#Japan #AI Development #Minato #DDR Corporation #Koji Murata

DDR Corporation Launches New AI Development Department

In a significant move towards redefining legal processes, DDR Corporation, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, has announced the establishment of a new AI Development Department, effective May 1, 2025. This department will be spearheaded by Koji Murata, the CEO of AIDAO, a well-known entrepreneur in the legal tech space.

Murata's leadership is expected to harness his extensive knowledge of legal systems and practical experience in deploying legal tech services to automate mediation and negotiation processes. The new team is set to advance the vision of creating a societal infrastructure where "smartphone mediation" becomes commonplace.

The Rationale Behind the AI Development Department

Japan faces a pressing issue in its legal landscape, particularly with the annual occurrence of approximately 180,000 divorces. Alarmingly, around 60% of these cases involve parents not agreeing on child support payments. Public methods of resolution, such as mediation or official documents, account for only 26% of successful agreements, frequently leaving unpaid support requests dependent on verbal agreements. This situation has led to severe social problems, including poverty in single-parent families and lost opportunities for children's development.

As AI technology rapidly progresses, applying it within the judicial sector requires high levels of specialization and ethical considerations, making its adoption a challenge. Mediation and negotiation processes are particularly intricate due to the emotional and background factors involved, which cannot be easily addressed through straightforward automation.

Consequently, DDR aims to bridge the gap between legal understanding and AI technology. By data-fying the claims and agreements in mediation, the company envisions a future where equitable access to legal support is achievable for everyone. The creation of the AI Development Department represents the first step in this journey.

Insights from Koji Murata

Murata has expressed, "The Japanese judicial system suffers from disparities in information access and complex procedures that produce inequalities in people's rights and lives. Our mission is to visualize these issues with technology and connect the judiciary to people's everyday lives efficiently. Particularly in emotionally charged areas like divorce and mediation, we want to leverage AI to simplify complexities and empower individuals to make informed choices about their lives."

Background and Achievements of Koji Murata

• - Education: Graduated from Keio University in 2006, majoring in commerce.
• - Career: Started at Deloitte Tohmatsu focusing on public company support, later shifted to legal finance consultancy post-independence in 2009.
• - In 2017, he founded Class Action, establishing a platform for collective lawsuits which he later sold to a publicly traded company.
• - Established the LegalTech Association in 2018 and launched Small Steps Co. in 2020, focusing on child support guarantee services, successfully recovering over 1.5 billion yen in support payments.
• - In 2023, he founded AIDAO and assumed leadership of DDR's AI Development Department while continuing as CEO of AIDAO.

His work reflects a strong emphasis on improving legal systems through technology, with successful fundraising and business selling experiences that demonstrate his ability to address social issues alongside business ambitions.

The Future Goals of the AI Development Department

DDR Corporation aims to create a society where individuals can easily access legal support without confusion through "privatization of mediation systems" and the "democratization of smartphone mediation." The new department plans to advance AI integration into public procedures, collaborating with local governments and businesses to improve the user experience and automate mediation processes.

Company Overview

• - Name: DDR Corporation
• - CEO: Reimon Matoba
• - Location: Minato, Tokyo
• - Founded: November 2024
• - Services: Development and provision of the smartphone mediation platform service "wakai" and management of alternative dispute resolution processes, alongside marketing support services domestically and internationally.

For more information about DDR Corporation, please visit DDR Corporation Website.

• - Child Support Prevention Service: Child Support Prevention
• - Divorce Prevention Information Site: Divorce Prevention Info

For inquiries, please contact:
Yuko Shoji, Support Services Department
Email: [email protected]

For press inquiries:
Akira Goto, Chief Marketing Officer
Email: [email protected]