From Our First Representative Partner

Minoru NAKAMURA
Partner
Attorney at Law · Patent Attorney
In 1914, upon retiring as Commissioner for the Japan Patent Bureau (the current Japan Patent Office), Morio Nakamatsu established our firm, and then his eldest son Kannosuke Nakamatsu, who served as Chairman of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, succeeded his father. After Kannosuke Nakamatsu suddenly passed away in March 1973, I took the leading role in getting the firm back on its feet by reorganizing it and establishing the current structure of Nakamura & Partners as it is today.
As Nakamatsu International Patent & Law Office was actually a private firm run solely by Mr. Nakamatsu, the subsequent reorganization was set up to employ a complete partner system in which core patent attorneys and lawyers possess scholarship, a wealth of experience, and leadership skills with only those having managerial sense being made partners, and even partners having an age-limit set for retirement in that, as a general rule, upon reaching such age they retire as partner and a new partner is appointed always infusing fresh vitality in order for patent attorneys and lawyers to provide the highest level of service, espousing the organization with invigorated management. Moreover, one or more representative partners are appointed from among the partners, thereby clarifying the responsibility system of the firm’s management.
Now, having nearly a half of a century pass since our reorganization, I believe, beginning with the Japan Patent Office and Japan Courts and then among numerous business, we have earned a high level of trust and a distinguished reputation. Under this style of management, the efforts and mutual trust of the successive generation of partners and representative partners will undoubtedly contribute to greater cooperation between all staff.
Thus, I truly wish that from here on our patent attorneys and lawyers will continue to be able to provide the highest level services to our clients.
History
1913
Morio NAKAMATSU steps down from his position as the ninth commissioner of the Japan Patent Bureau
1914
Morio NAKAMATSU is registered as an attorney-at-law and patent attorney, and establishes Nakamatsu International Patent & Law Office firm
1921
Kannosuke NAKAMATSU (eldest son of Morio NAKAMATSU) is registered as an attorney-at-law and patent attorney
1963
Nakamatsu International Patent & Law Office is reorganized as a partnership firm in which Kannosuke NAKAMATSU, attorney-at-law and patent attorney, acts as representative partner
1973
Kentaro ITO, patent attorney, becomes a representative partner
1975
Minoru NAKAMURA, attorney-at-law and patent attorney, becomes a representative partner, and the name of the firm is changed to Nakamura, Yamamoto, Takeda & Partners
1983
The firm’s name is changed to Nakamura & Partners
1987~
1992
Minoru NAKAMURA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney), Kazuko MATSUO (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) and Fumiaki OHTSUKA (patent attorney) act as representative partners
1993~
1997
Fumiaki OHTSUKA (patent attorney), Kaichi SHISHIDO (patent attorney) and Yoshio KUMAKURA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) act as representative partners
1998~
2007
Yoshio KUMAKURA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) acts as representative partner
2008~
2010
Koichi TSUJII (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) and Nobuo OGAWA (patent attorney) act as representative partners
2011~
2014
Koichi TSUJII (attorney-at-law and patent attorney), Atsushi HAKODA (patent attorney) and Takaki NISHIJIMA (patent attorney) act as representative partners
2015~
2016
Takaki NISHIJIMA (patent attorney), Shinichiro TANAKA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) and Takeshi DESHIMARU (patent attorney) act as representative partners
2017~
2018
Shinichiro TANAKA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney), Takeshi DESHIMARU (patent attorney) and Kazuhiko YOSHIDA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) act as representative partners
2019~
2023
Shinichiro TANAKA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney), Kazuhiko YOSHIDA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney) and Hiroyuki SUDA (patent attorney) act as representative partners
2024~
Kazuhiko YOSHIDA (attorney-at-law and patent attorney), Hiroyuki SUDA (patent attorney) and Kazuo YAMASAKI (patent attorney) are currently acting as representative partners