On the afternoon of October 24, 2025, a professional exchange event focusing on China–Japan intellectual property protection and criminal procedure rules was successfully held at the Osaka Bar Association Hall. Jointly initiated by the Intellectual Property Department and Criminal Defense Department of Landing Law Offices together with the Osaka Bar Association, this seminar aimed to build a bridge for cross-border legal practice and provide professional guidance for compliant operations and rights protection of Chinese and Japanese enterprises. The event brought together senior legal professionals from both countries. Landing Law Offices sent more than ten core lawyers from its IP and criminal practice groups, while the Osaka Bar Association formed a professional delegation led by lawyers Yuki Taniguchi, Yuki Ikegami, and Uto Kubota. The seminar was moderated by Senior Partner Lawyer Jia Xiaohai, whose rigorous and professional style ensured the smooth and efficient progression of the event.

In the thematic sharing session, representatives of the Japanese bar delivered in-depth analyses of domestic legal practice. Lawyer Yuki Ikegami, focusing on “An Analysis of the Japanese Criminal Procedure System,” systematically introduced the fundamental rules of Japanese criminal procedure and recent judicial data. He clarified the respective responsibilities and institutional roles of the courts and the public prosecutor’s office within the criminal justice process, and used detailed statistical data to provide a professional explanation of the widely circulated claim of a “99.9% conviction rate” in Japan, dispelling common misconceptions.

Subsequently, Lawyer Uto Kubota shifted the focus to intellectual property. Starting from the basic classifications of IP rights under Japanese law and the jurisdictional structure of the courts, he reviewed filing and adjudication procedures for IP-related civil and administrative cases, drawing upon recent trends in Japanese IP litigation. His presentation offered Chinese lawyers a comprehensive view of Japan’s practical framework for intellectual property protection.

Lawyer Jia Xiaohai (far left), Lawyer Yuki Ikegami (second from left), Lawyer Uto Kubota (right)

Representatives of the Chinese delegation then presented from the perspective of Chinese legal practice, building a comparative bridge between the two countries’ legal systems.

Senior Partner Gao Qiang, Director of the Intellectual Property Department of Landing Law Offices, delivered a keynote speech titled “Opportunities and Challenges of Intellectual Property in China–Japan Economic and Trade Cooperation.” After providing a systematic overview of the latest developments in China’s IP protection regime, he used the well-known “MUJI trademark dispute” as an illustrative example to delve into differences between China and Japan in IP acquisition, infringement determination, and damages calculation. He also offered practical recommendations for enterprises seeking to mitigate cross-border IP risks.

Lawyer Gao Qiang (right)

The seminar concluded with a lively interactive discussion session, during which Chinese and Japanese lawyers conducted in-depth exchanges on topics including cross-border criminal cooperation, IP infringement enforcement strategies, and mutual recognition of judicial decisions between China and Japan. Drawing on real-world cases, both sides shared practical experiences and exchanged insights, helping to bridge legal cognition gaps and enhance mutual understanding and trust in each other’s legal systems. Participating lawyers remarked that the seminar provided a valuable communication platform for the China–Japan legal community and expressed hope for deeper collaboration in the future to jointly deliver higher-quality legal services for enterprises engaged in cross-border operations between the two countries.