News

Atsumi & Sakai’s Policy Research Institute (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Head: Takafumi Ochiai; hereinafter the “Institute”) has entered into a partnership agreement with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law and Policy at Kyoto University Graduate School of Law (Kyoto City, Kyoto; Director: Satoshi Machidori; hereinafter the “Center”). Through this agreement, the Institute and the Center aim to contribute broadly to society in the fields of legal policy through joint research and human resource development.

Background and Purpose of the Agreement

The Institute, established by Atsumi & Sakai, is a think tank where experts with experience across public institutions, private companies, and other organizations come together to discuss cross-sectoral social issues such as digital policy. The Institute is dedicated to addressing not only short-term issues but also long-term and unexplored challenges in policy, systems, and practice from a user-centric perspective.

The Institute has previously collaborated with the Center in a number of research initiatives. These include co-hosting a symposium in 2024 and a student workshop in 2022. Additionally, a joint paper titled “Simulation of Experts by Large Language Models,” co-authored by Professor Tatsuhiko Inatani (Kyoto University), Makoto Fukushima (Deloitte Analytics R&D, Deloitte Tohmatsu LLC), and Yuki Yamamoto (Deloitte Tohmatsu Risk Advisory Co., Ltd.), was accepted for presentation at the 39th Annual Conference of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence in 2025.

Professor Tatsuhiko Inatani of Kyoto University Graduate School of Law also serves as a member of the Institute’s research group and has actively participated in numerous discussions on the Institute’s policy proposals.

This partnership agreement further strengthens the long-standing collaboration between the two institutions. Moving forward, the Institute and the Center aim to work together in cutting-edge legal policy research, the development of future legal policy professionals, and the dissemination of research outcomes that benefit society.

Planned Areas of Cooperation

The following areas of cooperation are planned:

1. Joint research on legal policy issues related to the implementation of new technologies (including AI policy and systems, autonomous driving, and automated construction machinery) and emerging domestic and international social challenges (e.g., protection of new rights, economic security, decarbonization, and population decline/aging).

2. Promotion of research and pilot projects applying new technologies such as data and AI to law and legal practice.

3. Comparative legal studies including international perspectives and the promotion of exchange with overseas institutions.

4. Policy proposals incorporating perspectives from stakeholders beyond the legal field for system design.

5. Development of collaborative relationships with national and local government agencies, industry groups, and international organizations.

6. Enhancing the effectiveness of legal policy by taking into account practical legal challenges faced by legislative, administrative, corporate, and organizational actors.

7. Co-hosting symposia and seminars, and jointly editing publications.

8. Information exchange and collaboration regarding partnership initiatives, including personnel exchange.

Additional collaborative activities may also be pursued as deemed necessary by both institutions.

Comment from Takafumi Ochiai, Head of the Policy Research Institute

I am truly pleased to announce the conclusion of this partnership agreement with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law and Policy at Kyoto University. We have already engaged in many fruitful collaborations with the Center, including with Professor Tatsuhiko Inatani, who has contributed significantly as a member of our research group.

This agreement marks a deepening of our collaboration and will not only strengthen our pursuit of cutting-edge legal policy research but also play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of legal policy professionals. By combining the Center’s academic expertise with our practical insights, we aim to deliver impactful policy proposals addressing challenges posed by new technologies such as data and AI, and to broadly share our research through public symposia and publications.

Comment from Satoshi Machidori, Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of Law and Policy

We are delighted to have concluded this partnership agreement with Atsumi & Sakai’s Policy Research Institute. We have great expectations that this collaboration will yield outstanding research outcomes and contribute meaningfully to society.

In today’s world—and looking to the near future—we cannot ignore the profound impact of rapidly evolving technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). While new technologies have the potential to resolve legal and policy challenges, they also raise novel and complex issues. Through the collaboration of practitioners and researchers, we will continue to analyze and offer proposals on the relationship between technology and society. Please stay tuned.

Contact

Policy Research Institute, Atsumi & Sakai
Email: public-inst.contact@aplaw.jp

(Published on November 4, 2025)