Curriculum Vitaes
Profile Information
- Affiliation
- Professor, Faculty of Law Department of International Legal Studies, Sophia University
- Degree
- Ph.D(Feb, 2011, The University of Tokyo)LL.M(May, 2004, Cornell Law School)
- Contact information
- eureka
sophia.ac.jp - Researcher number
- 80582890
- ORCID ID
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5846-8341- J-GLOBAL ID
- 200901008400423457
- researchmap Member ID
- 6000015408
- External link
Yurika Ishii is Professor, Sophia University, Faculty of Law, where she is in charge of public international law courses. Her areas of interest include general public international law, the law of the sea and international/transnational criminal law. She achieved LL.B. from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law (Political Science Course), LL.M. from Cornell Law School (with Rotary Ambassador Scholarship), and Ph.D from the University of Tokyo, Graduate Schools for Laws and Politics with a thesis on international regulation of economic crimes, which was published as International Regulation of Transnational Crimes (Yuhikaku, 2017; Japanese; Awarded the 51st Adachi Mineichiro Award). Her latest work includes Japanese Maritime Security and Law of the Sea (Brill, 2022; Awarded the 39th Ohira Masayoshi Memorial Award) and International Law and the Investigation of Transnational Crimes (Oxford University Press, 2025).
She served the National Defense of Academy of Japan from 2010 to 2025 as a lecturer and an associate professor. She stayed at Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg, Germany, 2008, 2010), Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law (Freiburg, Germany, 2011) and Harvard Law School (Cambridge, the United States, with Fulbright Scholarship, 2014-15) as a guest researcher.
Research Interests
11Research Areas
2Research History
11-
Sep, 2020 - Mar, 2023
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Sep, 2018 - Mar, 2019
Education
3-
Apr, 2003 - Mar, 2009
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Aug, 2003 - May, 2004
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Apr, 1999 - Mar, 2003
Committee Memberships
43-
Nov, 2024 - Present
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Sep, 2024 - Present
Awards
4Papers
56-
Akio Morita, Koji Toraya, Osamu Yoshida, Naoki Iwatsuki, Theory and Realization of International Law: Essays in Honor of Professor Yuji Iwasawa's 70th Birthday, 627-646, Oct 30, 2025 Invited
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Topology of Space Law, 93-112, Feb 28, 2025 Invited
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State, Ocean and International Law: Essays in Honour of Judge Shunji Yanai&s 88th Birthday, Vol. 2, 311-328, Feb 28, 2025 Invited
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Japanese Yearbook of International Law, 67 26-56, Feb 17, 2025 Peer-reviewedInvited
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International Affairs, 722 50-63, Dec 13, 2024 Invited
Misc.
59-
Asian Journal of International Law, 1-2, Jul 28, 2025
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Japan Transport and Tourism Research Institute, Study group on legal issues relating to intercontinental transport projects by ballistic flights and others, 23-30, Mar 31, 2025 Invited
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Kazuhiro Nakatani = Takayoshi Sugawara, Air Law (Shinzansha), 44-59, Mar 31, 2025 Invited
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Asia Pacific Bulletin, 726, Feb 20, 2025 Peer-reviewedInvited
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Japanese Yearbook of International Law, 67 419-431, Feb 17, 2025 Peer-reviewedInvited
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Asia Policy, 20(1) 77-80, Jan, 2025
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The Journal of International Law and Diplomacy, 123(3) 380-384, Dec, 2024 Invited
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Shunji Yanai (ed.), Ocean and International Law (Shinzansha), 103-157, Mar 31, 2024 Invited
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Challenges concerning Geopolitical Risks and Legal Responses by Japanese Corporations, 85-102, Mar 29, 2024 Invited
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ArCS II International Law Briefing Paper Series, 10 1-12, Mar 18, 2024
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RIETI Discussion Papers 24-E-010, Jan 25, 2024 Peer-reviewedInvited
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Chinese (Taiwan) Yearbook of International Law and Affairs, 40 155-165, Nov 24, 2023 Peer-reviewedInvited
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CIL Dialogues: An International Law Blog, Aug 14, 2023 Peer-reviewedInvitedLead author
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International Legal Studies, 101(1) 1-298, May 18, 2023 Peer-reviewedInvited
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International Legal Materials, 1-4, Dec 16, 2022 Peer-reviewedInvitedOn April 21, 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a judgment finding the illegality of Colombia's measures and actions in the Nicaraguan exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the case Alleged Violations of Sovereign Rights and Maritime Spaces in the Caribbean Sea. The dispute primarily concerned the Court's jurisdiction based on the American Treaty on Pacific Settlement (Pact of Bogotá) Article XXXI and a coastal state's rights over its maritime zones under customary international law.
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Settlement of Disputes regarding a Territory and Continental Shelf and the Role of International LawJapan Economic Foundation, Towards the Establishment of Rule-based International Economic System, 180-192, Dec, 2022 Invited
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Seokwoo Lee (ed), Encyclopedia of Ocean Law and Policy in Asia-Pacific, 75-157, Nov 21, 2022 Invited
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FULCRUM: Analaysis on Southeast Asia, Oct 25, 2022 Peer-reviewedInvited
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Policy & Action, (3552), Jul 15, 2022 Invited
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Asian Journal of International Law, 13(1) 1-9, Jun 24, 2022 Peer-reviewedAbstract This case note critically analyses the logic of M/V Enrica Lexie of 2020 with a particular focus on the issue of the immunity ratione materiae. This judgment is important in terms of the development of the principle of sovereign immunity. It first reviews the background of the case and the judgment. It then examines (1) the basis of the principle of sovereign immunity and (2) the territorial exception and its relevance to the law of the sea. It criticizes the logic of the judgment, particularly on its reference to the United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property, regardless of the fact that the instrument only applies to civil proceedings. Finally, it comments on the Award's implication for anti-piracy international cooperation.
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RIETI Discussion Paper Series 22-J-004, Feb 22, 2022 Peer-reviewedInvited
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Global Health Governance, Policy Brief Series, No. 9, 9, Feb 14, 2022 InvitedLead author
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FY 2022 Report, 91-105, Feb, 2022 Invited
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Hogaku Kyoshitsu, 497 46-49, Jan 28, 2022 InvitedLead author
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American Journal of International Law, 115(4) 688-694, Oct, 2021 Peer-reviewedOn March 5, 2020, the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) decided to authorize the prosecutor to commence a <italic>proprio motu</italic> investigation into the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Afghanistan War since 2003. This decision is the first case where the requirements for the authorization of an investigation under Article 15(4) of the ICC Rome Statute (Statute) were tested on appeal. The case lays down a marker as to how the ICC sees the division of roles between the Pre-Trial Chamber and the Office of the Prosecutor. The Appeals Chamber proved willing to give the prosecutor broad discretion at the investigation stage. Without limiting principles, this approach may eventually expand the role of the Court beyond what the Statute permits.
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Law & Technology, 93 48-52, Sep, 2021 InvitedLead author
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Pacific Forum, "Advancing a Rules-based Maritime Order in the Indo-Pacific," Issues & Insights, 21 12-15, Jul, 2021 Peer-reviewedInvited
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JIIA Report, 71-79, Jun 7, 2021 Invited
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Masahiro Nishii & Jun Tsuruta (eds), International Environmental Law, Mar, 2020 Invited
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Liberty and Justice, 2020(1) 27-31, Jan, 2020 Invited
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International Legal Materials, 58(6) 1147-1166, Dec, 2019 Invited
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EJIL: Talk! Blog, Jul, 2019 Peer-reviewed
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Criminal Law Journal, 59 142-143, Feb, 2019 Invited
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ASIL Insights, 23(1), Feb, 2019 Peer-reviewed
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Shosai no mado, 659 54-59, Sep, 2018 Invited
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武田康裕＝神谷万丈（責任編集）『安全保障学入門』（第5版）, 382-391, Aug, 2018
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Japanese Yearbook of International Law, 60 443-446, Mar, 2018 Invited
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American Society of International Law Insights, 21(13), Nov, 2017 Peer-reviewed
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Defense Studies, 57 147-152, Sep, 2017 Invited
Major Books and Other Publications
8-
Oxford University Press, Oct 8, 2025 (ISBN: 9780198957058) Refereed
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Nov 30, 2024 (ISBN: 9784589043733)
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Presentations
129-
Protecting Maritime Security and Stability in the Indo-Pacific: Challenges for the United States and Japan, Mar 5, 2025, Wilson Center Invited
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10th National Space Policy Secretariat Symposium on Ensuring the Safe and Sustainable Use of Outer Space, Feb 25, 2025, National Space Policy Secretariat Invited
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The 16th Space Law Symposium, Jan 31, 2025, 慶應義塾大学 Invited
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Digital Forensic Community 2024, Dec 9, 2024, The Institute of Digital Forensics Invited
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Second Bilateral Dialogue on International Law: Japan and Korea: UNCLOS at 30: Issues and Prospects, Nov 1, 2024, SLOC Study Group-Korea, Waseda University Invited
Teaching Experience
8-
Apr, 2025 - PresentInternational Law (Sophia University)
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Sep, 2025 - Mar, 2026Law of International Dispute Settlement (Sophia University)
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Sep, 2012 - Mar, 2025Public International Law (National Defense Academy of Japan)
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Apr, 2010 - Mar, 2025International Relations (National Defense Academy of Japan)
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Apr, 2010 - Mar, 2024Law of the Sea (National Defense Academy of Japan)
Professional Memberships
11-
May, 2019 - Present
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Nov, 2018 - Present
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Jan, 2017 - Present
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Nov, 2016 - Present
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May, 2016 - Present
Research Projects
29-
Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Apr, 2024 - Mar, 2028
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Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Apr, 2025 - Mar, 2028
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Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Apr, 2023 - Mar, 2028
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Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Pioneering), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Jun, 2022 - Mar, 2027
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Jun, 2020 - Mar, 2025
Academic Activities
7-
Planning/Implementing academic research, Peer reviewUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Tokyo), Apr 5, 2024 - Apr 7, 2024
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Planning/Implementing academic research, Peer reviewUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Maritime Crime Programme, Jan 12, 2023 - Jan 14, 2023
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Peer review, OthersInternational Institute of Humanitarian Law (Online), Dec 16, 2020 - Dec 18, 2020
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Peer review, OthersUnited Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Maritime Crime Programme (Mauritius), Oct 16, 2019 - Oct 18, 2019
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International Institute of Humanitarian Law (Copenhagen, Denmark), Sep 30, 2019 - Oct 4, 2019
Social Activities
37Other
2-
Jun, 2021 - Jun, 2021Participated in Summer Academy for Global Privacy Law 2021 - International data flows: Moving challenges, new solutions? (https://www.vub.be/en/events/2021/summer-academy-for-global-privacy-law-2021-international-data-flows-moving-challenges).
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Jun, 2017 - Jun, 2017Participated in Maritime Boundaries Workshop held by the Centre for International Law (CIL), National University of Singapore and the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong in Singapore from 6-8 June 2017 (https://cil.nus.edu.sg/programmes-and-activities/upcoming-events/cil-ancors-maritime-boundary-workshop/).