Chief Judge's Greeting

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Chief Judge of the Intellectual Property High Court
HONDA Tomonari
(Date of birth: November 2, 1960)

Career summary

After being appointed as a judge in 1987, I have worked at the Osaka District Court, the Naha District Court, the Otsu District/Family Court, Obihiro Branch of the Kushiro District/Family Court, the Tokyo District Court, the Supreme Court (as a judicial research official), and the Yokohama District Court. My career in recent years is as follows.

April 2008: Judge, Intellectual Property High Court
April 2011: Presiding Judge, Tokyo District Court
September 2016: Presiding Judge, Yokohama District Court
September 2017: Chief Judge, Kushiro District/Family Court
April 2019: Presiding Judge, Sapporo High Court
May 2019: Chief Judge, Sapporo District Court
July 2021: Presiding Judge, Intellectual Property High Court
June 2023: Chief Judge, Intellectual Property High Court

HONDA

I have assumed the post of Chief Judge of the Intellectual Property High Court.

In recent years, along with the remarkable development of pioneering technology and information and communication technology, the utilization of intellectual property rights has advanced rapidly, and the roles that the judiciary should play in protecting these rights have been becoming increasingly important. In addition, the globalization of economic activities has led to an increase in cross-border intellectual property disputes.

Under such circumstances, in October 2022, the Intellectual Property High Court was relocated to a new building in Nakameguro, Meguro ward, Tokyo, together with the Intellectual Property Divisions, the Commercial Division, and the Insolvency Division of the Tokyo District Court, to form a new court complex that intensively deals with business-related lawsuits. This complex is called "Business Court." At present, the Business Court is operating smoothly at the new location. Going forward, while collaborating with other divisions in the Business Court, which is a new hub for business-related lawsuits, the Intellectual Property High Court will aim to meet the public’s expectations to properly solve intellectual property disputes through substantial and speedy proceedings with the active use of digital technology, and will make efforts to increase the international community’s trust in Japan's intellectual property system.

We greatly appreciate your continued understanding and cooperation.