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Atsumi & Sakai
Kenichi Tanizaki
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Kenichi Tanizaki

Senior Partner

Main Practices
Banking / Insurance / Financial Regulation / Venture Finance / Project Finance / Acquisition Finance / Fintech / Trusts / Asset Management and Investment Funds / General Compliance / Data Protection, Data Leaks, and Cybersecurity / Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime / Corporate Governance / Cashless Payments and E-money / Financial Institution DX, BaaS, and API / Electronic Payment Services (PFM, Accounting Services), Information Banks, and Use of Financial Information / Crowdfunding / Robo-advisors and Trading Market Forecasts / STOs, Stable Coins, and Local Currencies / RegTech and SupTech / Regional Finance / Structured Finance and Securitization / Derivatives / M&A, Corporate Reorganization, and Joint Ventures / Data Protection, Privacy, and Cybersecurity / Digital Health / Financial Transactions and Bankruptcy / Digital Platforms / Open Innovation and Startups / DX Governance, E-Contracts, and Service Digitalization / United Kingdom / Europe and the EU / Vietnam
Languages
Japanese / English
Office
Tokyo
Contact

Overview

Publications & Seminars

Awards

Admitted

Japan (2012) and New York (2004)

Bar Association

Daini Tokyo Bar Association

Education

Kyoto University (LL.B., 1994)
Northwestern University School of Law (LL.M., 2003)
Omiya Law School (J.D., 2008)

Background

SBI Shinsei Bank, Limited（Previously The Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan) (April 1994-June 2016)
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (New York) (September 2003-May 2004)

Member

Tokyo Region Mediator of the Non-Profit Organization, Financial Instruments Mediation Assistance Center (July 2023-)
Mentor of the Project to Discover New Businesses led by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, “GEMstartup TOKYO” (July 2025-)

Publications

  • "Ecosystem Building and Ripple Effects of Domestically Produced Crypto Asset Benchmarks," The Crypto Asset Benchmarking Study Group (2025)
  • “Practical Explanation: Designation of Funds Transfer Service Provider and Start of Service, Practical Points to Keep in Mind when Implementing the Digital Payment of Salaries,” Junkan Keirijouhou No.1737 (2025) [Co-author]
  • “Must be ready for 2025! Handling of foreign remittances according to ISO 20022,” GINKO JITSUMU Vol. 55 No.2 (2025) [Co-author]
  • Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry?, Japan Chapter, International Bar Association Banking & Finance Law Committee (2024) [Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in the U.S. (Part 3),” NBL No. 1263, Shojihomu (2024) [Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in the U.S. (Part 2),” NBL No. 1261, Shojihomu (2024) [Co-author]

  • “Japan: Trends & Developments,” Chambers Global Practice Guides - Securitisation 2024, Chambers and Partners (2024) [Co-author]

  • “Contract Templates for Equity Investment in Startups,” Fintech Association of Japan (2023) [as a Study Group Secretariat]

  • “Current Situation and Future Prospects surrounding Startup Support,” Horitsu no Hiroba, December 2023, the Gyosei Corporation (2023)[Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in the U.S. (Part 1),” NBL No. 1254, Shojihomu (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Recommendations for Improvements Regarding the Secured Bond Trust Act,” Study Group on Promoting the Use of Corporate Bonds of the Fintech Association of Japan (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data Vol. 4: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in Europe (Part 4),” NBL No. 1249, Shojihomu (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Legal Considerations for the Diversification of Payment Methods,” GINKO JITSUMU Vol. 53 No.9 (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Practical Process for Introducing Digital Salary Payments,” Business Homu, October 2023 Issue (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data Vol. 3: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in Europe (Part 3),” NBL No. 1247, Shojihomu (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Study on How Data Utilization should be Seen in the Information Bank Certification System,” NBL No. 1246, Shojihomu (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data Vol. 2: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in Europe (Part 2),” NBL No. 1244, Shojihomu (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Issues and Prospects concerning Data Utilization Focusing on Industrial Data Vol. 1: Regulatory Trends Surrounding Industrial Data, etc. in Europe (Part 1),” NBL No. 1242, Shojihomu (2023) [Co-author]

  • Fintech: how is the world shaping the financial innovation industry?, Japan Chapter, International Bar Association Banking Law Committee (2023) [Co-author]

  • “Key Points of Ministerial Ordinances and Notifications Concerning Digital Salary Payment,” Junkan Keirijouhou No.1671 (March 2023) [Co-author]

  • “Lawyers Guide 2023,”  Lexis Nexis and Business & Law LLC (January 2023) [Interview]

  • “Special Plan 2: Further Progress - Amendments of Digital Payment Laws and their Impact on Practice,” GINKO JITSUMU Vol. 53 No.1 (2023) [Co-author]

  • Techniques for Utilizing Regional Financing, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2022) [Co-author]

  • “Trends in Digital Wage Payment Systems and Key Points for Accounting Departments,” Junkan Keirijouhou No.1661 (November 2022) [Co-author]

  • “Challenges in Rule Formation in the Digitalization of Financial Services,” NBL No. 1222, Shojihomu (2022) [Contributor]

  • “Legal Issues of Advertising and Marketing Operations of Banks,” Weekly Financial Affairs, July 19, 2022 Issue, No. 3456 (2022) [Co-author]

  • “Key Points of the Amendment of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information in Finance-Related Fields including Effect on the Guidelines in the Finance Sector,” Horitsu no Hiroba, May 2022, the Gyosei Corporation (2022)[Co-author]

  • “Financial Planning Practice, Ethics and Compliance (Extended Edition): Let's Think About Financial Planning in its Ideal State, Part 2. Financial Planner's Statutory Scope of Work, Part 4. Financial Services Business,” Journal of Financial Planning May 2022 issue (2022) [Co-author]

  • 6000 Legal Countermeasures for Financial Institutions Vol.3: Incidental and Ancillary Services, Fintech, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2022) [Co-author]

  • “Q&A on the Establishment of a new mediation system and its basic framework” Gekkan Kinyu Journal (June 2021) [Co-author]
  • “Overview of Financial Services Intermediation Legislation and Prospects for Business Models,” Weekly Financial Affairs, December 14, 2020 Issue, No. 3383 (2020) [Co-author]
  • “Current Situation of the Information Bank and Points to Keep in Mind for the Administration,” Administration & Information System August 2020 Issue (2020) [Co-author]
  • Contracts and Practice of Overseas Energy Projects, CHUOKEIZAI-SHA INC. (2019) [Co-author]
  • “Special Commentary: Financial Institutions and Information Bank: Understanding the Data Distribution Business,” the Banking Law Journal 21, September 2019 Issue No. 846 (2019) [Co-author]
  • “Business Commentary: Evaluation Points on whether the Banking Act is applicable to Electronic Funds Transfers and Account Management,” Junkan Keirijouhou June issue No.1546 (2019) [Co-author]
  • “A fresh dose of regulation and promotion,” Asia Pacific Fintech Special Focus 2019, IFLR April/May 2019, IFLR (2019) [Co-author]
  • “Enforcement of the Amendments to the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds Relating to an e-KYC, a Customer Verification Procedure Which Would be Completed Online, and the Trends of Practices for Verification,” NBL No.1139, Shojihomu (2019) [Co-author]
  • “Practical Compliance at the Time of Transaction with a Representative Person, Such as Electronic Settlement, under the Revised Banking Act,” Finance Law Journal No.2099, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc. (2018) [Co-author]
  • Getting the Deal Through - Fintech 2019, Japan Chapter, Law Business Research Ltd. (2018) [Co-author]
  • “Open Banking in Japan,” Payments & Fintech Lawyer Volume 12, Issue 7, Cecile Park Media (2018) [Co-author]
  • 5000 Legal Countermeasures for Financial Institutions Vol.3: Lending, Management, and Guarantees, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2018) [Co-author]
  • 5000 Legal Countermeasures for Financial Institutions Vol.2: Exchange, Bills and Checks, Electronically Recorded Monetary Claims, Auxiliary Business, and Peripheral Business, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs (2018) [Co-author]
  • “Overview of the Amended Banking Act – Obligation to Make Efforts for Open API Required of Banks,” REGULATIONS Vol.11, Seminar-Info (December, 2017)
  • “Essential Changes to the Personal Information Protection Act,” GINKO JITSUMU Vol. 47 No.8, Banking Education Co., Ltd. (August, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Amendments to the Banking Act and Practical Tips: Mainly from a Financial Institution's Perspective,” Finance Law Journal No.2070, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc. (July, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Fintech: Business Strategies and the Law,” Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc.  (2017) [Co-author]
  • “Work in progress," BANKING & PROJECT FINANCE JAPAN, IFLR April 2017, IFLR (2017) [Co-author]
  • “Issues for Developing New Systems for Introduction of Open Bank API,” Junkan Shoji Homu No. 2130, Japan Institute of Business Law (April, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “FinTech: Key Points on Agency Services Including Electronic Payment,” GINKO JITSUMU Vol. 47 No.3, Banking Education Co., Ltd. (March, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Bank Application Programming Interface (API): Terms of Use Model and Practical Key Points,” Finance Law Journal No.2060, Kinzai Institute for Financial Affairs, Inc. (February, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Developments in FinTech – A Look at the Impact on Payment Systems,” Business Research No. 1071, Business Research Institute (November, 2016) [Co-author]

Web Articles

  • “Legal trends in the regulation of crypto currency,” Asia Business Law Journal (May, 2025) [Co-author]
  • “Japan’s crypto-asset, stablecoin and security token regulations,” Asia Business Law Journal (May, 2025) [Co-author]

  • “Stablecoins Legislation and Other Legislative Changes Affecting the Japan Fintech Industry,” Chambers FinTech 2023 (January, 2023) [Co-author]

  • [Survey Document] “Major Laws and Regulations related to FinTech,” The Center for Financial Industry Information Systems (FISC) (December 2022) [Co-author]

  • “An Introduction to FinTech Legal (Chambers PA: FinTech 2022 Overview Japan),” Chambers FinTech 2022 (January, 2022) [Co-author]

  • “Establishing New Services and Promoting Businesses after the Pandemic,” Chambers FinTech 2021 (December, 2020) [Co-author]
  • “Data Driven Innovation and Regulatory Consolidation,” Chambers FinTech 2020 (January, 2020) [Co-author]
  • “Japan: green light for information banking,” IFLR Fintech Leaders 2019 (September 2019)
  • [Research Report] “Trends of Data Protection Regulations in Japan and Overseas and the Responses of Japanese Financial Institutions,” The Center for Financial Industry Information Systems (FISC) (Chapter I, Co-authored, Posted on the Website)
  • “Moving Forward to a Cashless Society,” Chambers FinTech 2019 (January, 2019) [Co-author]
  • “Amendments to the Banking Act and Practical Tips: Part 5,” SHOJIHOMU PORTAL (June, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Amendments to the Banking Act and Practical Tips: Part 4,” SHOJIHOMU PORTAL (June, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Amendments to the Banking Act and Practical Tips: Part 3,” SHOJIHOMU PORTAL (May, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Amendments to the Banking Act and Practical Tips: Part 2,” SHOJIHOMU PORTAL (May, 2017) [Co-author]
  • “Amendments to the Banking Act and Practical Tips: Part 1,” SHOJIHOMU PORTAL (May, 2017) [Co-author]

Newsletters

Seminars

  • “Recent Environment Surrounding Regional Banks and the Role of Internal Audits,” at the Research Seminar on Internal Audits, hosted by Regional Banks Association of Japan, May 28, 2025
  • Panelist at a session entitled “Banking, Finance, and Securities, Energy & Natural Resources -Into de Veins of Mining: Trends and Challenges in Various Mechanisms to Finance Large Scale Mining Projects,” at IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference 2025 in Chicago, hosted by Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), April 25, 2025
  • “Overview of AI Regulations in Japan,” at the meeting of International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), April 7, 2025
  • “Financial Services for the Digital Generation - Fintech from the Customer's Perspective,” co-hosted by Atsumi & Sakai, Japan Association for Financial APIs and KPMG AZSA LLC, March 13, 2025
  • “Latest developments in IP from a Japanese perspective," at the meeting of the EU RE4DY project, February 24, 2025
  • “FDUA Regular Monthly Meetings and Study Sessions,” hosted by Financial Data Utilizing Association, December 11, 2024
  • Speaker at a panel entitled “BUSINESS LAW - Banking and Finance - Promoting the Environmental and Social Agenda: The Impact of Green and ESG Bonds,” at the 37th LAWASIA Conference 2024, hosted by LAWASIA,  October 14, 2024
  • “Recent Environment Surrounding Regional Banks and the Role of Internal Audits,” at the Research Seminar on Internal Audits, hosted by Regional Banks Association of Japan, May 29, 2024
  • Speaker at a panel session entitled “Banking, Finance and securities -Green Finance: How to prevent greenwashing,” at the IPBA Annual Meeting and Conference 2024 in Tokyo, hosted by Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), April 25, 2024
  • “Corporate Legal Research Seminar,” hosted by the Second Association of Regional Banks, March 11, 2024
  • Speaker at a panel session entitled “The Golden Age of Payment Systems,” at the IPBA 31st  Annual Meeting and Conference in Dubai, hosted by Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA), March 9, 2023
  • Speaker at a panel session entitled “FinTech Session (Current Legal Developments in the Asia-Pacific Region),” at a forum entitled “IPBA East Asia Forum 2022,” hosted by Inter-Pacific Bar Association (IPBA) , September 26, 2022
  • JFSA On-demand Training entitled “Latest Trends in the Fintech Sector,” hosted by Japan Financial Services Association, September 26, 2022
  • “Overview of Case Studies of Embedded Finance in Foreign Countries and Legal Points to Note upon Implementation in Japan,” at a syposium “[EXECUTIVE SYMPOSIUM] Potential for Embedded Finance and Governance Risk Management,” hosted by Seminar Info Co.,Ltd., July 7, 2022
  • “Important Points for Managing Internal Data and Information Systems in the Age of Remote Work from the point of view of Legal and Information Systems,” hosted by Japan Consumer Credit Association, November 16, 2020
  • “Innovation and Regulatory Initiatives,” at a syposium “Insights into the New Era of Industrial Innovation and related Legal Issues,” hosted by Westlaw Japan K.K. and Jiji Press, Ltd., January 30, 2020
  • “Trends and Key Points on Infrastructure and Energy Projects Abroad – Upon Publishing of the Book　Contracts and Practice of Overseas Energy Projects,” hosted by Atsumi & Sakai, supported by Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI), November 20, 2019
  • “Cutting Edge Fintech: Status of Efforts for the Realization of Cashless Society,” hosted by Atsumi & Sakai and Westlaw Japan K.K., November 30, 2018
  • “Open API: Practical Solutions for Banks – Including Repercussions for Credit Card and Insurance Companies,” hosted by Seminar-Info, May 28, 2018
  • “Open API: Practical Solutions for Banks – Including Repercussions for Credit Card and Insurance Companies,” hosted by Seminar-Info, December 20, 2017
  • “Latest Legal Compliance for Open API Introduction required of Financial Institutions, including Repercussions from the Amended Banking Act to Credit Card APIs,” hosted by Financial Facsimile News, organized by FN Communications, September 22, 2017
  • “Latest Legal Compliance for Open API Introduction required of Financial Institutions, including Repercussions from the Amended Banking Act to Credit Card APIs,” hosted by Semina-Info, August 2, 2017
  • “Practical Key Points on Open Bank API Based on the Proposed Amendments to the Banking Act,” hosted by Financial Facsimile News, organized by FN Communications, May 22, 2017
  • “Practical Key Points on Open Bank API Based on the Proposed Amendments to the Banking Act,” hosted by Seminar-Info, May 12, 2017