Naoto Watanabe is Legal Advisor to Reflections Group and the Founder and Principal Administrative Lawyer of his legal practice in Japan. He is a registered Administrative Scrivener (Gyōseishoshi) (Registration No. 21081232) and a qualified Real Estate Transaction Agent, specialising in regulatory, immigration, and cross-border investment matters involving Japan.

Naoto brings extensive experience in Japan–China cross-border legal and advisory work, supported by approximately nine years living and working in China. During this period, he was involved in legal, regulatory, and investment-related assignments supporting Japanese companies operating in the Chinese market. His professional experience includes work with Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting (Shanghai) on outbound market entry support, as well as engagements with Japanese and Chinese law firms, including Taisei (Shanghai) Law Office. His scope of work covered corporate legal affairs, labour matters, dispute resolution, intellectual property, and inbound investment into Japan.

Following his return to Japan, Naoto gained further practical experience at an administrative law firm before establishing his own practice in 2021. He currently advises on immigration and residency matters for foreign nationals, licensing and regulatory approvals, inbound investment, and other non-contentious legal services.

Naoto holds a Bachelor of Laws from Kansai University and a Juris Doctor from Keio University Law School. He also completed legal studies at Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University through academic exchange programmes. At Reflections Group, he supports cross-border structuring, regulatory strategy, and legal alignment, drawing on his understanding of both Japanese and Chinese legal environments and decision-making frameworks.