MASAHIRO KOBUKE, Partner
Mr. Kobuke directs his practice to protection and enforcement of electronics, software and business method patents. He prosecutes patent applications in a range of fundamental technologies, such as wireless communication system, network, image processing and robotics. Especially, based on his previous professional experience, he focuses on mobile communication system, including mobile phone, base station, repeater, femto cell.
Mr. Kobuke worked as a researcher of optical transmission system such as SDH/SONET system and WDM system at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
He holds the first kind information processing specialist and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). He is admitted to stand before all Japanese courts in IP litigations.
Education : M.A., Hiroshima University, Theoretical condensed matter physics
B.A., Hiroshima University, Material science
YASUHIRO IWASE, Partner
Mr. Iwase directs his practice to protection and enforcement of patents and trade marks. He prosecutes patent applications in a range of fundamental technologies, such as semiconductor, circuit, nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, display, robotics, semiconductor/LCD inspection system, and laser microscope, based on his previous professional experience.
Mr. Iwase was an engineer for ULVAC, where he was engaged in a development of semiconductor and LCD manufacturing apparatus.
He participated in the seminar held in the Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge law firm in 2006. Also, he experienced many U. S. patent prosecutions as a trainee in the Sughrue Mion PLLC in 2009.
He is admitted to stand before all Japanese courts in IP litigations.
Education : M.E., Osaka University, Nuclear engineering
B.E., Osaka University, Nuclear engineering
YUICHIRO SUDO, Partner
Mr. Sudo directs his practice to protection and enforcement of electronics and chemical patents. He prosecutes patent applications in a range of fundamental technologies, such as semiconductor, circuit, display, laser, chemistry and metallic material. Especially, based on his previous professional experience, he focuses on metallic material.
Mr. Sudo worked for 9 years as a researcher of the copper base alloy and the establishment of the processing technology of the super-high purity copper at Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.
He is admitted to stand before all Japanese courts in IP litigations.
Education : M.E., Kyoto University, Metallurgy
B.E., Kyoto University, Metal Science and Engineering
AYANORI ENDO, Partner
Mr. Endo directs his practice to protection and enforcement of electronics, chemical and mechanics patents. He prosecutes patent applications in a range of fundamental technologies, such as semiconductor device, laser, circuit, mechanical engineering, display, recording technology and ceramics.
He worked for 4 years as a researcher in Canon Inc. He also worked for 2 years as a patent engineer at IP department of Canon Inc. He handled many cases in the fields of MEMS, semiconductor, inorganic EL, ultrasonic diagnosis, and magnetic record medium.
Education : M.E., Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ceramics Science
B.E., Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ceramics Science
HIROTAKA FUKUOKA, Partner
Mr. Fukuoka directs his practice to protection and enforcement of patents, specializing in information-and- communication, circuits, microcomputers, and semiconductors.
He worked as an engineer of communication control program for mainframe and access server in Hitachi Information & Communication Engineering, Ltd.
Thereafter, he worked as a patent examiner and assistant examiner in Japan Patent Office for five years, during which he examined patent applications relating to network technology.
He holds Senior Programmer, Network Specialist, Digital Type I Installation Technician, and Type I Chief Transmission & Switching Engineer.
Education: B.A., Nagaoka University of Technology, Electrical and Electronic Systems Engineering
KENJI UENO, Partner
Mr. Ueno directs his practice to protection and enforcement of electronics and software patents. He specializes in communication technology, including cellular phone system and network.
He worked for 6 years as an engineer in NTT docomo. He also worked for 3 years as a patent engineer at IP department of NTT docomo.
He holds Network system engineer, Cisco Certified Network Associate(CCNA) and Cisco Certified Design Associate(CCDA).
Education : B.S., Hokkaido University, Physic
TAKANORI NISHIKAWA, Partner
Mr. Nishikawa directs his practice to protection and enforcement of a wide range of electric and electronics patents including analog circuits, digital circuits, microcomputers, and substrates. He also has experience in patent prosecution for small and medium-sized enterprises, and experience in registration of trademarks.
He worked as an engineer for ROHM Co., Ltd., engaged in analog circuit designing and substrate designing for amplifier circuits, driver circuits, etc. for use in audiovisual systems.
Education: M.E., Shizuoka University, Systems Engineering
KOHEI HARUTA, Partner
Mr. Haruta directs his practice to protection and enforcement of a wide range of electric and electronics patents including digital circuits, analog circuits, and microcomputers, and materials patents. He also practices patent prosecution for small and medium-sized enterprises.
He worked as an engineer for Sony LSI Design Inc., engaged in development of LSI design environments.
Education: M.E., Tokyo Institute of Technology, Materials Science and Engineering
MASAKAZU NARITA, Partner
Mr. Narita directs his practice to protection and enforcement of a wide range of electric and electronics patents including analog circuits, digital circuits, lasers, manufacturing technology, microcomputers, and network technology.
He worked as an engineer for Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., engaged in development of optical devices such as high-power semiconductor lasers and photo diodes, and semiconductor lithography and diffraction grating technology.
Education: B.A., The University of Tokyo, System Quantum Engineering
KOJI HANANOI,
Partner
Mr. Hananoi directs his practice to protection and enforcement of a range of information technologies patents, including information processing, business models, communication, and image processing. He specializes in computer software technology.
He worked for 6 years as an engineer of computer systems in Hitachi Software Engineering, Ltd., engaged in development and management of information system (using Java technology, web service, XML DataBase, and associative search engine).
He holds Software Design & Development Engineer, Technical Engineer (Database), and SEA/J Certified Security Basic Master (CSBM).
Education : M.E., Keio University, Administration Engineering B.E., Keio University, Administration Engineering
YUKIHIRO HIGASHITANI,
Partner
Mr. HIGASHITANI assists Japanese and international clients in securing and enforcing their trademark & design rights. He has 25 years of experience counseling and representing clients in the fields of trademark clearance, prosecution and litigation, unfair competition, false advertising, copyright matters including copyright registrations and IP right enforcement by Japan Customs. He has undertaken more than 270 opposition, appeal, trial and cancellation actions before the Japan Patent Office and also worked on litigation cases before the Japan IP High Court and other courts.
Agent of Unfair Competition Prevention Law for Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (2010-), Adviser to AIPPI Japan (2017-). Education: Waseda University, B.A., Social Science, Tsukuba University, LL.M., Business Law.
EIICHI AMANO,
Partner
Mr. Amano focuses his practice to protection and enforcement of electronics and software patents. He prosecutes patent applications in a range of fundamental technologies, such as wireless communication system, network, computer and mechanics.
Mr. Amano worked at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd., where he was engaged in development and management of industrial steam turbine. Afterwards, he worked for another IP law firm, where he handled many cases relating to computer technology, copying machine and communication system.
Education : M.E., The University of Tokyo, Mechanical Engineering
B.E., The University of Tokyo, Mechanical Engineering
TOSHIO TAKAMORI,
Partner
Mr. Takamori directs his practice to the preparation of patent applications and the responses to office actions in Japan and foreign countries in a variety of fields including communication, information processing and circuits.
Mr. Takamori worked for 5 years as a researcher of copy machine and laser beam printer in Canon Inc. Afterwards, he worked for 15 years as a patent attorney in another IP law firm, where he handled many cases relating to the communication, information processing, circuits, semiconductors, business models and control technology.
Education : B.E., Meiji University, Electrical Engineering
TAKESHI AKABOSHI,
Partner
Mr. Akaboshi is experienced in the preparation of patent applications and responses to office actions in Japan and foreign countries in a variety of fields, including chemistry and materials science.
Prior to joining Hibiki, he studied methods for inspecting pesticides, veterinary drugs, heavy metals, and other trace substances in foods at a public research institute. He also worked for another patent firm where he gained his above-mentioned experience in the preparation of patent applications and responses to office actions in Japan and foreign countries in a variety of fields, including chemistry and materials science, and in particular chemicals and materials used in semiconductors, display devices, and optical films.
Education: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Department of Chemistry, M.S. (He studied syntheses of transition metal complexes and inter-molecule energy transfers by using spectroscopic techniques.)