• Services
• Track Record

Driven by the rise of private commercial ventures and accelerating space development projects worldwide, the space sector is undergoing a profound transformation. Beyond traditional government-led endeavors, commercial space business is expanding rapidly, accompanied by a marked globalization of private enterprise activities in this domain.

In Japan, the enforcement of the Space Activities Act in November 2018 established a legal framework allowing private companies to conduct commercial space activities subject to Cabinet Office approval. This regulatory milestone has enabled space startups and ventures to successfully secure significant venture capital financing. However, given the highly innovative nature of commercial space operations, domestic and international legal frameworks frequently face challenges in keeping pace with technology and business models.

At this historic juncture, our firm provides comprehensive legal counsel designed to enhance the global competitiveness of Japanese enterprises while advising international corporations on their entry into the Japanese market.

Services

• Conducting legal feasibility studies, regulatory analysis, and compliance research for emerging commercial space businesses.
• Providing strategic counsel on all matters encompassing Japanese space law, foreign space regulations, and international space law.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts and agreements specific to the space and aerospace sectors.
• Representing and assisting clients in negotiations with the United Nations, the Government of Japan, and industry associations, as well as providing advisory support for the formulation of new space legislation and public policy.

Track Record

• Conducted comprehensive assessments of licensing requirements, regulatory approvals, and business risks for various space-industry enterprises.
• Presented legal perspectives on public-private partnerships between the UN and commercial entities before the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS).
• Submitted legal opinions and policy recommendations regarding suborbital flight regulations to the National Space Policy Secretariat, Cabinet Office of Japan.
• Advised foreign space startups and ventures (including those from Europe, the United States, and Singapore) on structuring and executing successful market entry strategies into Japan.
• Appointed as Legal Advisor to the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC).

Members

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