Esports and gaming regulations in Japan

Tomohiro’s practice focuses on M&A, joint ventures, and general corporate matters, with a particular emphasis on cross-border transactions. In the area of M&A, he has advised on many acquisitions of foreign companies by Japanese companies, MBOs and other de-listings of Japanese listed companies, and mergers and other integrations between listed companies. In the area of joint ventures, he has advised on numerous overseas joint venture transactions between Japanese companies and foreign companies. Over the last few years, he has also been advising clients in the gaming industry, and is ranked in the Gaming & Gambling category of Chambers Global 2025 and Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025.

Yuki Matsumoto provides comprehensive and hands-on legal support tailored to each client’s needs, regardless of industry or scale. His practice spans a wide range of areas including domestic and cross-border M&A, litigation, regulatory compliance, crisis management, strategic alliances, and corporate governance. He has particular expertise in the entertainment sector—especially gaming, esports, and immersive technologies such as VR/XR—where he offers practical, industry-specific advice based on a deep understanding of business models and legal frameworks.

He has also supported IPOs as an outside auditor for listed companies and draws on secondment experience at a major securities firm and both domestic and international companies. This background enables him to provide legal advice aligned with management and investor perspectives. Actively involved in startup support, he advises on fundraising, governance for listing preparation, and has led the introduction of standardized seed financing documentation in collaboration with industry associations.

In recent years, he has expanded his practice in intellectual property, representing clients in patent infringement litigation and assisting with tailored patent filings. He also engages in complex regulatory work, including lobbying and compliance related to the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations, as well as the Entertainment Business Act, bridging both policy and legal practice.

At Nishimura & Asahi, he leads the firm's Game and Esports Practice Team, overseeing legal services dedicated to the gaming industry. In recognition of his continued contribution to the field, he was the only lawyer awarded the “Esports Distinguished Service Award” at the Japan Esports Awards in January 2024.