Professional Summary
Akihiro Kawasaki is a member of the Firm’s Tax / Transfer Pricing Group in Tokyo. He has a wide range of experience — including in Hong Kong IPOs, cryptocurrency issues and tax audits — and is particularly proficient in tax consulting involving complex reorganization-related tax concepts and anti-Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) rules. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked for a major Japanese tax consulting firm for 13 years, including a four-year assignment in Shanghai.
Practice Focus
Akihiro’s practice focuses on cross-border tax planning for foreign multinational corporations (MNCs), including the development of tax-efficient capital structures to reduce clients’ effective tax rates.
Representative Clients, Cases or Matters
- Advised numerous Japanese listed companies on Japanese anti-CFC rules related to outbound investment and overseas restructuring.
- Advised various Japanese/foreign companies on cross-border triangular structuring.
- Advised numerous Japanese companies on investments in US- and/or Europe-based real estate investment funds.
- Advised various Japanese alternative funds / foreign PE funds on tax structuring.
- Advised numerous Japanese listed companies on Japan-China cross-border restructuring.
- Represented numerous subsidiaries of foreign MNCs in Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau tax examinations (e.g., with regard to permanent establishment, Japanese Consumption Tax (JCT) and CFC rules, etc.)
- Advised a Japanese listed company on the de-SPAC listing of its Israeli subsidiary on NASDAQ.
- Advised numerous foreign MNCs, including US SEC-listed companies, on domestic reorganization.
- Advised numerous foreign digital platform operators on JCT matters.
- Advised numerous foreign MNCs on setting up Japanese subsidiaries / formation of JVs.
- Advised a foreign MNC on tax structuring in connection with its investment in renewable energy facilities.
- Advised foreign companies on obtaining determinations by the National Tax Agency with regard to tax treaties.
- Advised Japanese companies on their stock listings in Hong Kong.
- Advised Japanese companies on virtual currency issues.
Publications, Presentations and Articles
- Co-author, “Supply Chain and Legal Practice,” Keiso Shobo, February 2026, Language: Japanese
- Co-author, “Japan’s Corporate Tax Measures in Response to COVID-19,” Daily Tax Report: International, Bloomberg Tax, October 2020, Language: English
Admissions
Licensed Tax Attorney (Zeirishi) – Japan (2016)
Education
The University of Tokyo (Bachelor of Economics) (2006)
Languages
Japanese, English, Mandarin
* “Partner” as referred to in this material represents a senior-level professional who would be responsible for case management in each practice area, and does not mean profit-sharing members of the partnership.