As an insurance salesman in Tsushima, Aichi Prefecture, Hisao Ito, 55, has seen times when family members and relatives fight over inheritances.

To reduce such disputes, Ito established the Japanese Inheritance Association, bringing together lawyers, tax accountants and judicial scriveners to study past cases. The association will be upgraded to an incorporated body in September.

Ito has been involved in cases where family members who were close enough to go on trips together ended up breaking off relations over inheritance disputes. Many of his clients tend to bring up these old wounds during consultations.