Nationality: Japan
Country of Residence: Japan
Nominator: Steve A. Mirmina
Supporters: Setsuko Aoki, Frans von der Dunk, Steven Freeland, Henry Hertzfeld, Matha Meija-Kaiser, Yuri Takaya-Umehara
Professional path (including present position)
1. As a practitioner;
2010-present: JAXA Specialists on Legal Affairs, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
2024-present: Counselor, Work-Life Support and Diversity Office, Senior Advisor for Legal Affairs, General Affairs Department, JAXA Headquarters
2019 -2023: Director, Evaluation and Audit Department, JAXA HQ
2020-2023: Director, Work-Life Support and Diversity Office, JAXA HQ
2017-2018: Senior Advisor, Finance Department, JAXA HQ
2015-2017: Manager, Administration of Kakuda Space Center, JAXA
2015: Senior Advisor, International Affairs Department, JAXA HQ
2013-2015: Director, JAXA Washington DC Office, USA
2011-2013: Manager, Human Resources Management Division, Human Resources Department, JAXA HQ 2005-2011: Manager, Legal Affairs Division, General Affairs Department, JAXA HQ
2003-2005: Manager, Contract Investigation Division, Contract Department, JAXA HQ
2002-2003: Deputy Manager, Space Organizations Consolidation Preparation Office, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
1987-1988, 1997-1998: Science and Technology Agency
1994-95: Visiting Scholar, Space Policy Institute, Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University
1986-2002: National Space Development Agency (NASDA)
2. As an educator;
2023-present: Visiting Professor (Space Utilization Theory), Faculty of Law, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
2007, 2011-present: Lecturer (International Public Space Law), Faculty of Law, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
Education and degree
1995: Certificate, Visiting Scholar (1994-1995), Space Policy Institute, Elliot School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA
1986: Bachelor of Laws, Gakushuin University, Tokyo, Japan
Main publications in English
-M. Sato, “The Japanese Legal Framework: Third Party Liability Resulting from NASDA Launch Activities,” IISL-98-IISL.2.05 (Proceedings of the 41st Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, pp127-137)
-M. Sato (Corresponding author), Prof. T. Kosuge, Prof. P. van Fenema, “Legal Implications on Satellite Procurement and Trade Issues between Japan and the United States,” IISL-99-IISL.3.13 (Proceedings of the 42nd Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space, pp224-239)
-M. Sato, “Analysis of the Legal and Political Background to Cooperation between Japan and the United States in Space Development,” IISL-00-IISL.4.09 (Proceedings of the 43rd Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space)
-M. Sato, “Lessons Learned from Japanese Space Activities and Experiences with Dispute Settlement: The Need for Appropriate Dispute Prevention and Settlement Measures in Regulating Space Activities,” IISL-01-IISL.1.18 (Proceedings of the 44th Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space)
-M. Sato, “Reorganization of the Space Development Structure in Japan,” Space Policy 19 (2003)
-M. Sato, S. Ishido, “Current Status of Japan's Active Development of Space Laws and Systems for Legal Compliance in the Age of Celestial Exploration” IAC-23,E7,3,11,x79152 (Proceedings of the 66th Colloquium on the Law of Outer Space) (2023)
Membership and professional affiliation
- International Institute of Space Law (IISL)
Member, Board of Directors, Member, Moot Court Committee - Japanese Society of International Law - Air Law Institute of Japan
- Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences
Awards and other accomplishments
JAXA President Award (2005, 2023)
Space law expertise
I have been working as a leading space law expert in JAXA and Japanese Government for almost 40 years, and involved in almost all of Japan's international and domestic space legislation as a negotiator or drafter. Among others, international legal instruments include, IGA for Space Station Freedom(1988) and ISS(1998), US-Japan Satellite Procurement Agreement (1990), US-Japan Cross-Waiver of Liability Agreement(1995), Artemis Accords(2020), Gateway MOU(2020), US-Japan Framework Agreement(2023). Domestic legal instruments include, among others, NASDA Law Amendment(1998), JAXA Law(2002), Basic Act on Space(2008), Space Activities Act(2016), Space Resources Act(2021).
In addition, I have served as a Representative Advisor or member of Japanese delegation to the LSC/ COPUOS for many years.
Besides of my missions at JAXA or Japanese Government, I have also been taking role as a professor or
lecturer of space law at several universities in Japan like Keio University or Gakushuin University for more than 15 years. I published with my colleagues, "Introduction to Space Law for Entrepreneurs" (Yuhikaku, 2015, revised in 2018 and 2024), one of the most popular space law textbook for legal practitioners and graduate/undergraduate students in Japan to date.
IISL Position applied for
Director
Specify your relationship with the IISL
I became a IISL member in 1999 and continue to participate in the annual colloquium as much as possible. Since 2021, I have been contributing to the management of IISL as a board member, especially as a member of the Space Law Moot Court Committee.
Noteworthy, I have dedicated to the promotion of the Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Japan and Asia-Pacific region by means of; (1) starting and maintaining for more than 20 years JAXA’s support of the travel expenses of the winners of the Asia-Pacific regional round to the final round, (2) supporting as a leading local committee member to hold the final round 2005 in Fukuoka, Japan, as well as the AP Rounds 2013, 2023 and 2024 in Tokyo, (3) conducting national practice competitions for nearly 20 years to promote space law to Japanese students and to train them in moot court. Specifically, as a member of the Moot Court Committee of IISL, I intended to organize the AP Round in Tokyo for two consecutive years (2023-2024) and realized it to accumulate operational know-how and to ensure efficient operation of the AP Round, in order to improve the sustainability of the AP round.
In addition, I have served as session co-chairman for the Asia-Pacific Space Law Conference such as Beijing in 2004, Bangkok in 2006, Chiang Mai in 2007, and the IISL Colloquium in Fukuoka in 2005. My contribution as a member of the Legal and Scientific Round Table Committee should also be noted.
Specify the reason for applying for the postition and how you can serve IISL
I have served on the Board of Directors for the past three years, and during that time my focus has been on how to improve the sustainability of the AP round of moot court, as a member of the Moot Court Committee of IISL. If I am asked to serve on the Board of Directors for another term, I hope to contribute in some way to the overall management of IISL from Asia-Pacific perspective both as a practitioner and educator of space law. Especially, I would like to contribute to the growing presence of IISL in an era of ever-increasing demand for new rules and norms for current and future space activities . In addition, I would like to apply my long experience in internal control, risk management, and compliance , as well as in promoting diversity and inclusion at JAXA, to IISL's organizational management.
Name, Surname of Nominator
Dr. Steve A. Mirmina
Nominator's reasons for nominating the nominee
Masahiko SATO has served on the IISL Board for the past three years, and during that time he has worked tirelessly on improving the Asia Pacific round of the IISL moot court. Specifically, he was able to persuade his alma mater (Gakushuin Univ.) to host the AP Round in Tokyo for two consecutive years and obtain the necessary funding mainly from the Japanese government. Moreover, by hosting the AP Round for two consecutive years, SATO-san was able to accumulate operational know-how that could be passed on to subsequent host countries. If he is asked to serve on the Board of Directors for another term, he hopes to contribute in some way to the overall management of IISL from Asia-Pacific perspective both as a practitioner and educator of space law.
Masahiko SATO has been working as leading space law expert in JAXA and Japanese Government almost 40 years, and has been involved in almost all of Japan's international and domestic space legislation as a drafter or reviewer, including negotiating the IGA for Space Station Freedom(1988) and negotiating the IGA for the ISS(1998), the Artemis Accords(2020), the Gateway MOU with NASA (2020), the US-Japan Framework Agreement(2023), JAXA Law(2002), the Japan Basic Act on Space(2008), the Japan Space Activities Act(2016), and the Japan Space Resources Act(2021) etc. In addition, SATO-san has been taking role as a professor or lecturer of space law at several universities in Japan including Keio University for more than 15 years.
Supporters:
Setsuko Aoki
Frans von der Dunk
Steven Freeland
Henry Hertzfeld
Matha Meija-Kaiser
Yuri Takaya-Umehara