IPPO Japan Visa Support Immigration Law firm
Residence Status/Corporate Support/Visa Support in Tokyo
Message from the CEO
Why I Became an Administrative Scrivener
Encounter with Mother Teresa’s Book and Volunteering in India
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Representative Yuki Koike
I came across a book about Mother Teresa when I was in the fifth grade of elementary school. I was deeply moved by her lifelong dedication to helping the poor and her selfless service. From that moment, I dreamed of one day building a school so that children overseas could receive a proper education.
In my second year of university, I traveled to India and volunteered at an orphanage for children with disabilities and a home for the dying, both founded by Mother Teresa. The scenes I encountered were far beyond what I had imagined, and at first I felt lost and unable to do anything. However, little by little, by playing with the children and gently wiping their bodies, I began to connect with them. This experience gave me the opportunity to reflect deeply on many things — the meaning of life, the warmth of people, and the importance of human connections.
Joining “CCS: Student Association for Children of the World”
During my volunteer work in India, I felt strongly that, as a university student, I wanted to do what I could. This led me to join the activities of the CCS Student Association: Joining Hands with Children of the World. CCS mainly supports “children with foreign roots” those who were born and raised overseas, or who have parents or grandparents of foreign nationality by providing assistance with Japanese language learning and academic studies.
Encounter with a Refugee Family and My Determination
Through my activities with CCS, I met a refugee family. During the 2011 earthquake disaster, because they did not have visas, they were not allowed to enter the evacuation shelters. Even when they became ill, they endured without going to the hospital since they had no health insurance card and the medical expenses would have been too high.
All I could do was send food to the family and listen to their stories. Eventually, they made the difficult decision to return to their home country, leaving the father behind, out of concern for their future and their children’s lives. The father, however, could not return with them, as going back to his home country posed a serious risk to his life.
I resolved to continue supporting this family together with other supporters, so that one day they may be able to live together again in Japan.
Supporting Foreign Residents in Japan to Live with Peace of Mind
I came to realize that visas are vital for foreigners living in Japan they affect not only the individual but also the lives of their families. With this awareness, I decided to become a Gyoseishoshi (Administrative Lawyer), so that I could support foreign residents and help them live in Japan with peace of mind.
Principles I Cherish in My Work
Now it is my turn to become someone’s support
Throughout my life, I have been helped by the “support” of others:
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When I struggled with friendships, a teacher at school gave me a place where I felt I belonged.
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When I lost someone important to me in an accident, a single word of encouragement from my prep school teacher gave me the strength to continue my studies and aim for university entrance.
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During difficult times as a university student and later as a working adult, I was repeatedly saved by the words of my professors.
At each turning point in life, it was always the presence or words of others that gave me the strength to move forward. That is why I now want to become a source of support for someone else, and to pursue a profession where I can stand by others in their struggles.
Providing Support to Foreign Residents, No Matter How Small
Through my involvement in the CCS Student Association: Joining Hands with Children of the World, I came to recognize the importance of visas.
The type of visa a person holds determines what they can or cannot do, and it has a profound impact on their lives. I learned that many people cannot pursue what they want to do, or even work in Japan, because of these restrictions.
I want to provide support so that foreign residents can shape their own futures and live in Japan with confidence. My aim is to face each client not just as an administrative lawyer, but as a fellow human being sincerely, respectfully, and with a commitment to finding the best solutions together. I hope that clients and their families will be able to live happily in Japan and eventually feel that this country is their second home.
For more details about CCS Student Association: Joining Hands with Children of the World, please visit the following link:
http://ccs-ngo.main.jp/
Growing Together with Our Clients, Step by Step
Although my main focus has been visa applications, I believe that obtaining a visa is not the end goal, but the starting point. Each person has a life beyond the permission itself.
When clients take new steps such as changing jobs, starting a business, or facing life events like divorce or bereavement — I want to be their “trusted gyoseishoshi,” someone they can consult first without hesitation.
Why I Transitioned from a Sole Practice to a Corporation
When I operated my own private office, I began to feel the limitations of what I could achieve alone. Wanting to do more for my clients, I decided to incorporate the practice together with trusted colleagues.
On a personal note, my parents ran a drugstore business for many years, but eventually went bankrupt. At the time, I was already a working adult, but I was unable to help them, and I witnessed firsthand the difficulties of running and sustaining a business. Feeling powerless left a deep impression on me, and from that experience I developed a strong desire to “walk alongside clients, share in their challenges, and support their growth.”
Since becoming a gyoseishoshi in 2016, I have primarily supported business continuity through subsidy application assistance, working closely with business owners to think through their challenges and solutions. Moving forward, I want not only to continue this personally, but also to walk together with clients as a team.
Profile
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Graduated from Gakushuin University, Department of English and American Literature
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Assistant in Teacher Training Course, Gakushuin University
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Support staff at a center for persons with disabilities
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Joined a visa-specialized Gyoseishoshi office as an assistant in September 2011
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Established Koike Gyoseishoshi Office on April 15, 2016
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Appointed Representative of Gyoseishoshi Corporation IPPO on May 1, 2024
Affiliations
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Director, Shinagawa Branch, Tokyo Gyoseishoshi Association
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Member, Civil Legal Affairs Division, Tokyo Gyoseishoshi Association
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Member, NPO Life Support Tokyo
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Secretary-General, CCS Student Association: Joining Hands with Children of the World
Qualifications
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Certified Gyoseishoshi (with special administrative litigation authorization)
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Certified Career Consultant
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Licensed Junior High School and High School English Teacher
