50 Leaders in Law - Volume 2

It is often said that lawyers who can also contribute to an organization’s forward progress are rare in Japan. And yet, such leaders certainly exist.

At Just Legal, we are continuing our project to meet 50 legal leaders active in Japan’s legal community. Today, I’d like to introduce Ms. Kaoru Kodama, who plays a key legal role at a global company closely connected to the semiconductor industry.

Kodama-san is a UK-qualified lawyer with Big Law training. Rather than positioning herself as a traditional “sensei,” she approaches her role as a service and solution provider, working closely alongside the business. That mindset, shaped through years of in-house experience, was particularly striking.

“Legal should stay close to the business and help it move forward.”

Over the course of her career, she has held several in-house legal roles, and most recently led the legal function at a start-up. Working across organizations at very different stages has given her a balanced perspective on both execution and decision-making.

“You can’t improve a system unless you first understand why it exists.”

True to this view, her approach is not about rapid or disruptive change, but about building understanding, trust, and dialogue — and from there, enabling steady forward movement within the organization.

Combining global standards with a strong sensitivity to local context, she values harmony while continuing to raise the bar in a thoughtful and measured way. In her current role, it is clear that she is contributing as a leader who brings forward momentum to the organization, in a manner well suited to today’s environment.

Kodama-san, thank you very much for taking the time to share your perspectives. Your insights offer meaningful guidance for the next generation of legal leaders in Japan.