Introduction

SAKURA Law Office is honored to announce that Mr. Katsuyuki Kawai, former Minister of Justice who has played a central role in Japan’s national administration for many years, has joined our firm as an Advisor.

Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Mr. Kawai majored in Southeast Asian international politics at the Keio University Faculty of Law. Following graduation, he entered the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, where he underwent systematic and practical training in national governance and public policy. Furthermore, he cultivated a global perspective on policy-making from an early stage, participating in international administrative training at government agencies in Dayton, Ohio, USA.

After serving as a member of the Hiroshima Prefectural Assembly, he transitioned to national politics, serving seven terms in the House of Representatives. During this time, he held numerous key positions, including Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Senior Vice Minister of Justice, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Special Advisor for Foreign Affairs to the President of the LDP, and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. Particularly in the field of diplomacy, as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, he stood at the forefront of foreign policy—including the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance—and built a sophisticated network of human relationships and negotiation skills through continuous dialogue with high-ranking government officials and members of the U.S. Congress. He has also promoted policy cooperation through direct dialogue with heads of state and cabinet-level officials across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, establishing a solid international reputation as a core figure in parliamentary diplomacy.

In the field of judicial administration, as the 101st Minister of Justice, Mr. Kawai was involved in critical policy decisions regarding the criminal justice system, immigration control policy, and the operation of legal systems, accumulating deep expertise in both institutional framework and practice. Additionally, he contributed significantly to the formation of policies for the sustainable development of Japan's judicial system, including discussions on the legal training system and the population of legal professionals.

Most recently, in his capacity as National Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan, he provides direct counsel on diplomatic and economic matters, involving himself in national-level policy formation. Drawing on his long-standing dedication to fostering friendly relations with Bhutan, he provides pragmatic and strategic advice based on highly sophisticated insights into international trends.

Mr. Kawai’s career is a culmination of practical experience across the fundamental pillars of national governance: legislation, administration, and diplomacy. He has consistently led the way toward effective solutions within complex policy-making processes where diverse interests intersect. We are confident that his insight will provide high-level strategic value that goes beyond conventional legal advice in fields such as corporate law, compliance, crisis management, international transactions, and government relations.

By welcoming Mr. Katsuyuki Kawai as an Advisor, SAKURA Law Office will further strengthen its multi-layered and strategic advisory structure, integrating specialized legal services with a deep understanding of policy trends and international affairs. We remain committed to continuous refinement in order to provide our clients with effective and sustainable solutions for increasingly complex legal challenges.

Publications

"The Collapse of the Justice System: Revealed by a Former Senior Vice Minister of Justice"(PHP Institute, October 2008)
"Space Strategy as a Nation" (Seibundo Shinkosha, August 2006) (Co-author)
"Uprooting This Nation!" (Tokyo Press Club Shinsho, February 2012) (Co-author)
"Prison Diary" (Asuka Shinsha, June 2024)