In 2012 my lawyer extraordinaire guest became the youngest female mayor ever in Japan. This is no small feat and even more so in Japan where at the time only 3% of mayors were women. Naomi Koshi shares her tenacity to accomplish goals that improve people’s lives. Whether they are the citizens of the city she served as mayor or in the work she now does on Smart Cities as a partner at Miura & Partners. In this episode we also discuss the timely topic of diversity on corporate boards and how Naomi is now turning her skills to increase female managers in businesses and promote more women to be elected to these boards. A value packed episode as well as a chance to get to know the woman who is a catalyst for making real changes in Japan.

There are many ways to lead a lawyer life and today’s guest has found her own niche in a part of the world and an area that suits her perfectly. Yuka Hongo of Hongo Law Office is a US qualified attorney who found her niche in Honolulu. Yuka is a perfect example that you don’t have to be loud and aggressive to be a lawyer, but that empathy and supporting people when they need it is an equally important aspect of the field. I can’t wait to be able to travel freely again and check out some of her recommendations for a trip to Hawaii!

This episode taught me that if there is someone out there you want to get to know more, then you should just reach out to them and book in an e-coffee or meet up if you can! Mindy was one of those people and I’m so glad this episode was a chance for us to get to know each other better. Mindy has done so much in her legal career already and she’s just revving up. If you are someone wanting to find out how to get started working as a lawyer in Japan or how to have a varied legal career then this is definitely a great episode for you.

My guest today has really carved a niche for herself and a career in the area of compliance and regulatory. Her career is fascinating. It is inspirational to hear how so much can actually happen in your career as a lawyer. You don't have to do just one single thing. There are many ways to lead your life as a lawyer, and the world really is your oyster. Listen and find out how Robyn aced it.

As a woman in the law, have you ever pondered if you are managing your career as well as you could be? I heard Hitomi Komachi speaking on finding a nice and her own strategic career management at an online presentation for FEW Japan, and I just knew that her ideas had to be shared with far more than just the 20 or so people who attended.

Do I have a bumper episode for you this week. You might think it’s “lengthy” but I prefer to say “packed full with nuggets!” During the recording, I had tingles on my skin hearing how this week’s Lawyer Extraordinaire, Aramide Fields, uses her career in the law in service of others and how her curiosity and interest in learning continues to lead her to new challenges in her life in Japan now as Associate General Counsel for the Asia Division of Autoliv.

Episode Two: Creating a platform for the next generation of lawyers with Akiko Yamakawa of Vanguard Lawyers Tokyo

Episode One: How to be an awesome lawyer in Japan with Lawyer Extraordinaire, Angela Krantz.

I’m Catherine the Host of Lawyer on Air - where I pour you a glass of wine at my favorite virtual wine bar in Tokyo while you listen to inspirational inside stories from my guests, as we relax and talk about what it’s like in life, and in the law, for women lawyers in Japan.