2025-26

Overview
LL.M. Program

LL.D. Program

In 1994, the Graduate School of Law at Kyushu University

The LL.D. Program oﬀers students the unique opportunity of preparing a doctoral thesis in English

established Japan's ﬁrst Master's level program taught entirely

whilst studying at a Japanese university. Participants will pursue a closely supervised program ofin English: the LL.M. program.

research for 6 consecutive semesters (3 years) prior to submitting a ﬁnal dissertation.

Drawing upon faculty members with particular strengths in

The program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to complete high-level

these ﬁelds of law, the LL.M. program is designed to provide

research in law.

both Japanese and international students with the ability toconfront the many challenges of contemporary international

The Graduate School of Law encourages applications

economic aﬀairs and commercial transactions.

from suitably qualiﬁed applications ofall nationalities.

Taught in English from a Japanese perspective, the LL.M.
program seeks to develop a critical understanding of

Proposals for doctoral research on

legal principles within the framework of transnational &any legal topic will be considered.

comparative law.

LL.M. Program Key Points
DURATION OF PROGRAM
The program is taught on a full time basis and takes 12 months for completion,
beginning in October every year and ending in September of the following year.
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPLETION & CURRICULUM
All program students are expected to complete a 20-credit (approx. ﬁve courses persemester) curriculum and write a Master's Thesis. Courses oﬀered within theframework of the LL.M. program include:
Algorithms and the Law
Business Law in a Networked Age
Comparative Corporate Law
Contemporary Issues in Competition Law
Creative Economy and Cultural Diversity
Environmental and Energy GovernanceFundamental Issues in Intellectual Property Laws
Intellectual Property and Private International LawIntellectual Property Dispute Resolutions in International Matters
International Financial Regulation
International Law in Today's WorldInternational Relations & Global GovernanceJapanese Intellectual Property Law Practice
Law and Development
Mediation and Conﬂict Management
Platforms and the Law
Roman Law
Transnational Commercial Law and Foreign Investment Law
White Collar and Corporate Crime“Having completed my Master in Laws studies atthe Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium) in 1998,
I felt that I was not ready yet to enter the world ofwork and wanted to continue another academicventure. In my search for an appropriate LLM course,Kyushu University came to my attention, and moreparticularly the course structure and module content
which seemed to be wide enough in scope to gain agood understanding of the many challenges andopportunities in an ever changing international
economic environment.
My decision to join the LLM in International andEconomic Business Law at the Faculty of Law of theKyushu University, is one I will never regret andwhich has opened many doors. Thanks to thecombination of the internationality of the program
and the high diversiﬁcation of the colleague students
in the class, the LLM in International and Economic
Business Law gives you an excellent training infacing the diﬃculties that come with many
international legal and other management positions
one might pursue. Following my stay at Kyushu I
started working as associate lawyer with Linklaters
LLP in the mergers and acquisitions department.
After six years with Linklaters, I joined Euronav NV,a world leader in the transportation of crude oil, as
General Counsel of the group.
I wish all present and future participants all the bestand hope they will enjoy the year at Kyudai!”
Egied Verbeeck(LL.M. 1999, Kyushu University, Faculty of Law)

LL.D. Program Key Points
DURATION OF PROGRAM
Students are required to submit the ﬁnal version of their dissertation three years after
enrolling on the LL.D. program.
RESEARCH TOPIC
The doctoral thesis may be on any law-related subject agreed in consultation with theacademic supervisors and approved by the LL.D. Faculty Committee. However,Kyushu University, Graduate School of Law would particularly welcome doctoral
research proposals in these ﬁelds:
Comparative Corporate Law
Contemporary Issues in Competition Law
Creative Economy, Innovation & the Law
Information LawIntellectual Property and Private International LawIntellectual Property Law and PracticeInternational Arbitration
International Business Law
International Civil Litigation
International Maritime Law
Mediation and Conﬂict Management
Public International Law
White Collar and Corporate Crime
World Trade Law
A full list of professors and their current research interests can be found at:
http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/faculty/facultymembers/“Before studying in Kyushu University, I was a lawschool student at Peking University. I learned aboutthe LLM program at Kyushu University by chance,but out of my deep curiosity about Japan, I applied
for it and was luckily admitted to the program.
Since then, my wonderful journey in Japan began. The
diverse & interesting courses taught by knowledgeable
and insightful professors; the special lectures ofdistinguished scholars or governmental oﬃcials fromthe US, EU, or other Asian countries; the opportunities
to organize and participate in global conferences; thechances to discuss, share diﬀerent views, and makefriends with classmates from all of the world; theoccasions to learn the beautiful language & experience
Japanese culture through interesting study trips; etc.,
all appealed to me a lot and made a diﬀerence in my life.
All these made me decide to go beyond the one-year
study in Kyushu University and pursue my LLD there.
My four-year study in Kyushu University is the biggest
treasure in my life. It has not only enriched myknowledge in law, but also broadened my view of theworld. Diversity was the biggest lesson for me!
I am currently working at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto
law ﬁrm, which is one of the biggest law ﬁrms in Japan,
and my work mainly focuses on foreign investments inChina, M&A and other international matters.
Interestingly, in a big M&A transaction, I happily
worked with one of my Singaporean classmates, who
also graduated from Kyushu University. The world
may be big, but it also seemed so small! I miss and will
always remember my professors, classmates and happy
study times in KyushuUniversity!”Jie Yuan(LL.D. 2007, Kyushu University, Faculty of Law)

Why Fukuoka? Why Kyushu University?
Located in the heart of East Asia, midway between Tokyo,

Kyushu University is the largest university in Kyushu andShanghai and Seoul, Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu,

one of the most prestigious national universities in Japan.

the southernmost of Japan's four main islands. It is aFounded in 1911 as one of seven original Imperial

thriving modern metropolis that has not sacriﬁced its

Universities, it continues to be a focal point for academic

unique local character and charm. Historically known asand educational excellence.

Hakata, it has long been one of Japan's key ports forcommerce with the rest of Asia, and today the spirit ofGraduate study in Kyushu University provides well-Hakata lives on, for the growing continental ties of recent

motivated students with the opportunity to study in ayears have enabled the city to establish itself as a major

dynamic academic atmosphere and to enjoy life in one ofregional center.

Japan's fastest growing cities.

In 2006, Newsweek named Fukuoka as one of the “TenAnd yet, perhaps the most important feature of Fukuoka

Most Dynamic Cities” in the world, identifying an energeticfor the foreign resident is its people. Known throughout

regional economy, excellent infrastructure, and theJapan for their friendliness, the people of Fukuoka haveproximity and openness to Asia as key features behind its

long enjoyed good relationships with visitors from abroad.

continued growth. In 2017, Monocle magazine reported

For the foreigners living among Fukuoka's 1.6 million

a survey of world cities that ranked Fukuoka as the 14

residents, life is both comfortable and stimulating.

thmost livable city in the world. Finally, Nomura ResearchInstitute ranked Fukuoka second amongst 100 Japanesecities in 2017.

Tuition and Financial Aid
TUITION FEES
For the academic year 2025-2026, tuition fees total around ¥900,000. The ﬁnal amount for 2025-2026 is available
upon request after it is conﬁrmed in January 2025.
LL.M. & LL.D. Financial Aid
Information is available at:
http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/academic-programs/ll-m/
http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/academic-programs/ll-d/Faculty
The Graduate School of Law has a large and diverse faculty, with wide ranging research interests in all major ﬁelds of law

Associate Professor KAWASAKI Kunihiro

and political science. Moreover, faculty members have a wide range of experience in business, the legal profession,

LL.B.(Keio University), LL.M. (University of Chicago), J.D. (University of Tokyo), specializing in Corporate Law,

government service, international organizations, as well as academia. The following is an indicative list of faculty currently

Commercial Law and Securities Regulation.

involved in the LL.M. program.
Professor VAN UYTSEL Steven (Director of International Programs)LL.B. (Antwerp University), LL.M. & LL.D. (Kyushu University), specializing in Competition Law, Product Liability &Natural Resources Law.
Professor FENWICK Mark
LL.B. (University of London), M.Phil. & Ph.D. (University of Cambridge), specializing in Corporate Crime and Transnational
Business Law.
Professor HAN Sang Hee
B.A. & LL.M. (Korea University), LL.D. (Keio University), Ph.D. (Beijing University), specializing in International Law andPolitics.
Professor IGIMI Mariko
LL.B., LL.M. & LL.D. (Kyushu University), specializing in Roman Law.
Professor IRIE Hideaki

Associate Professor NARIHARA SatoshiB.A. (Waseda University), M.S.I. (University of Tokyo), specializing in Information Law.
Associate Professor NISHIMURA Tomoumi
LL.B. & LL.M. (Chuo University), specializing in Philosophy of Law and Legal Informatics.
Associate Professor YATSUNAMI Ren
LL.B., LL.M. & LL.D. (Kyushu University), specializing in Private International Law and International Business Law.
Assistant Professor LEE Peter
LL.B. (Pusan University), LL.M. & LL.D. (Kyushu University), specializing in Transport Law, Maritime Law and ECommerce Law.
Assistant Professor LI Xiaorong
LL.M. & LL.D. (Peking University), specializing in basic theories of international tax law and international tax
dispute resolution mechanisms.

BA (University of Tokyo), MS (University of Tokyo), MA (Hosei University), Ph.D. (University of Tokyo), specializing in

Emeritus Faculty

Conﬂict Management.

Emeritus Professor AKASHI Kinji
LL.B. & LL.M. (Keio University), Ph.D. (Utrecht University), specializing in Basic Theories of International Law andProfessor KOJIMA Ryu (Director of International Programs)

History of International Law.

LL.B. (University of Tokyo), LL.M. (Harvard University), specializing in Intellectual Property Law, and Law & Culture
Professor TERAMOTO Shinto
LL.B. (University of Tokyo), specializing in Intellectual Property Law.
Professor TOKUMOTO Minoru
LL.B., LL.M. & LL.D. (Kyushu University), LL.M. (Yale Law School), specializing in Commercial Law, Corporate Law &Business Law.

Emeritus Professor KONO Toshiyuki (Former Executive Vice President of Kyushu University)
LL.B. & LL.M. (Kyoto University), specializing in Private International Law and Civil Litigation, and Law & Culture.
Emeritus Professor PEJOVIC Caslav
LL.B. (University of Montenegro), LL.M. (Belgrade University), LL.M. (Kyoto University), Ph.D. (Zagreb University),
specializing in Maritime Law, International Business Law & E-Commerce.

Campus, Facilities and Services
CampusThe Graduate School of Law moved from its traditional location in Hakozaki to the campus of Kyushu University in Itoin the summer of 2018. Further details on the new campus are available here:
http://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/campus/ito
Library
The Law Library of Kyushu University houses one of the largest collections in Japan with over 310,000 volumes. It isparticularly well known for its collection of international and foreign-language materials, and provides an excellent
research resource for all graduate students.
TechnologyKyushu University provides wireless access throughout the campus. International students enrolled on aprogram at the Graduate School of Law are given access to the LL.M. Study Room, which contains a number ofcomputers and network hubs for laptops. Students are also given access to an extensive selection of on-line databases
containing both English and Japanese materials, including LEXIS/NEXIS & WESTLAW.
Health CareAll international students are obliged to join a national health insurance scheme. For a nominal monthly charge, 70% of
health costs are covered by insurance. Students are free to choose their health care provider.
Student SupportersAll international students enrolled on a course in the Graduate School of Law will be provided with a Supporter to assist
with various practical matters upon arriving in Japan.
Kyushu University International Affairs Department
International Affairs Department, Kyushu University is responsible for providing a range of services for supporting
incoming students and researchers from overseas.
The International Affairs Department web page can be found at:https://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/intlweb/en/
Housing
Kyushu University oﬀers a number of housing options.
Further information is available at: https://www.isc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/intlweb/en/student/housing

APPLICATION INFORMATION: LL.M. PROGRAMAPPLICATION INFORMATION: LL.D. PROGRAM

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

The application procedure for October 2025 entry is available on the international programs

The application procedure for October 2025 entry

website. http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/academic-

is available on the international programs website.

programs/

http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/

Requirements for Admission

programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/

For admission to the LL.M. program, students must have or expect to have by the time of enrolment:

academic-programs/- An undergraduate law degree from an accredited university.

Requirements for Admission- A thorough knowledge of the English language. Please note: if English is not your native language you must

The LL.D. program is open to applicants with:take the TOEFL test or equivalent. A TOEFL score of 92+ (Internet-based) is required for admission.

- A Master’s degree (in law or a related- Suﬃcient ﬁnancial support for the program of study.

discipline) from an accredited university.
All applicants will be expected to have

Application Forms

completed some form of legal study at aApplication forms for the program are available from the Admissions Oﬃce of the LL.M. Program or may be downloaded

graduate level.

from http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/academic-programs/ll-m/- Competence in the English language is aprerequisite of the program and proof ofPlease write to the following address to request hard copies of the necessary application materials:

English ability will be required of non-native speakers. In principle, a TOEFL score of 100+ (Internet-based)

Admission Oﬃce of the LL.M. Programis required.

Faculty of Law, Kyushu University, East Zone 2,- Suﬃcient ﬁnancial support for the program of study.

744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
Fax: 81 (Japan)-92-802-5407

Application Forms
Application forms for the program are available from the Admissions Oﬃce of the LL.D. Program or may be downloaded

Further information on the LL.M. program is available upon request from:admission@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp

from http://www.law.kyushu-u.ac.jp/programsinenglish/html/programs-admissions/academic-programs/ll-d/Please write to the following address to request hard copies of the necessary application materials:
Admission Oﬃce of the LL.D. Program
Faculty of Law, Kyushu University, East Zone 1,744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan.
Fax: 81 (Japan)-92-802-5407
Further information on the LL.D. program is available upon request from:admission@law.kyushu-u.ac.jp