\r\n(1)<\/strong> The required documents and information for filing a trademark application in Japan are as follows:<\/p>\r\n
\u30fbBibliographic information (applicant’s name and address)
\r\n\u30fbIdentification number (if already assigned)
\r\n\u30fbTrademark information (trademark, class, designated goods\/services)
\r\n\u30fbWhether the trademark consists of standard characters or not
\r\n\u30fbImage data (if required)<\/p>\r\n
No power of attorney is required for filing.<\/p>\r\n
(2) Identification Number<\/strong> If a procedure is carried out without entering the identification number, a new identification number may be assigned if the information differs from the already assigned identification number. 2. Standard Character System<\/strong><\/span> (2) Marks Not Recognized as Standard Characters<\/strong> (3) Relationship with Priority Claims<\/strong> In this regard, the determination of \u201cidentity of the trademark\u201d for the purpose of a priority claim is premised on being made based on the trademark displayed in the priority certificate, etc., regardless of whether the basic first-country application on which the priority is based consists of standard characters or not. Incidentally, where the trademark shown in the priority certificate, etc. consists of characters displayed in a typeface generally used in electronic devices, and the trademark entered in the application form consists of standard characters or characters displayed in a typeface generally used in electronic devices, the trademarks will be treated as substantially identical, unless there are special circumstances.<\/p>\r\n (4) Scope of Rights<\/strong> If a specific character typeface has been decided for use, we recommend filing a trademark application using that typeface rather than standard characters. 3. Similar Group Codes<\/strong><\/span> In examining whether an applied trademark falls under the above grounds for rejection, the JPO determines the similarity of the designated goods or services of the applied trademark and those of another person\u2019s registered trademark based on the \u201cSimilarity of Goods and Services Examination Criteria.\u201d<\/p>\r\n These \u201cSimilarity of Goods and Services Examination Criteria\u201d group together goods that share commonalities in terms of production sector, sales sector, raw materials, quality, etc., or services that share commonalities in terms of means of provision, purpose, or place of provision, etc., and presume that, in principle, goods or services belonging to the same group are similar to each other.<\/p>\r\n Each good or service in each group is assigned a five-digit common code consisting of a combination of numbers and letters, called a \u201cSimilar Group Code.\u201d<\/p>\r\n In examination practice, goods and services assigned the same similar group code are presumed, in principle, to be similar to each other.<\/p>\r\n The same similar group code exists not only within the same class but also in many other classes.<\/p>\r\n Example: Therefore, when conducting searches or examining grounds for rejection, it is necessary to be mindful not only of the Nice Classification but also of the Similar Group Code.<\/p>\r\n 5. Examples Where Terminology Differs Between Japan and Foreign Countries<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n Example: Class 5 \u30fbIn foreign countries (English), the focus is on \u201cTissues,\u201d whereas in Japan (Japanese), the focus is on \u201cantibacterial preparations.\u201d<\/p>\r\n \u30fbIn Japan, there is a tendency in Classes 5 and 3 to identify such goods as \u201cpharmaceutical agents\u201d such as antibacterial agents, bactericides, and disinfectants, whereas in English-speaking countries, there is a tendency to focus on the \u201cproduct form\u201d such as wipes, tissues, and pads.<\/p>\r\n \u30fbStrictly speaking, the above example involves different scopes of rights; however, since examination generally proceeds on the premise that the original text and the translated text correspond to each other (including in Japan), in practice, such goods are not often treated as completely different products.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Based on the inquiries we receive most frequently, we have summarized below the key considerations when filing trademark applications in Japan. 1. Required Documents and Information (1) The required d\u2026","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"ip_cat":[34],"class_list":["post-6716","ip","type-ip","status-publish","hentry","ip_cat-japanese-ip-system","en-US"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ip\/6716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ip"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ip"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ip\/6716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6736,"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ip\/6716\/revisions\/6736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ip_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ip_cat?post=6716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\r\nThe identification number is a 9-digit number assigned to a person who has previously requested the assignment of an identification number from the Japan Patent Office (JPO), or to a person who files a procedure with the JPO for the first time. It is used to manage the applicant\u2019s name, address, etc. The assigned identification number is notified by an \u201cIdentification Number Notice\u201d (if there is an agent, the notice is sent to the agent).<\/p>\r\n
\r\nA different identification number may also be assigned even when there is a discrepancy in the spelling of the applicant\u2019s name or address.
\r\nSince one identification number is assigned per individual (or corporation) and a different identification number would cause the applicant to be treated as a different entity \u2014 which carries the risk of a prior registered trademark being cited against the application and resulting in rejection \u2014 we would greatly appreciate it if you could provide us with your identification number if you have one.
\r\nWe can verify it to some extent in the JPO database, but the database is incomplete.<\/p>\r\n
\r\n(1) Overview<\/strong>
\r\nThe \u201cStandard Character System\u201d is a system whereby, \u201cwhen a trademark to be registered consists solely of characters, and the applicant does not claim rights in any particular design or form, the Commissioner of the JPO publishes and registers the trademark as displayed in a specific character typeface (standard characters) pre-determined by the Commissioner of the JPO, based on the applicant\u2019s declaration, simply by entering the trademark in the application form.\u201d
\r\nThe characters that may be used are designated by the Commissioner of the JPO.<\/p>\r\n
\r\nTrademarks consisting of more than 30 characters (including spaces) are not recognized as standard characters. Additionally, half-width characters and half-width spaces are not recognized as standard characters.<\/p>\r\n
\r\nAmong trademark applications filed in Japan claiming priority, there may be cases where the basic first-country application on which the priority is based consists of standard characters. However, since the range and form of characters recognized as standard characters differ between each country\u2019s standard character system and Japan\u2019s standard character system, the \u201cidentity of the trademark\u201d for the purpose of the priority claim becomes an issue.<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThe trademark displayed in the priority certificate is then compared with:
\r\n(i) the trademark entered in the application form in a case where the Japanese trademark application is not in standard characters; or
\r\n(ii) the trademark as expressed when converted into standard characters in a case where the Japanese trademark application is in standard characters.<\/p>\r\n
\r\nThe scope of an ordinary registered trademark is determined based on the trademark entered in the application form (Trademark Act, Article 18, paragraph 3; Article 27, paragraph 1). However, the scope of a registered trademark consisting of standard characters is determined not based on the trademark as entered in the application form itself, but based on the trademark as expressed when converted into standard characters.<\/p>\r\n
\r\nPlease note that, where a trademark is registered in standard characters, the scope of the trademark right extends to the same or similar range as the registered trademark (standard characters), and there is no difference in the breadth of the scope compared to ordinary trademark registration.<\/p>\r\n
\r\nA trademark application cannot be registered if the applied trademark is identical or similar to another person\u2019s registered trademark and the designated goods or services covered by the application are identical or similar to those of the registered trademark (Trademark Act, Article 4, paragraph 1, item 11).<\/p>\r\n
\r\nClass 14 \u2013 Jewel cases (20A01) \/ Class 20 \u2013 Furniture (20A01) \u2192 Similar<\/p>\r\n
\r\n4. Examples Where Classifications Differ Between Japan and Foreign Countries<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.itohpat.co.jp\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-07-17_en1.png\")
<\/p>\r\n
\r\nEnglish (Madrid Protocol, TM5): Tissues impregnated with antibacterial preparations
\r\nJapanese: \u30c6\u30a3\u30c3\u30b7\u30e5\u306b\u6d38\u307f\u8fbc\u307e\u305b\u305f\u6297\u83cc\u5291 (Reference Translation: Antibacterial agent impregnated into tissues)<\/p>\r\n