member of Education Committee, Kansai Branch of the JPAA
2019-2023 Adjunct Professor of the Ryokoku University, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Lecturer for introduction to intellectual property
- －My principles：
- I listen closely to the inventors’ ideas and views, based on which I strive to acquire the IP rights, especially patent rights which are expected to contribute to the clients’ businesses.
Kohei IshikawaAssociate
Mr. Kohei Ishikawa works in the firm’s Design Group of Osaka Office. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked for the Japan Legal Support Center where he engaged in services for offering legal aid for civil affairs.
- －Education：
- Ritsumeikan University School of Law, Legal Affairs Research Course
- －Specialized field：
- Design
- －Professional Activities：
- 2023- Organizer of Design and Trademark Group
2023- Younger Member Group of Nishinihon Patent Attorneys’ Club
- －My principles：
- In order to assist the clients to obtain strong design rights for their products, I prepare various materials and have repeated discussions with them to find the essential point of the designs before filing the applications.
Kazumasa MatsumotoAssociate
Mr. Kazumasa Matsumoto works in the firm’s 1st Patent Group. After graduated from the university, he worked for an environmental inspection company, where he engaged in chemical analysis and evaluation of the air, water, agricultural chemicals, etc., for a paper manufacturing company, where he engaged in developments of packaging containers for the food, cosmetics, etc., files, and processing base paper for other industrial uses, and a filter manufacturing company, where he engaged in developments of functional filters, such as odor elimination filters, and antibacterial filter for air conditioners and air cleaners.
- －Education：
- Shizuoka University, Graduate School of Science, Department of Chemistry
- －Specialized field：
- Organic chemistry, Analytical chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Catalytic chemistry, Chemical machinery
- －My principles：
- My mission is to provide various proposals tailored to client’s needs from both legal and technical perspectives, from the pre-application stage to the patent right obtaining stage.
Yuji KumeAssociate
Mr. Yuji Kume works in the firm’s 1st Patent Group. After graduated from the university, he worked for an importing trading company, where he engaged in classification of laws and regulations concerning importation of chemical substances (poisonous and deleterious substances control law, chemical substances control law, safety and health law, etc.), analysis of chemical data analyses (NMR, HPLC, etc.).
In the field of chemical analysis, he mainly handled fine chemicals (non-natural amino acids, biomimic products, etc.), catalysts, synthesis quipment, etc.
- －Education：
- Kwansei Gakuin University Graduate School of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, Master's degree completed
- －Specialized field：
- Organic chemistry (organic synthesis, inorganic chemistry), polymers chemistry
- －My principles：
- I will do my utmost best to provide the best proposals for our clients in every situation from filing of applications through obtaining of patent rights.
Takashi KishimotoAssociate
Mr. Takashi Kishimoto works in the firm’s 2nd Patent Group. Prior to joining Fujimoto & Partners, he worked for a general law firm in Tokyo, where he experienced as a patent attorney in drafting and prosecution work in agricultural machines, and prosecutions of the design and trademark applications. He also worked for an information service company, where he engaged in IP-related works including maintenance of IP systems.
- －Education：
- Tokyo University of Science, Department of Innovation Studies, Master of Intellectual Property, MIP
- －Specialized field：
- Information related and mechanical related patents, designs, and trademarks
- －My principles：
- I am committed to provide kind and meticulous services tailored to the needs of our clients.
