Advocacy and Empowerment: Shining a light on family law and gender violence in Japan with Yumi Itakura
Yumi Itakura is a feminist theorist and practicing lawyer who runs the Sakura International Law Office in Japan. The conversation delves into Yumi's extensive work on addressing gender violence, workplace discrimination, and sexual harassment, especially for foreign women. We are so fortunate to have Yumi working on these issues to support families and women in particular. If you are wondering what it’s like to work in this area or you are in need of legal support for a family matter such as divorce or a gender violence related matter in Japan then this is the episode for you. You can find a full list of Yumi’s recommended legal resources below.
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In this episode you’ll hear:
How Yumi’s work supporting gender violence against foreign women in Japan is her true passion
Some recent cases Yumi has worked on which demonstrate the challenges that foreign women face in Japan
Yumi’s guidance on the four kinds of divorce proceedings available in Japan and what not to select if you are two foreigners deciding to divorce.
Her favourite author, her favourite Hollywood actor and what she would do if she was not a lawyer
About Yumi
Yumi Itakura, is a feminist theorist and a practicing lawyer admitted in Japan as a bengoshi. She is at the Sakura International Law office and has been based in Tokyo for 20 years.
Yumi graduated from Tsuda University with a BA in International Relations (1994) and did her Diploma at the Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan (2005). Yumi was a visiting scholar dispatched from the Japan Federation of Bar Associations to the University of California, Berkeley School of Law to research the U.S Labor system for gender equality in the workplace.
After working in the Tokyo Public Law Office and in a private law firm in Tokyo she took the step to open her own practice.
Yumi specializes in family law and labor law. She has worked in the fields of domestic violence, discrimination in the workplace, sexual assault, and harassment for many years through her legal consultation, representing victims in their legal proceedings as well as advocacy activities as a member of Gender Equality Committee of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations.
As there is an increasing number of cases where foreign national women living in Japan are also suffering from gender related violence and discrimination in the family and the workplace. They can find it difficult to locate a capable lawyer to help them in Japan. Yumi Itakura is one such lawyer who can provide legal services to foreign clients in both Japanese and English.
Yumi is also an adjunct lecturer of labor and employment law at Hitotsubashi Business School of Law. In her spare time, she likes to do yoga and listen to Jazz fusion music. In particular, Yumi is a big fan of Eliane Elias and Pat Metheny Group.
Connect with Yumi
Sakura International Law Office: https://skrint-law.com/en/
Yumi Itakura’s Legal Resources
Support Organizations
Yori Soi-hot-line Helpline for foreign languages – 外国語による相談https://www.since2011.net/yorisoi/n2/
Domestic Violence Hotline Plus (National government run consultation service for domestic violence victims) https://soudanplus.jp/en/index.html
Waelaa-Waaree https://greenst.net/905634/menu3.html
Tokyo Bar Association run-Shinjuku Legal Counseling Center (Day) & Kamata Legal Counseling Center (Night) https://www.lccf.info/us/
Yumi’s Trusted Lawyers, familiar with family matters and communicate in English
Female lawyers (She/Her)
Yumi Itakura Sakura International Law Office
Masami Kittaka (only family matter) Otani & Partners Law Offices
Junko Hayashi (only family matter) Waseda Legal Commons, LPC
Male lawyers (He/His)
Tetsuro Kinoshita: Tokyo Kyodo Law Office. (Both family and labor matters including sexual harassment and other gender related matters in the workplace.) He is also an English native speaker
Mitsuru Nanba: Tokyo Surugadai Law Office. (Both family and labor matters)
Links
Star Bar Ginza: https://www.starbar.jp/
Bar Lupin Ginza: http://www.lupin.co.jp/
Natsuo Kirino https://www.amazon.com/stores/Natsuo-Kirino/author/
Connect with Catherine
Linked In https://www.linkedin.com/in/oconnellcatherine/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawyeronair
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@lawyeronair
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