I hope you had a pleasant and refreshing Sports Day weekend.

Speaking of sports, from this coming weekend, October 17, 2025, through early next week, the Oral Examination of the Japanese Patent Attorney Bar Examination—a true contest of intellect—is scheduled to take place.

This year again, I had the privilege of serving as both a test writer and an interviewer for a mock oral examination organized by one of the fractions of JPAA.

Although a little belated, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 205 test takers who successfully passed the written examination which is the second stage of the entire bar examination. These 205 warriors are those who had already survived the first stage of the examination, which originally had 2,775 contenders.

At the mock examination venue, nearly 60 of those successful candidates joined us in person. It was a genuine honor to meet many of you through the subject I was in charge of.
I imagine that most of you have carried many hopes, challenges, and years of effort into this examination. Now, the final stage is upon you. The oral examination can indeed be nerve-racking, yet it also offers a profound sense of fulfillment once completed.

Having endured hardships and persevered through the long journey, you now stand on the threshold of release—from the weight that has long pressed upon you—and are ready to turn the page to the next chapter of your lives.

During the mock sessions, some participants demonstrated astonishing precision, reproducing passages from the Blue Book (Industrial Property Law: Article-by-Article Commentary) almost to the very syllable—like a razor honed to perfection—while others devoted ample time to deep contemplation before each response.

To every one of you, I wish the very best of your success. May all your dedication and perseverance be rewarded with final victory, and may your lives unfold toward even greater promise and fulfillment.