Driven by a spirit of inquiry
A litigation lawyer's journey into jewelry

[Interview/Attorney Shinnosuke Nitta]

Shinnosuke Nitta is one of the few lawyers who specializes in "jewelry law." He moved to Mimura and Komatsu Law Offices in January 2025, further strengthening the support system of our firm, which has strengths in the creative field.
Even before transferring to the firm, Mr. Nitta had been impressed by the way our attorneys, Mr. Ebisawa and Mr. Komatsu, were venturing into new industrial fields such as "fashion law" and "art law," and providing a wide range of advice that went beyond the bounds of law.

Footnotes,PodcastAttorney Nitta has actively spoken out on these and other platforms, and has built a unique career while confronting the potential of the jewelry industry and its unique challenges. We spoke to him about his journey so far and his vision for the future.

Cultivating logic and experience
The charm of jewelry that captivated me

-I heard that you were a member of the debate club when you were a student.

I was a member of the soccer club until junior high school, but after experiencing a debate in class, I became attracted to the fun of constructing logic and arguing, so I joined the debate club in high school.
The activities were more serious than I had imagined, and we even participated in a national tournament called "Debate Koshien." The topic was announced at the beginning of the school year, and the team spent several months thoroughly preparing for the summer tournament. However, since the positions of the affirmative and negative sides changed for each match, we had to be prepared to fight from either side.
It was difficult to switch positions and construct logic, but I think that in the process I developed the ability to think from multiple perspectives and the attitude to prepare carefully.
And above all, I was fascinated by the gameplay, where the winner is clearly determined. I think it was the perfect sport for someone like me who hates to lose.

-So you had already developed the ability to think logically while you were a student.
　Did you want to be a lawyer as a child?.

No, actually I chose to study science up until my third year of high school, and I was thinking about going into research in the future. However, at the time, there was a lot of discussion in society about introducing a lay judge system, and when I participated in a symposium held by the Fukuoka Bar Association, I realized that "the law is directly connected to society as a whole," which sparked my interest in law, so I applied to the Faculty of Law as well, was accepted, and that's when I started to get serious about law.
After entering the Faculty of Law, I initially thought I might use my science knowledge to become a patent attorney, but as I deepened my studies, my interest in the bar exam grew, and I ultimately decided to become a lawyer.
There were many difficult times studying for the bar exam, but I think the logical thinking and writing skills I developed through debates were useful. There were also parts where I was able to approach the study as if it were an extension of my club activities, discussing things with my classmates.
I think I was lucky that the things I had loved doing up until then gave me the strength to pass the exams.

What areas of work did you work in after becoming a lawyer?

I have mainly been involved in management support for small and medium-sized enterprises and property insurance-related cases.
In the field of management support for small and medium-sized enterprises, we often receive consultations from business owners about cases such as "I've been betrayed by an employee I trusted for many years." Because this can cause not only financial loss but also great psychological damage, we have been conscious of creating systems that go beyond legal action to prevent recurrence.
In the field of non-life insurance, I have had experience with many cases involving fraudulent claims. Typical examples include conspiring to make claims that falsely represent accidents or theft, or making duplicate claims for the same product. Even if they appear clever at first glance, the truth gradually becomes clear when comparing the details of the individual's declaration with various pieces of evidence. I feel that through these experiences, I naturally developed a perspective on how to determine the facts.

-What first sparked your interest in jewelry?

A few years after becoming a lawyer, I started thinking about "finding my own area of ​​expertise," and by chance I was in charge of a lawsuit regarding jewelry and watches in a property insurance case. The issues at stake were the appropriateness of valuation and price, so I visited artisans and the wholesale district of Okachimachi to learn more, and one day I asked, "Why is the price set at this level?" and was immediately told, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "That depends on the 4Cs evaluation."
I was shocked to realize that I had no understanding of the common knowledge of the industry, so I immediately purchased a jewelry coordinator textbook published by the Japan Jewelry Association. As I flipped through the pages, I was immediately drawn in by the beauty of the many photographs of gemstones. All at once, memories of collecting fossils as a child and being given stone samples to buy in limestone caves on trips came flooding back. Before I knew it, I was engrossed in the book and thought, "Since I'm here, I might as well get certified."
Although I had looked up textbooks from associations and other organizations for other projects, I had never thought about trying to get a qualification, but when it came to jewelry, that feeling naturally arose.

-What kind of qualifications does a jewelry coordinator need?

This is a private qualification for sales staff, and there are three levels: 3rd grade, 2nd grade, and 1st grade.
Level 3 is an introductory level that covers birthstones and basic knowledge, and is the kind of thing that new graduates acquire before working in a store. Level 2 covers store management and inventory management, and is considered knowledge necessary for store managers.
Grade 1 is even more advanced, and is a qualification given to managers and executives who are recommended by industry groups as "specialists." In addition to written and essay exams, there are also practical exams that require diamond grading, colored stone evaluation, and even customer service role-playing. A distinctive feature of this qualification is that it places emphasis not only on simple knowledge but also on understanding the on-site experience.
Of course, it's not a qualification required for a lawyer. However, by learning about the knowledge and sense of those working in the field, I can speak a common language with clients. In that sense, I feel it has been a big plus for my work.

To protect trust and value
Improve your knowledge and get closer to the industry

-What is the appeal of jewelry to you, Professor Nitta?

The world of jewelry is so vast that it is impossible to describe it in a few words.
There is the world of fine jewelry, which uses rare stones and precious metals such as diamonds and emeralds, as well as the field of costume jewelry, which attracts people with its design and ideas, without being bound by the value of the materials themselves. Furthermore, you can also come into contact with history and culture through antiques, such as ancient Roman rings and Victorian brooches. In recent years, contemporary jewelry, which was born as a means of self-expression, just like art and dance, has also been gaining popularity.
Multiple independent worlds unfold like a map, each with its own depth. I feel that the greatest appeal of jewelry is that every time you come into contact with the whole picture, you learn and discover something new.

-I was surprised to learn that such a diverse and profound world can be found within such a small piece of jewelry.

On the other hand, the reality is that things aren't all pretty.
Small, expensive jewelry is an easy target for fraud. There are various methods used, such as pretending to have been stolen when in fact it wasn't, or inflating the amount of damage. In such cases, if you understand the business flow and trends in the reuse market, you can spot any unusual or inconsistent behavior. Conversely, if the person receiving the consultation lacks knowledge, there are cases where the problem is overlooked. This is why it is essential to continue learning about the systems and practices of the industry, and I believe that having that knowledge is what has earned us the trust of people in the industry.

-What other types of problems or inquiries do you receive most often in the jewelry industry?

We receive many inquiries regarding problems with repairs and renovations. These problems arise from subjective impressions such as "There was no scratch like this" or "The gemstone was more vibrant and larger" when the item was returned.
The jewelry entrusted to us by our customers is often deeply connected to family memories and milestones in life, making this a very delicate issue. That is why it is essential to create a system in place that takes photos in advance and clearly communicates important points to note.
We also often receive consultations regarding returns. Even in cases where returns are legally not possible, such as when a client breaks off their engagement and wants to return a ring, the luxury industry demands a high level of customer experience, and legal standards alone cannot suffice. In such cases, I believe one of my roles is to work with clients to consider how far they should support the client and how they should respond in order to protect the brand's value and trust.

In the B2B field, there are many problems with design imitation and intellectual property.
Jewelry is often sold for a long time, transcending eras and trends, making it a field ideally suited to utilizing design rights. However, the jewelry industry is dominated by small and medium-sized businesses, making it difficult to secure personnel and budgets capable of handling intellectual property. In addition, a major issue is that the culture of strategically linking design and intellectual property has not yet taken root. For these reasons, many companies are unable to fully utilize systems such as design rights, and are unable to take full advantage of the system's "preventive" and "brand strengthening" aspects.
That is why I feel that it will become increasingly important for the entire industry to be aware of how to protect and utilize rights.

-Finally, please tell us about your future prospects.

I believe that there were many people who supported the greatest designers and business leaders in history, even though they were not visible from the glamorous front stage. Just like Pierre Bergé who supported Yves Saint Laurent, I would like to help bring outstanding talent to the stage they deserve.

【2025.9.25】

Mimura Komatsu Law Office is looking for motivated lawyers who share our philosophy and goals, have a spirit of challenge, and want to grow by leveraging their interest in various industries and past experience.

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