Chief Judge of the IP High Court Tomokatsu Tsukahara
Date of birth: August 21, 1945
| Career | |
| March 1968 | Graduated from Hitotsubashi University, Faculty of Economics |
| April 1968 | Appointed as a legal apprentice |
| April 1970 | Appointed as an assistant judge Assigned to Osaka District Court, Yamagata District/Family Court, Yonezawa Branch, etc. |
| April 1980 | Appointed as a judge Assigned to Tokyo District Court, Chiba District Court, and Judicial Research Officials’ Office of the Supreme Court |
| April 1991 | Judge of Sendai District Court (Presiding Judge of Division), Judge of Tokyo District Court (Presiding Judge of Division), etc. |
| June 1999 | Chief Judge of Kushiro District/Family Court, Chief Judge of Kofu District/Family Court |
| January 2003 | Judge of Tokyo High Court (Presiding Judge of Intellectual Property Division) |
| April 2005 | Judge of Intellectual Property High Court (Presiding Judge of 4th Division) |
| May 2007 | Chief Judge of Intellectual Property High Court |
<My stance as a judge and chief of the IP High Court>
In May 2007, I assumed the post of Chief Judge of the IP High Court, as the successor to the first Chief Judge Katsumi Shinohara. Until then, for four and a half years in total, I had been specialized in dealing with intellectual property cases. This was first in the Tokyo High Court’s 18th Civil Division (later renamed 4th Intellectual Property Division), and then in the 4th Division of the IP High Court after its inauguration. During my career in the judicatory, I have been engaged in handling civil suits in general, striving to reform the systems and practices in court proceedings as far as I can. Now, in the belief that “There is no way but this particular way where I can make the most of my abilities, I will pursue the route of intellectual property,” I am working hard day and night, as a judge, to settle intellectual property cases properly and promptly, while finding fresh enjoyment in studying science and technology. As a chief of the court, I am striving to improve the work environment within the court.
<My goal in the profession>
I eagerly desire to realize ideal court proceedings in intellectual property suits, especially suits against JPO’s trial decisions: As in civil cases on general issues, the parities to the suit and their counsels can see what the judges are thinking through face-to-face communication, and all persons participating in the suit proceedings, including the judges, can have frank discussions on an equal footing as experts in the field of intellectual property.
<My favorite words and phrases>
Learn from daily routines.
When you don’t know which way to take, take the standard route.
Talk using your own words. Do not overreach yourself.
