WELCOME TO THE Lawyer on air podcast
I’m Catherine, the host of Lawyer on Air, the #1 podcast for legal careers in Japan. In each episode, I bring you award-winning insights and inspirational inside stories about working in law as a woman in Japan. Whether you’re dreaming of a career here or already practicing, this is your go-to guide for finding your place in Japan’s legal landscape. We’ll dive into what hiring managers look for, emerging trends in the legal market, what it takes to earn a seat on a Japanese corporate board, and how to thrive personally and professionally.
Tune in and join the Lawyer on Air community by subscribing on your favorite podcast app below.
TOPICS YOU’LL HEAR ON THE SHOW…
Navigating your legal career
Leadership in law
Life as a woman lawyer
Podcast Accolades
Best Podcast by a Kiwi Abroad | Bronze Award
2021 Quill Podcast Awards Nominee
2022 Quill Podcast Awards Nominee
Lawyer on Air is produced by award winning Jayne Nakata of PodLaunch with Jayne, winner of the BCCJ BBA Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2022.
Our special thanks to Kristen McQuillin for the design of our Lawyer on Air podcast logo!
Recent Episodes
The Deep End Strategy: How Nancy Miyaji Chose High Risk, High Responsibility to Build her Legal Career
What do you do when a global financial crisis derails your carefully planned legal career before it even begins? Rather than hold out for the law firm role she wanted, Nancy Miyaji threw herself into the deep end and built her career anyway. With a superpower of bridging perspectives, Nancy's story is one of resilience, clarity of purpose that shows another successful pathway in law, whatever is happening around you.
Building Your Legal Career with Strategic Insights from Legal Recruiter Aida Wang
Aida Wang is a top-billing legal recruiter at Just Legal who specialises in private practice placements for bengoshi (Japan-qualified lawyers). With a unique background as a professional translator and interpreter between English and Mandarin Chinese, Aida brings a fresh perspective on bridging communication gaps - not just between languages, but between lawyers and law firms. Aida shares practical advice on deal sheets, career planning, and why speaking to a recruiter from day one of your legal career journey in Japan can change your career trajectory.
Unlearning Fear: From Law to Launch - Mika Fukutomi’s Pivot & App for Japan’s Succession Crisis
What happens when a lawyer decides success isn't about climbing the ladder, but about creating freedom? Join Catherine as she talks with Mika Fukutomi, who traded her career at top-tier international law firms for entrepreneurship - and built an app to solve one of Japan's biggest business succession challenges: who will maintain the SMEs in Japan with aging leaders and no successors. If you are curious about how legal skills translate into unexpected entrepreneurial ventures then this is the episode for you.
From Competitor to Trailblazer: Olga Belosludova's Historic Japanese Bar Exam Journey
Meet Olga Belosludova, a trailblazing attorney who made history as the first Russian woman to pass the notoriously difficult Japanese bar exam. Born in Siberia, she came to Japan with her family at age two. Olga's journey from a competitive childhood dream to becoming a qualified lawyer in three jurisdictions is nothing short of extraordinary. Her story offers invaluable insights into navigating Japan's legal landscape as a foreign professional, the importance of visibility in service, and practical strategies for building a successful international legal career.