Tsuda College, Faculty of Liberal Arts, Department of International Relations (Undergraduate Degree)
Tsuda College, Graduate Program (International Master’s Degree)
Tokyo Metropolitan University, Faculty of Law (Undergraduate Degree)
Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of International Business Strategy, Intellectual Property Strategy
Course (Graduate Degree in Business Law)
1992: Patent Attorney Exam Passed
2005: IP Infringement Lawsuit Counsel Examination Passed
2006: IP Infringement Lawsuit Counsel Registered
2007: Established Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
2014: Established Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC (incorporated in 2011)
Japanese, English
Professional Institute of International Fashion, Faculty of International Fashion, Professor, 2019-
Tokyo University of Science Graduate School of Master of Intellectual Property, Professor, 2007-2012、2016-2018
Tsuda College, Department of Computer Science (Introduction to Intellectual Property), Adjunct Professor, 2009-2011
Bunka Fashion Graduate University (Intellectual Property Management), Adjunct Professor, 2007-2017
Japan Patent Attorneys Association Practical Training Instructor, 2008-2017
Japan Patent Attorneys Association Central Research Institute of Intellectual Property Researcher (Unfair Competition
Division Member), 2000-2004
Patent Attorney Examination Committee Member (Design), 2004-2005
Japan Patent Attorneys Association Unfair Competition Prevention Law Commission Chair, 2006
Japan Trademark Association Executive Director (Court Decision Study Group Chair), 2003-2010
Japan Trademark Association Director, 2003-
International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) Japan
AIPPI（JAPAN）Editorial Committee Member, 2011-
Journal of Intellectual Property Association of Japan, Editorial Committee Member, 2016-2021
Patent Attorney Examination Committee Member (Trademarks), 2014-2015
Executive Director, Japan Patent Attorneys Association, 2017
Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center, Mediator, Arbitrator & Panelists Candidate, 2013-
Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center, JP Domain Name Dispute Resolution Panelists Candidate, 2015-
Masako Nishimura is co-founder of Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC. Masako has about 30 years of experience in handling trademarks and designs for domestic and overseas clients. After qualifying as a patent/trademark attorney, Masako worked for Suzuye & Suzuye Patent Law Firm until August 2001, then became a partner in charge of trademarks at SHOYO IP Firm in Yokohama in September 2001. In May 2007, she founded Nishimura & Miyanaga, a boutique trademark firm, in Tokyo. Masako focuses on providing expert opinions on trademark and design matters requested by major brands from both legal and practical standpoints.
Masako is also qualified as an IP Litigation attorney, handling disputes and litigation in the areas of trademarks and designs, and unfair competitions relating to both. Masako is active in the educational field, with many students both domestic and international. She has also written a large volume of articles, chapters and textbooks on law and practice relating to trademarks and unfair competition.
In her spare time, Masako plays the piano, flute and cello. She loves talking over wine.
Keio University Faculty of Law Department of Political Science (Undergraduate Degree)
1996: Suzuye & Suzuye Patent Law Firm
1998: Patent Attorney Registration
2003: Soei Patent & Law Firm
2007: Established Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
2014: Established Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC (incorporated in 2011)
Japanese, English
"The Japanese Trademark System and Madrid Protocol System" (WIPO Thailand), 2005
"US Trademark Practices and Hot Topics" (Thomson Reuters), 2008
WIPO "Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications" (Observer,
Japan Patent Attorneys Association Representative), 2013
WIPO "Madrid Protocol Working Group" (Observer, Japan Patent Attorneys Association Representative), 2014
Tokyo University of Science Graduate School of Master of Intellectual Property, Adjunct Professor, 2014-2016
Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Information Center Deputy Director, 2002-2004
Counterfeit Goods Committee Vice Chairman, 2005
Trademark Committee, 2006
International Activity Center, 2007
Permanent Member, 2009-2010
Training Institute Deputy Director, 2008-2012
Trademark Committee Vice Chairman, 2013-2014
Patent Attorney Examination Committee (Trademark), 2009-2010
Japan Intellectual Property Arbitration Center
Mediator, Arbitrator & Panelists Candidate, 2013-
JP Domain Name Dispute Resolution Panelists Candidate, 2015-
Sakae Miyanaga is co-founder of Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC. He specializes in the management of trademark portfolios, including clearance search, prosecution, opposition, customs action, license, enforcement and global trademark protection strategy. After qualifying as a patent (trademark) attorney in 1998, Sakae began his professional career at the Suzuye & Suzuye Patent Law Firm and the Soei Patent Law Firm. In 2007, Sakae founded Nishimura & Miyanaga Trademark Attorneys PPC, and Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC in 2014. His clients cover a broad range of industries with particular experience in fashion, distribution, entertainment, finance, food and computer services.
Sakae has taught numerous seminars about local and global trademark practices to clients and trademark professionals from many different countries. His wealth of knowledge and expertise about foreign trademark systems including the Madrid system, and his global legal network, provide added value to clients. He attends WIPO conferences and meetings as a representative of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association. His knowledge has helped to publish the book of Indian trademark practice.
Sakae speaks fluent English and Japanese. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Keio University. Sakae likes to play soccer and golf. He is not afraid of hitting a sand wedge 150 yards from a greenside bunker.
Tokyo Metropolitan University School of Law (Undergraduate Degree)
2003: Koyo International Patent Firm
2007: Patent Attorney Registration
2007: Atsushi Oshima & Associates Trademark Patent Law Firm
2008: Specific Infringement Lawsuit Counsel Examination Passed
2009: Specific Infringement Lawsuit Counsel Registered
2014: Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
Japanese, English
Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Trademark Committee, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2023
Yasuko Shibata is a registered trademark attorney and an original member of Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC. She studied intellectual property law in university and worked as a foreign patent prosecution assistant before qualifying as a patent attorney.
Yasuko specializes in trademark and unfair competition cases and advises clients on Japanese trademark laws and unfair competition laws. She has extensive experience in all areas of trademark prosecution and trademark litigation, including trademark searches, availability analysis, preparation and filing of trademark applications, opposition proceedings, trial proceedings, trademark licensing and assignment of trademark rights. She also has broad experience in assisting international trademark matters.
She has been involved in various contentious matters and has experience in drafting cease and desist letters, co-existence agreements and assisting negotiations.
Yasuko loves cats and hopes to adopt one someday.
Kokushikan University Faculty of Law, Department of Modern Business Law (Undergraduate Degree)
Kokushikan University Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Intellectual Property Laws (Master’s Degree and
Trainee Completion)
2015: Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
Japanese, English
Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Trademark Committee (2016, 2017)
Copyright Committee (2019, 2020)
Kaori Sasaki is a registered patent attorney and joined our firm in 2015. She holds a master’s degree in intellectual property law, which was her major at university. She wrote her thesis on the protection of colors in business. Although Kaori is a hardy traveler who never complained about her 5 hour round-trip commute to work, she is now happy to be living closer to the office and spending less time riding the train.
Rikkyo University Faculty of Literature, Department of French Literature (Undergraduate Degree)
2014: Travel Agency
2015: Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
2018: Patent Attorney Registration
2019: IP Infringement Lawsuit Counsel Examination Passed
2020: IP Infringement Lawsuit Counsel Registered
Japanese, French, English
- WIPO "Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks,
Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications: Fortieth Session (SCT/40)" (Observer, Japan Trademark Association Representative) (2018)
- AIPLA-JTA Spring Meeting "Practical Tips - Fast Track and Accelerated Examination" (2019)
Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
Japan Trademark Association (JTA)
Member of International Committee (2018, 2019)
International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI)
Member of Trademark Committee (2023 – Present)
Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA)
International Activities Center (2023 – Present)
Chihiro Iijima is a registered trademark attorney. Her practice focuses on the prosecution of trademark applications for Japan and foreign countries. She provides comprehensive services related to trademark rights including trademark clearance opinion, filings, oppositions, cancellation proceedings, agreements, and enforcement. She also assists in domain name matters.
She actively attends international conferences such as INTA, AIPPI and APAA and meets colleagues all over the world.
She is now learning about wine in the hopes of being a wine expert.
Hosei University School of Law (Undergraduate Degree)
2012: Patent Attorney Exam Passed
2014: Patent Attorney Registration /A patent firm in Tokyo
2016: A patent firm in Tokyo
2020: Oshima, Nishimura, & Miyanaga PPC
Japanese, English
Ikue Takahashi became a registered trademark attorney in 2014 and joined our firm in 2020. Ikue’s practice focuses on clearance, procurement, maintenance, enforcement, and licensing of trademark rights. Ikue advises clients on all aspects related to trademarks, including searching, prosecution, opposition, cancellation proceedings, and enforcement. She handles a broad range of industries, and has particular experience in cosmetics, fashion, jewelry, food, and education services.
Ikue likes running, she broke 4 hours at her first marathon.
She also loves comedy and is always thinking about how to make people laugh.
Musashino Art University
2018 Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
2020 Patent Attorney Exam Passed
2021 Patent Attorney Registration
Japanese, English
Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Naotoshi Ota is a registered trademark attorney. He joined our firm in 2018, then passed the Patent Attorney Exam.
He majored in fine arts at university. As he got interested in the job of patent attorney, he decided to move into the Intellectual Property world. He grows some plants and hopes to build a greenhouse in the country someday.
Toyo University Faculty of Law (Undergraduate Degree)
2016: Store management at seller on digital marketplace
2023: Oshima, Nishimura & Miyanaga PPC
2023: Patent Attorney Registration
Japanese, English
Japan Patent Attorneys Association
Japan Trademark Association (JTA)
Takanobu Mori is a registered trademark attorney and joined our firm in 2023. Before moving into the intellectual property field, he had worked in a team managing one of the biggest online shopping marketplaces in Japan. Hence, he can provide legal advice with consideration of the particular rules and customs relating to online commerce for the facilitation of your business here. He loves the concept of “zen”, having learned about it from Aikidou (a Japanese martial art) and Kyudou (Japanese archery) during his childhood.
