Patent Attorney

RepresentativeShuichi AKABA / President
Career
Shuichi AKABA received a Master’s Degree in Science from Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University in 1999. Akaba’s first job was at a pharmaceutical company where he engaged in scientific research in biomolecular analysis and R&D of functional food materials. He worked at patent firms from 2007 and joined IIDA & PARTNERS in 2009. He passed the Japanese Patent Attorney examination and was registered as a patent attorney in 2009. Akaba was registered as an IP litigation attorney in 2013. He is President of our firm.
Fields
Akaba is an expert in organic functional materials, food, biotechnology, microwave chemistry and analysis technology, and has extensive experience in patent appeal, litigation and legal / expert opinion.
Professional Memberships
Member of AIPPI and APAA

Personal message

My approach to ensuring the client optimum value is to look at the client’s technology from every angle, carefully examine it in the context of the IP legal system, and then propose a reliable path to right acquisition or, in the case of an attack or a defence, feasible and the most effective measures.

PartnerHirokazu HOSHINO / Vice-President
Career
Hirokazu HOSHINO received a Master’s Degree in Science from Hokkaido University in 2002. He joined IIDA & PARTNERS in 2002. He passed the Japanese Patent Attorney examination and was registered as a patent attorney in 2013. Hoshino is Vice-President.
Fields
Hoshino is an expert in biotechnology, health-care technology, organic materials, and analysis technology.
Professional Memberships
Biotechnology and Life Science Committee, Japan Patent Attorneys Association (2010-2012)

Personal message

I handle patent applications and intermediate processing in fields such as organic and inorganic materials, including the biotechnology field.
My work, and that of many of colleagues, is focused not solely on domestic applications but also extends to overseas applications in economically developed regions like Europe and the United States, as well as in India and other rapidly developing Asian countries.

PartnerIkuo SHINODA
Career
Ikuo Shinoda received a Master’s Degree in Science from Graduate School of Science, Tokyo University of Science, in 1994. He first worked for a pharmaceutical company and then at patent firms. He passed the Japanese Patent Attorney examination and was registered as a patent attorney in 2001. Shinoda joined IIDA & PARTNERS in 2012.
Fields
Shinoda is an expert in solar batteries, resin materials, wire materials, and organic-inorganic hybrid materials.

Personal message

The approach I try to follow is to elevate technical content to the highest possible level by first getting a thorough grasp of the technical content (extracting the invention) and then preparing an application and subsequent intermediate documents that are enhanced not only with consideration to technical matters but also from the legal viewpoint.

PartnerTakashi GOTO
Career
Takashi Goto received a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Hitotsubashi University in 1993. He worked for a while at a non-life insurance company and then joined IIDA & PARTNERS in 2003. Simultaneously continuing his studies, Goto received a Master’s Degree in Intellectual Property Management from Post Graduate School, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, in 2010. He passed the Japanese Patent Attorney examination and was registered as a patent attorney in 2009.
Fields
Goto is an expert in health-care products, and materials for the products. On top of that, he is an expert of trademarks and designs.

Personal message

When preparing a patent specification, and also during intermediate processing, I try to capture the “essence of the invention” from the perspective of patent law by continually reflecting back on the process that led to the invention.
Beyond this, I make every effort to respond to client needs regarding IP strategy and other concerns.

Sachie TANAKA
Career
Sachie Tanaka received a Bachelor’s Degree from the Faculty of Liberal Arts, International Christian University in 1994. She joined IIDA & PARTNERS in 1996. She passed the Japanese Patent Attorney examination and was registered as a patent attorney in 2014, and passed the IP Litigation Attorney examination in 2017.
Fields
Tanaka is an expert in resin materials, batteries and electric wire materials

Personal message

I support domestic and foreign applications.
I will do my best to provide appropriate services depending on the situation.

Yuya SUZUKI
Career
Suzuki received a PhD in life science from Hokkaido University in 2015. After two years of research in plant life science at some institutes, he joined IIDA & PARTNERS in 2017, and passed the IP Litigation Attorney examination in 2022.
Fields
He is an expert in biotechnology and foods.

Personal message

I will strive to respond sincerely and promptly to customers’s wishes.

AdvisorToshizo IIDA
Career
In 1978, Toshizo Iida established IIDA & PARTNERS (previously IIDA International Patent Office). He served as Senior Partner and President of IIDA & PARTNERS from its inception until 2018. He is now Advisor.
Professional Memberships
Member of AIPPI and APAA
Member of Chemical Society of Japan

At Japan Patent Attorneys Association:
Vice-President of Journal Committee (1977-1978)
Vice-President of Biology Patent Committee (1980-1981)
Vice-President of Patent System Revitalization and Promotion Committee (1983-1984)
Vice-President of Accounting and Tax Committee (1986-1988)
Vice-President of Biological Patent Committee (1990-1991)
Member of International Activities Committee (1991-1992)
Council member of Japan Patent Attorneys Association (1991-1993)
AdvisorKunihisa Ooie

He is a Patent Attorney. Registered number is 8018.