The thing that was a big hit in 2022.

  • January 18, 2023
#design

Have you ever tried Yakult 1000?
It has become such a hot topic that it is difficult to obtain, and I have visited convenience stores, supermarkets, and pharmacies, but it was still sold out.
I was wondering if it was really effective in “relieving stress” and “improving the quality of sleep” as shown in the commercials, and when I really wanted to try it, I noticed that a Yakult lady came to the entrance of our office every morning and was able to purchase it♪

Yakult 1000

It looks like it comes in a larger container than regular Yakult and tastes a little stronger.
I don’t know if it really ” relieving stress ” and ” improving the quality of sleep ” or if it is a placebo effect, but I personally felt that it somehow improved my sleep quality.

Yakult 1000 is a product of Yakult Honsha Co.,Ltd. (Japanese Design Registration No. 1648553)
I try to drink it only on weekdays, because if I continue to drink it every day, I will develop a tolerance to it and will not feel its effects. (Rabbit)

Yakult 1000 / Y1000 (Japanese only)
Japanese Design Registration No.1648553|J-PlatPat [JPP] (inpit.go.jp)

Far-infrared graphite heater

  • January 11, 2023
#patent

 I live in Nagoya, where it rarely snows and I, who is sensitive to cold weather, feel comfortable all year round, but this year it has been getting colder in December.
 The living room at home is comfortable thanks to air conditioning, but the coldness of the changing room and washroom, which are only used during bathing and at dawn, has been an issue for many years. I had been holding it back for a long time, partly because I felt a sense of resistance to the idea of using them only for a short time, but this year I finally purchased a far-infrared graphite heater for spot heating that I found in a newspaper flyer.

Aladdin far-infrared graphite heater

 This time, I purchased an Aladdin brand far-infrared graphite heater (two-light tube). Despite its retro appearance, it also has a device that automatically turns off the power when clothes touch it. The moment I turned it on, it warmed up immediately even at a distance, and it seemed to be safe even if I was naked. I am very satisfied with the comfort as if the extremely cold place until now was a lie.
 Incidentally, a few days after the heater was delivered, Nagoya suddenly had its first snowfall (and it was cold enough to record 10 cm of snow for the first time in eight years), but thanks to the far-infrared heater, it was as if nothing had happened.

 Currently, the company that sells Aladdin brand appliances is called Sengoku Corporation. Some time ago, an article was published in the JPO’s public relations magazine, “Patent Vol. 51,” and I would like to introduce it to you.
 According to the article, a major company with which Sengoku had a business relationship suggested “Why don’t you buy our patented technology for ultra-high-performance heaters?” and the purchase of the technology became a turning point in the company’s business.
 Sengoku was originally an OEM specialist for home appliances, but as it enhanced its technological capabilities, it has grown by utilizing the patented technology acquired through the business transfer under the management policy of “bringing in resources that are not available in-house from outside.

 Sengoku’s website introduces the company’s Japanese Patent No. 4739314, and a search on J-PlatPat reveals that there is also a related patent, Japanese Patent No. 5383741 (divisional application of Japanese Patent No. 4739314). Referring to these gazettes, it appears that the “major company” mentioned above was Panasonic Corporation, since (at the time of publication of the gazette) the “patentee Panasonic Corporation” is listed as the “patentee.
 It is said that about half of all patents are unused patents, etc., and the problem is that these patents are so-called “treasure troves”. Since only the patentee is granted a patent for an invention, no one other than the patentee is allowed to work the invention, and the unused patent remains unexercised for the duration of the patent (up to about 20 years). This can be considered a major social loss.
 In this sense, the steps taken by Aladdin Brand and Sengoku Co. might be a great reference for us. (blink)

Der Baumkuchen

  • January 5, 2023
#trademark

Last Christmas, I bought Juchheim ‘s “Der Baumkuchen” as a gift for my family.
I had been interested in it for a long time but never had a chance to buy it, but I happened to see it on a TV program and decided immediately to buy it for Christmas this year!

Juchheim's "Der Baumkuchen" Juchheim's "Der Baumkuchen"

The outer box is Christmas-specific and cute.
The Der Baum, with its attractive bumpy mountain shape, is said to be baked using the same recipe and production method as in the past. As you can see from the names of the ingredients in the images, they do not use vegetable fats such as margarine and shortening, but use butter and no food additives such as expanders, and are made using only natural ingredients, showing their strong commitment to making safe and secure sweets.

Juchheim's "Der Baumkuchen"

The head office is located in Kobe City, but the central factory is actually located in Anjo City, Aichi Prefecture.
I first learned that Juchheim ‘s confectionery was adopted as a tax return gift from Anjo City.

It has been 100 years since Karl Juchheim, the founder of Juchheim, decided to settle permanently in Japan and opened the first Juchheim store in Japan in Yokohama. In 2009, the 100th anniversary of the company’s founding, a trademark application was filed for the Juchheim logo, including “SEIT 1909” printed on the outer box, and a design that appears to represent the bumpy surfaces of a Der Baumkuchen. (Japanese Registration No. 5299158)

Juchheim

I ate too much cake and chicken for Christmas, so it will be a little while before I can enjoy Der Baum with my family. I am very much looking forward to it♪ (Cacao)

The History of Juchheim | Juchheim
Juchheim Der Baum (L) – Details of the gift – Satofull (satofull.jp)

“3D Art” on a caramel package

  • December 28, 2022
#trademark

Caramel is a popular flavor of popcorn, but sometimes I feel like eating caramel itself.
When I think of caramel, the yellow box of “Morinaga Milk Caramel” comes to mind.
The design of the box is interesting to look at because of its history, but when I bought it after a long time, I found that the package had become a “3D art” package that could be enjoyed.

3D Art on a caramel package

Pictures of people and animals are printed on the outer film, which is superimposed on the background printed on the inside of the box to create a space with depth.
It is a simple but exciting device. Hats off to a great idea.

This package won the Bronze Prize in the confectionery category of the “Japan Package Design Award 2023” in 2022. (Time)

Japanese Registered Trademark
Registration number: No. 89075
Registration date: November 6, 1917

SABACHI and TUNACHI – Naming Devices.

  • December 22, 2022
#trademark

 I would like to introduce some snacks I recently ate, and thought were delicious.
 They are “SABACHI” mackerel chips and “TUNACHI” tuna chips.

SABACHI and TUNACHI

 They are crispy and have a light salty taste, while the ” SABACHI ” has a slight sweetness as well. Each is made with 70% mackerel and tuna, respectively, so the fish flavor is amazing. They are like the mackerel and tuna versions of Bankaku’s Yukari, a famous snack in the Tokai region (a rice cracker richly flavored with shrimp). The fact that it looks healthy is also a great point.

SABACHI and TUNACHI

 It is a little hard to tell, but the reddish one is “TUNACHI”. In my family, the “TUNACHI” is more popular by three to one.

SABACHI and TUNACHI

 On the package, there is an indication “Trademark registration pending,” but the trademark for the letters “SABACHI” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6321782) and the package (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6437358) and the trademark for the letters “TUNACHI” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6376443) and the package (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6361490) have been registered, respectively. The “SABACHI” and “TUNACHI” trademarks were registered.

 “SABACHI” and “TUNACHI” seem to have been coined by abbreviating the ending (PS) of “SABACHIPS” and “TUNACHIPS,” respectively, but if “SABACHIPS” or “TUNACHIPS” had been applied for, the application would have been rejected under Article 3(1)(iii) of the Trademark Law (a trademark that merely indicates the quality of goods in a common manner). Whether or not it was to avoid this reason for refusal is not known, but the above trademarks were applied for under “SABACHI” and “TUNACHI” by devising the naming, and the registration was granted without receiving any notice of reason for refusal (Hiro).

My personal No. 1 snack in 2022

  • December 14, 2022
#trademark

It is the end of the year.
In 2022, I ate various snacks, both Japanese and Western, and I would like to introduce the one that left the greatest impression on me.
It is the “Zunda Shake” from Zunda Saryo, which is run by Sendai-based Kasho Sanzen Co., Ltd.
Zunda Shake is a sweet vanilla shake mixed with Zunda (mashed edamame beans). It is said that many people are captivated by this exquisite combination.

Zunda Shake

I have been wanting to try it for several years but have never had the chance, but I finally had the chance to drink it at the Great Tohoku Exhibition held at JR Nagoya Takashimaya in November this year.
Zunda Shake was as delicious as I had hoped it would be over the years, and I downed it in no time at all. (A few days later, I went back to buy some more…)
I hope to have another such delicious encounter next year.

The trademark in the photo, consisting of “a figure of edamame (*)” and “ZUNDA SARYO,” was registered on October 22, 2004 for the designated service “provision of food and drink” (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 4812488).

* The graphic portion is yellowish green in the photo, but is represented in yellow in the registered trademark.

(Sakuramochi)

What Will Happen? TOKIO-BA” in Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture

  • December 7, 2022
#trademark

I traveled to Fukushima Prefecture in October. It was my first visit in over three years due to the Corona disaster.
While enjoying the autumn leaves that began to change colors earlier than in Nagoya, I saw Mt. Iimori, the place of the Byakkotai’s suicide attack, and “Sazae-do” (official name: Entsu Sansodou) with its unusual architectural style, and “Ouchi-juku” where houses with thatched roofs line the street and the atmosphere of the Edo period remains.

During the trip, I went to that “TOKIO-BA” because I just passed near Nishigo Village.

TOKIO-BA

“TOKIO-BA” is a creative project started by three members of TOKIO, who are working to promote the appeal of Fukushima Prefecture, in Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture. On the day I visited, “Fukusima BArche”, a marche selling Fukushima products, was being held and many people were visiting.

TOKIO-BA seems to have 80,000 square meters of land, but there is almost nothing there yet.
A search for “TOKIO-BA” on J-PlatPat shows that a Japanese trademark application has been filed.
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1800/TR/JP-2021-075718/1C48139A269BBBB84029A8C7E9A3611DD45346431BF125E59935356167DB1568/40/ja
Looking at the designated goods or designated services seems to give us a glimpse of what they are trying to do here. I look forward to seeing what they are going to do in the future.(Syszo)

TOKIO-BA – TOKIO Inc. (Japanese only)
https://www.tokio.inc/s/tokio/page/tokio-ba?ima=1624

The Rainy Season Period

  • November 30, 2022

This is Swimmer.
I wrote the following blog in June of this year.

The rainy season has begun | HATTORI & PARTNERS – Patents,Trademarks,Designs
I wrote that the end of the rainy season was announced only 13 days after the beginning of the rainy season, which may be the shortest statistical record.

Rainy Season

However, after that, the rainy season continued, and the official end of the rainy season in the Tokai region was announced on July 23, which is about the same as a normal year.
It seems that there is a clear distinction between the preliminary report issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency and the announcement of the results after taking into consideration the progress of the rainy season.

The year 1951 was 71 years ago when the statistics were first compiled, and it seems that observation equipment has advanced considerably since then. There may be newly developed and invented technologies.
We hope to continue to provide information that is useful to our daily lives through ever-evolving science and technology and steady observational statistics.

Japan Meteorological Agency | Past Beginning and End of the Rainy Season (Tokai) (jma.go.jp)

Roasted Chestnuts

  • November 24, 2022
#trademark

 The other day I found a registered trademark on a package of chestnuts. Fukuguri are sweet roasted chestnuts.

Roasted Chestnuts

 I enjoyed eating these roasted chestnuts on their own and as Mont Blanc cake.

The roasted chestnuts I have had so far have been chestnuts with all the skin on and without the skin. Chestnuts with the skin on have flavor. However, if the chestnuts have the skin all over them, it takes time to peel the skin off, and it is very hard to get your hands dirty.

As stated on the package, these roasted chestnuts are easy to peel because the skins of the roasted chestnuts are cracked. They are also easy to cook and eat. (Raspberry)

“Fukuguri Chestnuts”
Owner: Shinko Trading Co. , Ltd.
Japanese Trademark Registration Application: No. 2011-64660
Registration Date: March 30, 2012

Up cycle

  • November 16, 2022
#patent #trademark

 In recent years, the term “up cycling” has come to be used frequently amidst growing environmental awareness. For example, the Japanese published unexamined patent application No. 2022-115087 states the following.

 ”Up cycle” is one form of recycling, and is to provide new added value such as design and idea to waste which should be discarded and to upgrade and change to another new product. It can be said that the above described embodiment is upgraded to a fermentation composition ・・・ for food waste and food before expiration, and which can be used as a food by a person.

 The applicant of this published gazette, Soi Co., Ltd. is a company that develops fermented foods in Numazu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. You can find their philosophy on upcycling on their website.

 https://soijp.com/product/upcycling/

 The “UP 0 TECH®” Japanese registration trademark (No. 6550670), which stands for “technological thinking that eliminates the concept of waste and recycles all resources,” has been registered as a trademark for the following designated products and services.

UP 0 TECH

 (Example.)
 Class 3 (cosmetics)
  Cosmetics manufactured by upcycling (waste recycling)
 Class 30 (Confectionery and foodstuffs)
  Coffee made by upcycling (waste recycling)
  Bread produced by upcycling (waste recycling)
 Class 40 (Processed goods)
  Provision of information and advice relating to upcycling (waste recycling)

 The website states, “We hope to realize a circular economy through the technologies and methods produced by UP 0 TECH®”. We expect that this technology will be in increasingly high demand in the future. (Conan)