Japan Chapter Launch Strengthens UC Law SF’s Global Alumni Network

A group photo of Japan-based alumni with Professor Setsuo Miyazawa, Dean of Enrollment June Sakamoto, and Chancellor & Dean David Faigman

UC Law SF alumni joined Chancellor & Dean David Faigman, Professor Emeritus Setsuo Miyazawa, and Dean of Enrollment Management June Sakamoto on Aug. 31 in Tokyo to celebrate the launch of the College’s newest international alumni chapter.

UC Law SF officially launched the Japan Alumni Chapter this fall, its 25th alumni group and second overseas chapter.
The chapter launch comes as Japan’s legal market undergoes rapid growth, with increasing demand for cross-border legal expertise.
It builds on years of informal gatherings of alumni, student interns, and study-abroad students organized by Professor Setsuo Miyazawa in Tokyo.

��ԭ�� marked the launch of its newest international alumni chapter this fall, expanding its global reach and establishing a formal presence in a nation with a .

“Having an alumni chapter in Japan is a great milestone that reveals the growth of this community,” said Chapter President David Albagli ’07, a local partner at White & Case in Tokyo. “We look forward to continuing to connect with all students – past, present, and future.”

Setsuo Miyazawa holds a microphone in front of a lectern.

Professor Setsuo Miyazawa speaks at UC Law SF’s 2023 Japanese Law Symposium, an annual event he organizes to foster U.S.–Japan legal exchange. Miyazawa has played a central role in connecting alumni and students in Japan and strengthening the College’s relationship with Japanese legal institutions.

Graduates living and working in Japan joined UC Law SF faculty members and leaders for lunch at a Tokyo restaurant on Aug. 31, celebrating one of the newest chapters of the UC Law SF Alumni Association. Among those in attendance to celebrate the event was Chancellor & Dean David Faigman.

“This chapter reflects the growth and influence of our alumni in Japan,” Faigman said. “As Japan’s legal market evolves, our alumni are at the forefront, shaping different areas of legal practice and strengthening UC Law SF’s global presence.”

The Japan Chapter builds on a strong foundation laid by Professor Setsuo Miyazawa, senior director emeritus of UC Law SF’s Center for East Asian Legal Studies. For more than a decade, Miyazawa has organized informal meetups in Tokyo, bringing together alumni with students studying abroad or interning there. With the chapter’s official recognition, Miyazawa said those gatherings now have a stronger base for lasting connections.

“This will provide us with a firmer institutional basis to maintain a closer and enduring relationship with UC Law SF and to work as the bridgehead of UC Law SF in Japan,” said Miyazawa, who retired from teaching at UC Law SF in 2023 but continues to organize the College’s annual Japanese Law Symposium.

Miyazawa, who has long served as de facto secretary of the group, will continue his affiliation, serving as an advisor to the chapter. Kyle Reykalin ’09 and Megumi Wada LLM ’15 serve as vice presidents. Yu Tsuda LLM ’14 serves as secretary, and Dylan Fackler ’25 serves as assistant secretary.

With Miyazawa’s recent retirement, Tsuda said this is the perfect time to formalize the group’s affiliation with the College.

“I am thrilled that we will be able to enhance the cooperative relationship with UC Law SF to ensure the community’s continued growth and development,” Tsuda said.

Tsuda shared his vision for the chapter’s future: one where connections among graduates transcend barriers such as age, graduation year, professional status, or field of expertise. He believes graduates will find great value in joining a community where they can exchange memories, professional insights, and future aspirations.

Kan Morimoto Lew ’21 advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, and international energy projects at K&L Gates in Tokyo. Lew credits UC Law SF programs like the Startup Legal Garage, Corporate Externship, and negotiations class with preparing him for international practice.

The new chapter builds on a foundation of global relationships the College has long cultivated. UC Law SF partners with more than 30 law schools in more than 20 countries or jurisdictions across six continents. That includes four law schools in Japan: Waseda University, Hitotsubashi University, Kobe University, and Doshisha University. UC Law SF also has a long-standing partnership with the Daini Tokyo Bar Association,

“What makes the experience at UC Law SF unique is that from the very first day of classes, JD, LLM, and MLS students learn, network, and grow together as one community, and that bond carries forward seamlessly into our alumni network,” said Dean of Enrollment Management June Sakamoto.

UC Law SF graduates have built careers in Japan as judges, academics, corporate counsel, and attorneys at top law firms handling cross-border deals with global impact. Many credit the school’s specialized curriculum, study-abroad programs, faculty mentorship, and strong ties with Japanese law schools with giving them a competitive edge.

Fackler, who recently started working for Japan’s largest law firm, Nishimura & Asahi, said the College’s vast alumni network has helped him to connect with fellow graduates that share similar backgrounds and interests.

“Lawyers who work abroad tend to form small communities where everyone knows each other,” he said. “This network has given me the opportunity to meet fellow alumni (including some who work in the same firm) and learn more about what to expect in my career.”

The Japan group is the College’s 25th alumni chapter or affinity group and the second overseas chapter, joining one previously established in South Korea.

“We are incredibly proud of our alumni in Japan,” said UC Law SF Chief Advancement Officer Julia Jordan. “This represents a remarkable milestone, connecting accomplished graduates and recognizing dedicated faculty members like Professor Setsuo Miyazawa who helped build lasting connections between UC Law SF and Japan.”

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