Japan is the most intoxicating place for me. The Japanese culture fascinates me: the food, the dress, the manners and the traditions. It’s the travel experience that has moved me the most.- Roman Coppola
Tokyo has been on the bucket list for many lawyers and even people working outside of law for many years. Tokyo is a city full of history and has something for everyone. With over 38 million people calling Tokyo home, there is a timeless appeal to the city, full of character and heritage. Tokyo is a city where the past, present and innovations for the future co-exist in perfect harmony.
The CBRE, a global leader in commercial real estate, anticipates a 5% year-on-year growth in Asia Pacific commercial real estate investment volume in 2024, driven by Japan, India, and Korea, as interest rate cuts are now expected to begin in the second half of 2024.
As of 2023, Japan ranks fourth in the world for the number of Fortune Global 500 companies, with a total of 41 companies, slightly down from previous years. Toyota Motor remains the highest-ranked Japanese company, securing 13th place globally with an impressive revenue of over $279 billion. This showcases Japan’s continuing importance as a hub for large, global corporations, making it a fertile ground for ambitious professionals, particularly in legal sectors dealing with high-value, market-leading deals.
In recent years, Tokyo has continued to attract top international law firms, bolstering its status as a key legal hub in Asia. Several global firms, including Mayer Brown, have expanded their presence in the city. Mayer Brown opened its Tokyo office in 2018, spearheaded by Rupert Burrows, and the firm has further expanded its operations, adding several notable hires in banking, finance, and M&A
Moreover, Bird & Bird have recently announced their office opening in Tokyo to tap into the growing demand for legal expertise in outbound projects, M&A, and cross-border investments. This trend underscores the increasing significance of Tokyo as a key destination for high-profile international legal work.
The practice areas which are in strong demand in Tokyo are :
- Corporate
- Project Finance
- Banking and Finance
- Projects/Construction
- Energy & Resources
Cost of Living
According to research on Expatistan the cost of living in Tokyo is very comparable to Sydney.
Climate
The hottest months are July through September, with the average temperature being 26 degrees. It can also be quite humid therefore staying under the AC in transit to your meetings is advice not to be forgotten.
Location
If you are a skiing enthusiast, Tokyo is your dream destination. Hoikkado and Tohoku in Northern Japan are definitely worth a visit with the ski season being mid December to early April.
Salaries
Salaries in Tokyo tend to be comparable to that of New York and London in that the Major US firms in the region are offering similar packages to their US counterparts and Magic circle firms offering similar packages to their UK offices in an effort to attract top talent to the region.
As deal activity increases, more and more of the international firms are becoming interested in hearing from non-Japanese speaking lawyers who are interested in making a move to Tokyo however bilingual lawyers which can speak both Japanese and English are very much preferred.
5 Fun Facts
- Tokyo is the largest metropolitan in the world, hosting over 36 million people spread over 3 prefectures.
- Tokyo has the most top-rated restaurants in the world. It is home to over 14 three-star Michelin restaurants.
- The cherry blossom is the national symbol of Japan. In April, the trees flower for two weeks, this period is known as Hanami.
- Japan is one of the best tax-free shopping destinations for tourists in the world.
- The Shibuya Crossing is rumoured to be the busiest intersection in the world. At peak times over 1000 people cross at the same time, coming from all directions.
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