Lawyer Kenji Utsunomiya has spent his career helping debtors overcome the burden of multiple loans, while pushing for legislation to reduce their numbers. An advocate for the underemployed, in 2008 he served as the honorary mayor of a makeshift "village" set up in Tokyo's Hibiya Park sheltering idled temp workers.
Since becoming president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in April, the 63-year-old has worked to fix the problems the ongoing judicial system reform has brought about, including the difficulty for young lawyers to find jobs, on top of being caught in a debt trap.
"If only rich people can become lawyers, we'll have fewer lawyers who are willing to serve the poor and the weak," Utsunomiya said, stressing that his efforts are aimed at helping society, not just lawyers.