Wouldn't mind becoming an instructor if he could live life again

Mr. Yukio Kikuchi, Esq. (1981 graduate from the Faculty of Law), was one of the guests who gave a congratulatory speech at the graduation ceremony held on the Tama Campus on March 25th. Mr. Kikuchi is well known for his role on Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo (which translates as Legal Office: Advice So Good You Stand in Line), a variety show on the Nippon Television Network that deals with everyday legal troubles.

In addition to his work as a lawyer, Mr. Kikuchi is active in instruction for the next generation of legal professionals. His law office accepts externship students from law schools and he serves as an instructor at a preparatory school for the National Law Examination. "I wouldn't mind working as a full-time instructor if I was born again," says Mr. Kikuchi when expressing the enjoyment that he feels when teaching. During his time as a student at Chuo University, Mr. Kikuchi chose to study education in addition to his preparation for the National Law Examination. He also served as a coach for the volleyball team at his former high school, and participated everyday in early-morning and after-school practices. In this way, Mr. Kikuchi has a great number of experiences in teaching. "I feel that there are a great number of similarities between instructors and lawyers," he says. "An instructor interacts directly with each child, asking questions like 'What don't you understand?' and 'What are you having difficulty with?'. Similarly, it is important for a lawyer to empathize with clients when considering legal issues. It's not unlike being a counselor."

A lawyer is one of the few people that clients can consult with regarding private matters such as marital problems or crimes. For this reason, Mr. Kikuchi always makes a point of listening as much as possible to the thoughts and feelings held by his clients.

Putting the client first without becoming businesslike

Mr. Kikuchi says that the most difficult thing for him about working as an attorney is billing his clients."Some of my clients have financial problems," he notes. "It is really quite difficult to bill such clients for legal services. In that respect, court-appointed lawyers have it easy because they don't have to worry about billing."

Mr. Kikuchi puts his clients first and avoids becoming businesslike. This philosophy of his also led him to accept the offer to appear on Nippon Television Network's Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo. "At first, I was somewhat hesitant to appear on the program, " he says. "However, after appearing on the program the first time, I received a telephone call from a client who had watched the show. I realized that I could appear more familiar to my clients by appearing on television, and I accepted the offer to appear as a regular."

Mr. Kikuchi's first appearance on the program was in August 2007. Recently, he is often teased for having a shaved head by the program's host, Shinsuke Shimada. "I am not just looking for popularity," says Mr. Kikuchi. "I think it is a good thing if a little laughter can bring me closer to my clients."

His sports hobbies are a barometer for assessing vitality and energy

During the past 15 years, Mr. Kikuchi has competed in triathlons as a way of checking his health.
"The triathlon is a challenging event which tests not only physical strength but also mental toughness," he says. " During a race, I think hundreds of times about how much easier it would be to enjoy a beer at home. However, I get a sense of satisfaction upon finishing the race. Thanks to my experience in triathlons, I am able to feel confident that I can complete difficult work assignments, even if it means pulling a few all-nighters."

Mr. Kikuchi calls sports his hobby, and he participates in triathlon events up to 5 or 6 times a year. Additionally, he serves as coach for a local elementary school volleyball team on weekends.
"As a coach, I am in a position to instruct. However, I actually end up receiving energy from the children. Even at the preparatory school for the National Law Examination, I learn many things from my students"

"No matter if I am working as a lawyer or as an instructor, I always value personal relationships with other people," says Mr. Kikuchi when discussing the source of energy for his myriad activities.

(Offered by: Chuo Daigaku Gakuin Jiho, No. 462)
Photographic Credits: Nippon Television Network Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo