Bakxshillo Kamolovich Khodjaev has been appointed Rector of Tashkent State University of Law. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at the same institution. Dr. Khodjaev studied in Japan from 2014 to 2018, completing his doctoral program in comparative law at Nagoya University. His field of specialization is unfair competition law, and he wrote his dissertation under the supervision of Professor Shuya Hayashi.After returning to Uzbekistan, he held various important positions at the Ministry of Justice from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, he became the Chair of the Department of Business Law at Tashkent State University of Law, and from 2020 to 2022 he served as Dean of the Faculty of Private Law. Since 2022, Dr. Khodjaev has served as the University’s Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation.The appointment of an NU@GSL alumnus as Rector coincides with an important period of reform in legal education and scholarship in Uzbekistan. According to the President’s new decree, as the newly appointed Rector, Dr. Khodjaev is expected to ensure the integration of legal education and practical training, introduce a collegial governance system within the university administration, and enhance the quality of legal education and research so that Tashkent State University of Law enters the QS Top 1000 ranking by 2030. In addition, the university is expected to relocate to its new campus between 2025 and 2028.We wish Rector Dr. Khodjaev, as an NU@GSL alumnus, every success in effectively implementing these major tasks. 

On November 25, 2025, the Graduate School of Law at Nagoya University was privileged of hosting Professor Alain Strowel from Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain, Belgium). He delivered a hybrid lecture, conducted both in-person and online, titled “Generative AI: the Largest Ever ‘Theft’ of Intellectual Labor? Review of Copyright Developments in the EU and US and Possible Reform to Tackle the Risks of AI Slop and AI Model Collapse”.Professor Strowel opened his presentation by illustrating the profound impacts of generative AI on the creative sector, emphasizing the widespread use of copyrighted works for AI training and how this practice might contribute to a “theft of intellectual labor”. He highlighted significant risks, including legal uncertainties, the proliferation of “AI slop” and the threat of “AI model collapse” if models are trained mainly on synthetic data.Specifically, the professor detailed that the ability of AI to create competing content quickly and at minimal costs has contributed to a sharp decline in the earnings of self-employed authors and artists. Although major companies are increasingly securing licensing deals with AI developers, individual creators often left with little or no incentives at all. Thus, as the professor suggests, these problems should be resolved through the introduction of reinforced incentives of “improvement of market solution” and “new unwaivable remuneration right for creators”.The lecture concluded with active Q&A session, as the attendees asked question from the floor and through the online platform.This special lecture series are part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization,” funded by a donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.

On October 22, 2025, the Graduate School of Law at Nagoya University was privileged of hosting Professor Giorgio Fabio Colombo from the Ca’Foscari University of Venice (Italy), who delivered a special lecture titled “Salient Features of International Commercial Arbitration”.As a distinguish scholar and practitioner in the field of international commercial arbitration (“ICA”), professor Colombo explained the key characteristics that distinguish ICA from other methods of dispute resolution, while also highlighting its advantages and certain limitations in the context of contemporary global practice. He further elaborated on the principal features of ICAs administered under institutional rules of arbitrations and ad-hoc arbitrations, explaining the favorable aspects of each model.Professor Colombo then delved into the practical aspects of arbitration by explaining how to draft a robust arbitration agreement and wisely select place of arbitration. This is particularly important because a valid arbitration agreement serves as a legal foundation enabling the parties to proceed to arbitration, whereas, a poorly drafted arbitration clause may fail to reflect the parties` true intentions. The choice of seat, on the other hand, determines the procedural framework governing the arbitration and the availability of interim measures. Consequently, selecting a seat that is supportive of arbitration and backed by a pro-arbitration judiciary is crucial for the success of the process.The lecture concluded with an engaging question and answer session, emphasizing the continuing global significance of ICA in the modern dispute resolution landscape.This special lecture is a part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization”, funded by a donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.

On September 29, Nagoya University held the Third Ius Commune Award Ceremony and Thesis Presentation. The Ius Commune award was established in 2023 to further promote the training of legal professionals who will help lead Asia in the future, and to encourage and support the development of students’ research. This prize is administered with donations to Nagoya University’s “Asian Legal Professional Support” Special Fund.At the award ceremony, Mr. KHAKIMOV Said-Islom-Bek Khakim Ugli and Mr.RETH Sarakvivat, this year's Excellence Award (First Place) awardees, and Mr. NAKAYA Yuji,  the Excellence Award recipient were presented with plaques and supplementary prizes, followed by a presentation of their winning theses.The ceremony and thesis presentations were attended by about 50 guests. The audience included donors to the Nagoya University “Asian Legal Professional Support” Special Fund, professors,current students, and the general public.■Introduction of Awardees： https://www.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp/faculty-of-law-news/2025-09-04.html■About Prize of Ius Communehttps://www.law.nagoya-u.ac.jp/kikin/#ius_commune

On September 3, 2025, the Graduate School of Law at Nagoya University had the honor of hosting Dr. Aris Georgopoulos, Assistant Professor in Public Law and European Law at the School of Law of the University of Nottingham (UK) and Head of the Innovation, AI, Strategic and Defense Procurement Research Unit of the Public Procurement Research Group. He delivered a lecture titled “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Public Sector Governance: Bellerophon Rising?”.Dr. Georgopoulos opened his presentation by illustrating AI’s crucial role in public procurement by exemplifying the UK medical services during the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that AI can significantly improve public services in crisis situations by ensuring the timely delivery of essential supplies and services. He also addressed the risks and challenges on the contestability of AI-generated decisions by citing controversial cases, such the Netherlands’ System Risk Indication (SyRI) case and the UK’s “Windrush” Visa Applications Algorithm.The lecture further explored global AI regulatory approaches. The US favors “light touch” approach that fosters innovation-friendly framework with decentralized oversight. Whereas, the EU supports a risk-based, centralized approach that focuses on ethical AI and transparency. In this race, China prioritizes state-driven and innovation-led development with strong national oversight, while the UK develops a proportional approach, blending elements of both US and EU models.The lecture concluded with active audience engagement, with participants asking question both in person and through online platform.This special lecture series are part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization,” funded by a donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.

On August 7, the Nagoya University Graduate School of Law hosted the workshop “Navigating the Digital Society: Legal Challenges and Policy Innovations in a Global Context”, co-organized by the University of Suwon, College of Economics and Business Administration.The program opened with welcoming remarks by Professor Dai Yokomizo (Nagoya University), followed by a keynote address from Dr. Robert Pasicko (UNDP, Alternative Finance Lab Team Leader) on the “Use of AI and Blockchain by the United Nations in Development.”Subsequent sessions offered diverse perspectives on the digital society, including:Dr. Jiseong Kim (University of Suwon) on “Digitalizing Migrant Labor Governance: Rethinking Development Cooperation through Local Innovation in East Asia”Dr. Soo-hyun Lee (UNDP Global Policy Network Specialist / University of Suwon) on “International Investment Law of Digital States: The Case of Tuvalu”Professor Dai Yokomizo (Nagoya University) on “Cryptocurrencies and Conflict of Laws”The workshop concluded with closing remarks from Associate Professor Davronbek Ubaydullaev (Nagoya University of Economics), highlighting the importance of continued cross-border dialogue and interdisciplinary research in navigating the challenges and opportunities of the digital era.This collaborative event fostered insightful discussions and strengthened academic ties between Japan and Korea, with contributions from international organizations and experts at the forefront of digital transformation.The workshop, financially supported by the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation, attracted students, scholars, and practitioners interested in digital governance, technology law, international cooperation, and sustainable policy innovation. 

David A. Gantz, the Will Clayton Fellow in Trade and International Economics at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy and Samuel M. Fegtly Professor of Law Emeritus at the University of Arizona, delivered a special lecture to the faculty and students of Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Law (GSL) on June 20, 2025. His lecture, titled “Impact of Evolving U.S. Tariff Policies on Japan,” focused primarily on the effects of U.S. tariffs on automobiles, auto parts, and other transport equipment.Professor Gantz has taught and written extensively on WTO and USMCA (formerly NAFTA) trade law, dispute resolution, and a wide range of international trade and investment issues. This was his second lecture at Nagoya University, following a previous talk in May 2010 on NAFTA and WTO dispute settlement, presented at the Faculty of Law and the Graduate School of International Development.In his lecture, Professor Gantz first provided a detailed explanation of current U.S. tariffs, particularly those implemented under the Trump Administration, and assessed their legality under both U.S. and WTO law. He then examined the potential impact of these tariffs on Japan, including Japanese companies operating or exporting from countries such as China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Canada, and Mexico. Finally, he discussed the broader implications of U.S. tariff policy on the global trading system, as well as on the U.S. and its trading partners.Following his insightful presentation, Dr. Nguyet LE, an alumna of Nagoya University GSL, offered brief commentary on Professor Gantz’s remarks.The event drew such strong interest that moderator Professor Dai Yokomizo extended the session beyond its scheduled time. During the Q&A segment, Professor Gantz addressed questions concerning the future of the world trading system—especially the WTO, the structure of international economic law courses, the influence of U.S. domestic courts on trade policy under the Trump Administration, and the implications of U.S. trade policy for smaller developing countries. He emphasized that many of these outcomes will depend heavily on whether the U.S. economy enters a recession, asserting that the future direction of U.S. foreign economic policy will largely hinge on domestic economic performance.This special lecture was part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization”, funded by a generous donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.

On June 16, 2025, the Graduate School of Law at Nagoya University was privileged of hosting professor Nari Lee from Hanken School of Economics (Finland), where she delivered a special lecture on “Commercially Valuable Data at the Crossroads of Property, Contract or the ‘Other’: A Comparative Study of Digital Data Regulations in the European Union (“EU”) and Japan?”Professor Lee began her presentation by outlining the essential characteristics of usable and valuable data within a functional data market where these data can be effectively collected, securely stored and efficiently managed. The speaker further elaborated that a well-functioning data market, in turn, relies on four foundational conditions, namely technical exchange, legal entitlement, regulatory compliance, and international considerations. She then explained how these requirements are addressed within the legal frameworks of the EU, namely General Data Protection Regulation and Data Act, and Japan`s Act on the Protection of Personal Information, as well as through the EU–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.Then professor Lee emphasized the role of private international law in resolving legal uncertainties arising from cross-border conduct and use of data, particularly in determining jurisdiction and applicable law. She highlighted how characterization of disputes can also vary across jurisdictions, for example, whether they are public or private, contractual or non-contractual, or related to intellectual property, or competition law.The lecture concluded with active audience participation, highlighting the global significance of harmonizing data laws in an increasingly interconnected world.This special lecture series are part of the “Lawyer Training Program for Globalization,” funded by a donation from the Shinnippon-Hoki Foundation.