Member
Yuichiro Watanabe
Lead Counsel, Airbnb Japan
Board Member, Japan In-House Lawyers Association (JILA)
Architecture
Platforms
Information and Communications
Technology
With eight ALB Japan Law Awards earned in his 30s, Yuichiro Watanabe has been establishing himself as one of the most emerging IT in-house lawyers in Japan/APAC in a MNC. Joining as the 3rd APAC lawyer at Airbnb, Yuichiro expertly navigated regulatory complexities across Japan and beyond in APAC, contributing significantly to Airbnb’s strategic growth, including its 2020 IPO. He is expanding his responsibilities to include Japan and APAC AI, antitrust, regulatory compliance, and Airbnb.org initiatives. Outside of Airbnb, he serves on several Japanese government study groups at METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and DAJ (Digital Agency of Japan).
Recent Publications and Seminars
• Guest lecturer at the following schools and programs at The University of Tokyo: the Graduate Schools of Law, the Graduate School of Public Policy, and the World-leading Innovative Graduate Study: Advanced Business Law Program
• Featured on NHK’s program “Close-up Gendai”
• Speaker at the OECD Experts’ Workshop, among others
Topics of Specialty
• Legal risk management, with a focus on strategic legal engagement
• Rulemaking: Navigating the gaps between law and technology in Japan
• Extraterritorial application of Japanese law
Inquiries Regarding Publications and Seminars
Policy Advocacy and Recommendations Related to This Member
Proposal on the Digital Infrastructure for Promoting Job-Based Employment Ver. 1.0
The Policy Research Institute has published the “Proposal on the Digital Infrastructure for Promoting Job-Based Employment Ver. 1.0.”
27/06/2025
Policy Proposal on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
The Policy Research Institute has published a policy proposal titled "Policy Proposal on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)."
27/06/2025
Policy Proposal on Enhancing Government Governance and Administrative Reforms for Effective Data Utilization, Including Statistical Information
The Policy Research Institute has published a proposal titled "Proposal on the Need for Government Governance and Administrative Reforms for Data Utilization, Including the Use of Statistical Information."
27/06/2025
Proposal on Legal and Social Infrastructure to Support Initiatives in Gray Zones and Emerging Areas for Promoting Innovation
The Policy Research Institute has published a proposal on legal and social infrastructure to support initiatives in gray zones and emerging areas for promoting innovation.
26/06/2025
Comments on the Draft “Guidelines for AI Service Providers”
The Policy Research Institute has published a policy proposal titled “Comments on the Draft ‘Guidelines for AI Service Providers.’”
10/06/2025