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| What is the Hotei Sozoku-bun? |
| The Japanese Civil Code has a unique set of rules that govern how a deceased’s estate will be divided amongst heirs of the deceased. Hotei Sozoku refers to the statutory inheritance system under which a deceased person’s estate is divided amongst heirs when the deceased leaves no effective will. Hotei Sozoku-bun is the default percentage that each Hotei Sozoku-nin, or the statutory heir, receives under this system. |
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| How the Hotei Sozoku-bun is divided |
When the deceased does not leave a will, the heirs of the deceased will convene to discuss who gets what of the estate of the deceased. During such discussion, the Hotei Sozoku-bun serves as a standard for determining the division of assets of the deceased. It is important to note, however, that the Hotei Sozoku-bun merely serves as a guideline for deciding who gets what, but is not a mandatory standard that must be followed.
Generally, the surviving spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters, as well as nieces and nephews have the right to receive a Hotei Sozoku-bun in the proportions designated below. It is important to note that the heirs have the right to receive under the order of priority listed below. If the heir who has higher priority receives, the heir who has lower priority will not receive anything.
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1. Dies leaving Surviving Spouse Only
1. Surviving Spouse receives 100%
2. Dies leaving Surviving Spouse and Child
2. Surviving Spouse receives 1/2 and Child receives 1/2 (*If there are 2 Children, the 1/2 will be divided into 1/4 to each Child)
3. Dies leaving Surviving Spouse and Parents
3. Surviving Spouse gets 2/3 and Parents receive the remaining 1/3
4. Dies leaving Surviving Spouse and Brothers and Sisters
4. Surviving Spouse gets 3/4 and Brothers and Sisters receive the remaining 1/4 (*If Brothers and Sisters are already dead, the Nieces and Nephews shall succeed to their shares)
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| Conclusion |
| It is important to understand the rules for Hotei Sozoku in Japan in order to be able to refer to it as a standard for understanding and being able to assert your share of inheritance in the event of a family member’s death. |
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| I started a podcast for the Hongo Law Office, LLLC! |
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I started a podcast for the Hongo Law Office, LLLC!
While I will mainly discuss estate planning/administration issues by myself each month, I also welcome guests on my podcast. I am now inviting anyone to be on my show. Please email me at yuka.hongo12@gmail.com if any of you might be interested in appearing as a guest on my show!
In this 19th episode, our guest is attorney Kazuma Higuchi, who specializes in international business law and international inheritance matters in Japan.
Mr. Higuchi advises Japanese companies expanding overseas and has extensive experience handling the growing number of international inheritance cases. In this episode, he shares the types of cross-border inheritance issues he commonly sees, explains why advance planning is so important when overseas assets or family members are involved, and discusses the legal challenges faced by small to medium-sized businesses operating internationally.
We also learn about Mr. Higuchi's time studying in the United States, his passion for salsa dancing and golf, and his family's long-standing connection to hula and Hawaii. It's an engaging conversation that offers practical legal insights while giving listeners a glimpse into the experiences that have shaped his international career. We hope you enjoy listening!
Episode Link |
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| Client Comments |
| "Lawyers in the U.S. can be difficult to talk to at times, but I think people find it easy to talk to Ms. Hongo. I also like the fact that Ms. Hongo follows up with her clients on a timely basis." |
| Sachiko Trillo, Honolulu |
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| "Hongo Tsuji Tax & Consulting, our accounting firm, introduced me to Ms. Hongo. I consulted her with regards to estate planning, and I appreciated the fact that she took care of our documents in a timely manner." |
| K.A., Tokyo |
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| "I appreciated Ms. Hongo's professional expertise and the kind way in which she took care of our matter. I am truly happy that she helped us." |
| Mitsuko Seto, Osaka |
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| "Ms. Hongo not only prepared my trust, but also took care of legal matters involving my company. Her fee is reasonable and she follows up with you in a timely manner." |
| S. Suzuki, Company Owner |
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| "Ms. Hongo took care of our matter in a kind manner. We liked the fact that her office was located in Waikiki, near our home." |
| Sugiyama, Waikiki |
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| "I became a successor to 2 condominiums that my wife owned in Hawaii, after my wife passed away. Ms. Hongo took care of our probate matter in a short timeframe of 1 year. We feel very grateful to her." |
| Shuichi Sakamoto, Nasu |
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| "Our clients were very satisfied with Ms. Hongo's service because she was able to explain matters such as probate in an easy-to-understand manner. Ms. Hongo is someone we can rely on for any matter." |
| Noboru Ohhashi, List Sotheby's, Tokyo |
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| "Given that the U.S. real estate recording process and its pertaining laws differ from those of Japan, and it is difficult to learn about them in English, I appreciated Ms. Hongo being able to explain them to me in an understandable manner. I would like to seek her help in the future for other matters." |
| K. Iwasaki, Honolulu |
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| "Ms. Hongo helped me with the estate planning for my real estate in Hawaii. I was glad she was able to help me during her visit in Japan." |
| S.T., Kawasaki |
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| "It was our long-term goal to prepare a trust for our family. We are now able to take the next step in our lives, as Ms. Hongo applied her proficient bilingual skills to efficiently take care of our matter. We are very grateful for what she did for us." |
| A.P., Honolulu |
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| Attorney Yuka Hongo has been included as an honored listee in Marquis Who's Who for 2024. Marquis has chronicled the lives of accomplished individuals and innovators since 1898. |
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| Hongo Law Office LLLC is proud to have been acknowledged as one of the "Best Probate Attorneys in Honolulu for 2026" by Expertise.com. |
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| Attorney Yuka Hongo has been named a 2026 Elite Lawyer in the area of Estate Planning in Hawaii. The award recognizes attorneys who have displayed a high level of competence in their practice. |
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| You're invited to call or email |
"If you have questions about estate planning and administration, please don't hesitate to call. I'll be glad to hear from you." – Yuka
Call (808) 237-9944 or email yuka.hongo12@gmail.com |
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| Meet Yuka Hongo, Esq. |
| Yuka Hongo is a respected estate planning attorney based in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has practiced law for 10 years and is fluent in both English and Japanese. |
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Practice Areas: Yuka represents clients in matters related to estate planning such as the preparation of Trusts, Wills, and the Transfer on Death Deed. She also provides services in the area of estate administration, including probate.
Education: In 2000, Yuka graduated from Oberlin College (Oberlin, OH), where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and East Asian Studies. In 2004, she graduated from Loyola Law School (Los Angeles, CA), where she earned her Juris Doctor Degree. In 2022, Yuka graduated from Keio University (Tokyo, Japan) where she earned a Master of Laws Degree.
Court Admissions and Bar Memberships: Yuka is a member of the Hawaii, California, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia Bar Associations. Yuka is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Hawaii Tax Institute Program.
Additional Qualifications: Yuka is a Certifying Acceptance Agent who can obtain the ITIN tax number for foreigners in the U.S. In addition, she is a Life Insurance Agent and a licensed Notary Public in the State of Hawaii. Also, Yuka is fully bilingual in Japanese and English and has in-depth legal work experience working with both languages.
Multicultural Background: Yuka has experience living and working in both the U.S. and Japan and has a thorough understanding of both cultures in these two countries. In addition, she loves working with people from other multicultural backgrounds and working on international matters.
Educational Presentations: Yuka has presented seminars in Japan and in the U.S. relating to various estate planning/estate administration issues.
Residence & Interests: Yuka lives in Honolulu, Hawaii and is single. She enjoys scoping out new eateries and restaurants. |
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Yuka Hongo, Esq., Estate Planning/Administration Attorney
Hongo Law Office, LLLC
2155 Kalakaua Avenue, #410 • Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
Hawaii (808) 237-9944
yuka.hongo12@gmail.com • www.hongolaw.com |
| Yuka Hongo, Esq. is licensed to practice law in Hawaii, California, New York, Washington, and the District of Columbia |
| © Copyright 2025 by Yuka Hongo, Esq. All rights reserved. |
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