Frequently Asked Questions — Japan Trademark Registration

A trademark is a name, logo, or mark used to distinguish your goods or services from those of others. By registering with the Japan Patent Office (JPO), you gain the exclusive right to use that trademark.

Japan follows a first-to-file system. Without registration, someone else could register your brand name and gain exclusive rights, even if you've been using it for years. Registration protects your brand and business.

Trademarks protect brand names and logos; patents protect inventions. Trademark rights can be renewed indefinitely, while patent rights last up to 20 years.

Yes, you can register not only text but also logos, shapes, 3D marks, sounds, and color combinations as trademarks in Japan.

Self-filing costs approximately ¥12,000+ per class (application fee ¥3,400 + registration fee ¥8,600 for 5 years). With a patent attorney, expect ¥80,000–¥150,000 total.

Yes, each additional class adds ¥8,600 to the application fee and ¥8,600 to the registration fee (5-year term).

Trademark rights must be renewed every 10 years. Renewal costs ¥22,800 per class (or ¥12,400×2 for split 5-year payments).

The Nice Classification divides goods and services into 45 classes (1–34 for goods, 35–45 for services). When filing a trademark in Japan, you must select the relevant classes for your business.

There's no limit to the number of classes. However, each additional class increases costs. We recommend starting with 1–3 classes most relevant to your business.

Generally yes — if a trademark is registered in one class, you may still be able to register the same name in a different class. However, famous trademarks may be protected across all classes.

The JPO examination typically takes 6–12 months. The expedited examination system can reduce this to 2–3 months in some cases.

Yes, individuals can file directly through the JPO's online system. However, selecting the right classes and conducting similarity searches requires expertise — consider consulting a patent attorney.

You'll receive a notice of reasons for refusal. You can respond with a written opinion or amendment within 40 days. A patent attorney can help craft an appropriate response.

Yes, through the Madrid Protocol, you can use your Japanese application as a basis to file in multiple countries simultaneously.

Our AI analysis is provided as reference information only and does not constitute a legal opinion under the Patent Attorney Act. It does not guarantee registration outcomes. Please use it as a preliminary check and consult a patent attorney when needed.

No, Shohyo Navi is a trademark information and document preparation support tool. We do not act as legal representatives. We can introduce you to partner patent attorneys when needed.

As AI reports are digital products, refunds are generally not accepted after generation. If a report contains obvious errors, please contact us.