Small Seasons & Co. is a bilingual legal office based in Tokyo, led by immigration lawyer (Gyoseishoshi) Saki Nakahara. Our expertise lies in visa applications, business incorporation, and grant applications for the cultural and creative sector.
From Artist Visa to Permanent Resident Visa, we can help you explore options for securing a mid/long-term stay in Japan.
Ready to start your business in Japan but have some questions before moving forward? Get personalized advice to proceed with confidence and ease.
Do you work in the cultural and creative sector and have exciting projects coming up? We can help you explore grant opportunities to support your creative endeavors
Saki Nakahara
Immigration lawyer | GYOSEISHOSHI
Born in the UK, Saki spent her formative years immersed in diverse environments across the globe. Growing up amidst an international community, she developed a profound appreciation for cultural diversity and the interconnectedness of the world.
With over a decade of experience in the dynamic world of business, Saki has cultivated a deep understanding of how businesses operate. Alongside this, she has honed her expertise in immigration law.
Saki’s commitment stems from her passion to foster cultural synergy in Japan and to support individuals from all walks of life in finding their footing and flourishing in Japan. By leveraging her diverse skill set and unwavering dedication, she is here to guide you through your immigration journey with professionalism, empathy, and a deep respect for cultural heritage.
Fun Fact: Memorized 400 digits of pi in high school to win a globe, but ended up getting a pie instead.
Favorite Movie: “Rain Man”
Yurie Togashi
Paralegal
Having passed the Gyoseishoshi exam, Yurie brings her knowledge, attentiveness, and efficient project management skills to ensure every project is handled with precision and care. She also draws on her experience supporting business clients in loan processing, making her a trusted partner in managing complex procedures and client needs.
Behind every project is her enthusiastic “I got this!” attitude that clients and colleagues can rely on.
Fun fact: Loves cats and Korean series!
Favorite movies: “007”, “About Time”
Risa Kawamura
Paralegal
With a background in the education and training industry, Risa excels at translating complex processes into practical guidance. Her experience in client coordination and communication keeps your project on track, solid, and stress-free.
Known for her forward-thinking mindset and proactive approach, Risa consistently elevates service quality and earns the trust and admiration of both clients and teammates.
Fun fact: Loves reading movie magazines and is always looking for movie nights!
Favorite movies: “To Live”, “Inception”, “Paddington 2”
Yuri Ishikawa
Project Manager
Drawing on her diverse experience, from assisting expatriates with relocations to helping employees settle into new companies, Yuri takes on a “guardian” role, making complex logistics and processes easy to navigate.
She guides every aspect of a project from start to finish, working quickly, efficiently, and thoroughly. Her genuine commitment to giving clients peace of mind underpins her thoughtful and reliable support.
Fun fact: Enjoys backpacking and photographing striking monuments and buildings along the way.
Favorite movie: “I Am Sam”
Sergei Koshelev
Cybersecurity & IT Support
Sergei safeguards the team and client data while being mindful of the human side of adapting to new systems and procedures. Drawing on his IT engineering background and diverse skill set, he helps the team adopt cybersecurity and operational practices in a way that feels intuitive and practical.
His big-picture thinking ensures loose ends are tightened, keeping systems and workflows secure and smooth.
Fun fact: Good at making bread with the simplest ingredients and enjoys playing board games with his father-in-law.
Favorite movies: “The Batman”, “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy”
While striving for efficiency, we also embrace the human aspect. Saki is a certified Lumina Learning Practitioner and understands the importance of self awareness and adaptability in communication.
Let us know your preferred communication style when starting a conversation with us.
We don’t believe in a “quick fix” that doesn’t help you long-term. Every choice leads to another, and we will support you create the solid path to success.
We want to learn about your purpose and your dreams, and we are here to help you strategize to bring these visions to life.
Saki was invited to join Catherine O’Connell on an episode of the award-winning podcast, Lawyer on Air, where Catherine highlights female lawyers in Japan through relaxed conversations and inspiring stories. Listen in if you’re interested in hearing more about Saki before contacting us!
Season 7 Episode 10: Small Seasons, Big Impact: Building a Legal Practice That You Love in Japan
Saki was interviewed by Savvy Tokyo for their Savvy Spotlight series, which highlights inspiring foreign and Japanese women making an impact in the city. In this special feature, Saki shares her journey as an immigration lawyer in Japan, the challenges and rewards of running her own practice, and key insights on navigating Japan’s visa system.
Let us showcase a selection of thriving businesses that we recommend to foreign businesses expanding into the Japanese market, as well as to individuals establishing their lives here. These businesses are setting benchmarks for quality and service excellence in their respective fields and offer bilingual solutions. Contact us to get an introduction, or reach out to them directly for a tailored solution to meet your needs.
