trademark

The other day, when I was looking for a souvenir for my colleagues after a trip to Akita Prefecture, I came across a snack called “Hatahata Pie”.

I thought “I know about eel pie, but hatahata?”, however I was attracted by the eye-catching packaging and bought it, wondering what it would taste like.

After looking it up later, I found out that “Hatahata Pie” is a famous Akita confectionery that was created in 1977, and that it is made using salt from the Oga Workshop and “Shibata Yakiniku no Tare (Shibata Yakiniku sauce)” from Yokote city, and is baked into a shape that resembles hatahata, and then coated with “shottsuru”, a traditional fermented seasoning from Akita. Hatahata (Japanese sandfish) is the prefectural fish of Akita.

The founder of Kimuraya, which now includes the Hatahata Pie as one of its signature products, Kusuke Yamashita, trained at the famous Kimuraya in Tokyo, where he learned the art of making anpan (sweet buns filled with bean jam), and is said to have invented the wrapping material of aluminum foil used to wrap yokan (sweet bean jelly) and the oburato (wafer paper) used to wrap medicine.

“Hatahata Pie” was registered as a trademark in 2015 for designated products as a pie pastry (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5730530).

The “Hatahata Pie”, which makes full use of the characteristics of the local area, was a delicious snack with a subtle salty flavor and a delicious aroma.

The prefectural fish of Aichi is the Japanese tiger prawn, and there are many snacks such as shrimp crackers, so please take them as a souvenir when you visit Aichi. (Syszo)

I downloaded the Duolingo app after hearing about it in a TV commercial.
Duolingo is a language education app, and the app’s logo is a registered trademark (International Registration No. 1640955).

It seems that if the language setting of the app is Japanese, you can only choose from four languages (English, Chinese, Korean, French), but because I have set the app language to English, I was able to choose from other languages (about 40 languages).
Among them, I am taking a course in Spanish, which I studied a little when I was a student, and French out of curiosity.
Spanish is fun because I can recognize some familiar words, but I’m struggling with French because the pronunciation and spelling of the words are difficult.
The learning method is not just translation, and there are also games and conversations with the computer in the lessons, so it’s very interesting.
What’s more, this app is free!

I never thought I’d have the chance to study a new language as an adult, but I’m going to do my best to become a trilingual or quadrilingual with Duolingo! (Rabbit)

Have you heard of Suntory’s “Warudake Boss Cafe”?

As the advertising slogan says, “Just mix it with milk or water and you can easily make lattes and black coffee just like at a cafe”, this coffee base makes it really easy to make delicious drinks.
This product has been very useful this summer, fulfilling my desire to drink a delicious iced latte or iced coffee right away.
In the autumn and winter, I’m looking forward to enjoying hot, delicious drinks.

The trademark “BOSS CAFE” has been registered as a designated product for tea, coffee, etc. on November 15, 2013 (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 5630416).
(Sakuramochi)

　This is an introduction to the trademarks we see every day without thinking. This time, I will be introducing ‘ZWILLING (registered trademark)’. I have been using kitchenware from this brand for a long time. Recently, I think I have been seeing this twin logo more and more. The pots, knives, etc. are functional and well-designed, and the kitchen appliances such as blenders have a simple design without any unnecessary functions, so they are easy to use and I really like them.

　I use a capsule-type coffee machine. Usually, I can drink it black and it’s delicious enough, but sometimes I want to drink it with the kind of foamed milk you see in coffee shops. Also, sometimes black coffee seems too strong for my taste. In these cases, this Milk Frother is very convenient. In Japan, it’s usually called a milk foamer, but it’s basically a milk frother.

　The ZWILLING Milk Frother I recently bought can’t be used to make latte art like an espresso machine, but it can easily make fine frothy milk, and it can also be heated, so it can easily make delicious café au lait. I’ve also tried using it with soymilk, and it worked perfectly.

　This summer was long, but recently, it finally feels like autumn is blowing through, and mornings and evenings are becoming more comfortable. This Milk Frother is going to be put to good use.
(blink)

I went to Misonoza with my family to celebrate Respect-for-the-Aged Day.
Misonoza is a long-established theater in Nagoya City that was rebuilt in 2018, and its modern and impressive architecture is famous as a tourist spot.
The white lattice pattern on the exterior wall is distinctive, and the vivid vermillion of the entrance and the green of the sign and logo mark are eye-catching.

When you search for “Misonoza” on J-PlatPat, you will find 5 registered trademarks.
Of the 4 that were applied for in 1991 and 1992, Japanese Trademark Registration No. 6042219, which was applied for in 2017, is a registered trademark with color. It is used vertically on the exterior walls and entrance pillars (see below).

Unlike the previous four cases, there are many divisions, and the content of the designated goods and the timing of the application show that the management after the reconstruction was taken into consideration.
Although I was unable to stop by, I assume that there are many souvenirs using this registered trademark on display in the attached shop.

It was my first time at the Misonoza, and I had a great time laughing and spending time with my family.
We had Yamamotoya’s miso-simmered udon for dinner, and it was a day full of Nagoya treats♪ (Cacao)

　Nikkei BP, a group company of Nikkei Inc., publishes online and magazine media in the broad areas of management (business), technology, and lifestyle. Many of the names of those media are registered as trademarks. For example, the names of the following lifestyle-related magazines have been registered as trademarks since their first issue over 30 years ago, and are widely known among readers of all ages.

　“Nikkei Personalcomputing” first published in 1983: Japanese Trademark registration No. 1730485 (registered on November 27,1984)
　“Nikkei TRENDY” first published in 1987: Japanese Trademark registration No. 2260352 (registered on August 30, 1990)
　“Nikkei WOMAN” first published in 1988: Japanese Trademark registration No. 2247543 (registered on July 30, 1990)

　Among these, “Nikkei TRENDY” is an information magazine that publishes articles on currently trending products, services, and businesses under the catchphrase “a fashionable information magazine that stimulates personal life”.

　In the October 2024 issue of Nikkei TRENDY (released on September 4), an advertisement article of Hattori & Partner (p. 131) appears in the “Intellectual Property Professionals / Selected Patent Attorney File” (p. 128 – p. 132). We would appreciate it if you could take a look at our advertisement article when you see the magazine in bookstores. (Conan)

　(Reference site)
https://info.nikkeibp.co.jp/media/TRE/ (Japanese only)
https://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/media/media_list.html (Japanese only)

During the summer, various festivals are held all over Japan, and one festival in particular that I have long been interested in is the Aomori Nebuta Festival. This year I was able to go to the “Aomori Nebuta Festival” for the first time and participate as a haneto (dancer).

Nebuta festivals are held in various locations, especially in Aomori Prefecture, but the “Aomori Nebuta Festival” that I attended this time is held every year from August 2 to 7 in Aomori City. It is considered one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region and is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Japan.

On most days, more than 20 groups parade through the city, with the giant lanterns called “Nebuta” playing the central role, and the musicians consisting of drummers, flutes, and hand gongs, and the haneto, who call out “rassera, rassera” to enliven the scene. Anyone can participate in the haneto without reservations as long as they are dressed in formal attire, making it possible to enjoy the festival on a grand scale even more. This year, approximately 117,000 people participated as haneto over the six days of the festival.

The daytime Nebuta is a sight to behold, but seeing the giant lanterned Nebuta moving around at night is a very moving experience.

Even outside of the Aomori Nebuta Festival period, you can see some of this year’s Nebuta at the Nebuta House Wa Rasse. Also, “Kishibojin” by Asako Kitamura, winner of this year’s Nebuta Grand Prize, will be on display at EXPO 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.

A quick J-PlatPat search on “Aomori Nebuta Festival” revealed that the trademark was registered on November 27, 1986 (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 1909292) for the designated goods of “meat products, processed marine products, processed vegetables and fruits, soy milk, tofu, frozen tofu, fried tofu, konnyaku, natto”. The right holder is Yamamoto Shokuhin, which manufactures “Nebutazuke”, a well-known product in Aomori.
https://www.j-platpat.inpit.go.jp/c1801/TR/JP-1984-043580/40/en

This “Nebutazuke” can also be purchased in Aichi Prefecture from vending machines installed in Nisshin City. (Syszo)