The immediate goal of lawyer Toshi Yoshinari is to keep his clients from getting a divorce.
For business owners engaged in bankruptcy proceedings, divorce is a common route to protect spouses, who often sign as joint guarantors.
"Divorce is one of the sacrifices society effectively requires of failed businessmen," Yoshinari said. "On top of losing personal assets and anything else he and his family have accumulated, the psychological devastation keeps a bankrupt businessman from making a comeback."