trademark

　Hello, this is Hiro.
　Rice prices have been rising recently. The other day, I saw some US rice on sale at a certain membership-based warehouse store, so I decided to give it a try.

　This rice, “Calrose,” is said to be a type of medium-grain Japonica rice famous in the Sacramento Valley of California. It appears slightly longer and thinner than Japanese rice. When cooked, it feels slightly less moist but not dry, and the texture and taste are similar to the Japanese rice I usually eat.

　In the center of the rice bag, there is a trademark featuring a design resembling rice ears, with the words “100% ORIGINAL,” “CALIFORNIA,” and “RICE” displayed above circular and rectangular shapes. Upon checking J-PlatPat, I found that this trademark is identical to a registered trademark.

Japanese Trademark Registration Number: No. 6176480
Registration date: August 30, 2019
Registrant: California Rice Commission
Designated goods: Rice produced in the State of California, United States

It appears that this trademark was initially refused registration under Article 4, Paragraph 1, Item 16 of the Trademark Law (misleading as to quality), but it was ultimately registered after the designated goods were amended to “rice produced in the State of California, United States.” If this trademark had not included any graphical elements such as rice ears and had been composed solely of the words “100% ORIGINAL,” “CALIFORNIA,” and “RICE,” it would likely have been deemed lacking in distinctiveness, and even if the designated goods had been amended, the grounds for refusal would not have been resolved.

　At our firm, when we receive a request for trademark registration, we strive to provide advice in advance (prior to filing) on potential grounds for rejection that may arise during the examination process, including countermeasures and alternative options. If you are considering filing a new trademark registration application, please feel free to contact us.

I bought Yoguret because I saw it on sale in a shop and it brought back memories. It was not the old-fashioned tablet type in a box, but the sugar-coated type in a pouch, and Yoguret had evolved! The shop I happened to visit only sold the sugar-coated type, but looking at the website, it seems that the old-fashioned Yoguret and Hi-lemon in a box are still going strong.

While looking at the packaging with the intention of eating it, I suddenly wondered, “I think Yoguret was made by Meiji Seika, wasn’t it?”, so I looked into it and found that Meiji Seika, the company that used to make Yoguret and High Lemon, became a subsidiary of Marubeni in 2023 and changed its name to ATRION Co., Ltd.
The original trademark rights for Yoguret belonged to Meiji Seika, and the current trademark rights holder is ATRION Co., Ltd. Looking at the progress information, it seems that the rights were transferred in 2023. The same is true for Hi-lemon, and the current trademark rights holder is ATRION Co., Ltd.

Even if the same quality product was on sale, I don’t think I would have picked it up if the name or packaging had changed. This was an event that made me realize once again that even if the company changes with the times, we can still enjoy the same taste, protected by trademark rights. If I find the boxed type on sale, I’ll buy it. (Marron)

The other day, February 22nd, was Cat Day.
As a cat lover, Cat Day is a very special day for me, when I can see lots of cats in photos and videos from morning to night.

This year, I bought some sweets to celebrate Cat Day.

They are “Shofuku Neko Manju” (blessed cat manju) from Tohoen, a shop in Takayama City, Gifu Prefecture.

The impact of this appearance.
Once you’ve seen it, you’re unlikely to forget it, aren’t you?
As the name “Shofuku” suggests, it seems to bring good luck.

Incidentally, there is also a cat drawn on the paper bag.

It was a very satisfying Cat Day in 2025, as I was able to eat the manjuu I’d been wanting to try ever since I first heard about them a few years ago.

The word “猫子(Neko)” in “Shofuku Neko Manju” was registered as a Japanese trademark on June 15, 2022 for “Japanese sweets” and other designated products (Registration No. 6572445).

Why not register your important product or service name as a trademark?
For consultations and requests regarding trademark registration, please feel free to contact us here.
Of course, we also welcome individual customers. (Sakuramochi)

　I would like to introduce a trademark that we see every day without thinking about it. This time, I will be introducing YOINED, an ‘edible’ coffee from UCC UESHIMA COFFEE Co.

　A while ago, an article introducing this product was also published in the Japan Patent Office’s public relations magazine ‘Tokkyo’ Vol. 63. I have also included another article for reference. It seems that this time, the product has been relaunched.

　The price is a little high (2,700 yen (including tax) for 6 pieces → 450 yen per piece!), so I hesitated for a while (lol), but I decided to give it a try because I use a UCC capsule coffee machine at home.

　The packaging looks like a bar of chocolate. When I opened the package and took a bite, the inside also felt like a single bar of chocolate. The one on the left is MELLOW BROWN (15% coffee bean content), and the one on the right is CRAZY BLACK (40%).

　I didn’t really notice the coffee bean taste in the MELLOW BROWN, but the CRAZY BLACK had a strong coffee bean flavor. The pamphlet that came with it says “The name YOINED comes from the aftertaste (aftertaste in Japanese is “Yoin”)”, and I could certainly enjoy the aftertaste of coffee for a while.

　Incidentally, it may be obvious because it is mentioned in the Japan Patent Office’s public relations magazine, but YOINED makes use of patented technology (Japanese Patent Registration No. 6849552). It is said that 20 years were spent to bring to the world “food products that use coffee to allow people to easily enjoy the aroma and taste of coffee”. Why not try a different sensation to your usual cup of coffee?
(blink)

The other day, a theater company I know was going to put on a performance in my hometown, and as the performance date drew near and all the members gathered in my hometown, I wanted to give them a gift, and after some thought, I decided on Nagoya souvenirs in the form of sweets.
As many of the members live in the Kansai region, I thought that they would be happy to receive Nagoya souvenirs that they could also enjoy looking at, so I went to a shop in Nagoya Station, where there were so many different kinds of souvenir sweets on display that it was hard to choose just one.
I chose these three types because I thought they were individually wrapped, so they would keep for a long time and could be stored at room temperature, and they were also easy to eat without getting your hands dirty.

Nagoya-jo, Shachi Sable, and Three Great Warlords Okaki.

NAGOYA JO (logo) and SANDAIBUSYO OKAKI (standard characters) are registered trademarks.
The entire package of SHACHI SABLE is being applied for a trademark, and as of February 5th, a decision of grant registration has been issued. (Japanese Trademark Application No. 2024-067295)
Shachi Sablé was originally applied for in Class 30 (sablés), but a notice of reasons for refusal was issued, and the application was amended to “sablés manufactured or sold in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture”, and was approved for registration.

Incidentally, the original Shachi Monaka of the company that makes Shachi Sablé, Ganso Shachi Monaka Honten, was chosen as the “Shobu Oyatsu (game snack)”of the seven-crown winner Souta Fujii in 2022.
It’s not often that you get the chance to try local souvenirs, but I’d like to try them again under the pretext of tasting them to give as a gift or to take as a souvenir♪ (Cacao)

The other day, I had the opportunity to visit Handa City in Aichi Prefecture, and on the way there I saw a sign for “Nama Senbei”. My imagination ran wild: “Nama” means “raw”, so I wondered if it was a rice cracker that had not yet been baked, or if it was a soft, raw-looking rice cracker with a soft filling. When I discovered and bought some at a souvenir shop, I found that they looked unexpectedly square and were like thin yokan (sweet bean jelly) in black and white.

When I tried it, it was chewy and filling, and the white one had a subtle sweetness from the sugar and honey, while the black one had a savory flavor from the brown sugar and honey, and it was a nostalgic-tasting snack that even children would enjoy. I thought it was similar to the “uirou” that you often see in Nagoya.

After doing some research, I found out that it is a specialty confectionary from the Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture, and that it is a semi-dry confectionary with a chewy texture similar to rice cakes, and a rich flavor with a subtle sweetness from the brown sugar and honey that spreads in the mouth.
According to the story behind the origin of “Nama Senbei”, the seller says, “When Tokugawa Ieyasu helped Imagawa Yoshimoto in the Battle of Okehazama, he arrived in Handa City on his way to the Chita Peninsula and asked for some fresh senbei that were hanging to dry in a peasant’s house. He then happily gobbled them up.

The mark on the top of the packaging for the rice crackers was applied for trademark registration on October 12th, 1957, and the rights to it are still in effect (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 523200).

It’s a good product with a long history, so why not try it when you visit Handa City? (Chamomile)
Nama Senbei webisite (only in Japanese)

Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support.

Although it’s a little bit of a time-travel, I bought a product called the “abien HOME DRYER” from our client, abien Co., Ltd., as a Christmas present for my family last year.

It’s very stylish, with a shape like an ammonite.
It also has seven modes!

• SPEED mode: Quickly warms bedding and the room, high air volume x medium temperature
• DRY mode: Warms bedding thoroughly, medium air volume x medium temperature
• MITE mode: Can be used to combat mites that hide in bedding, etc.
• WARM mode: Can be used for spot heating, such as under the feet, with low air volume and high air temperature
• CIRCULATE mode: Suitable for circulating the air in the room or using a fan, with low air volume and low air temperature
• CLOTHING mode: For drying clothes and shoes indoors, with high air volume and high air temperature
• PET mode: Can blow air at a frequency and low noise that animals don’t mind, with low air volume and low air temperature

At my house, we mainly use the WARM and CIRCULATE modes.
The WARM mode is very useful in the living room and bathroom in the cold winter, and the airflow is strong and very warm. The CIRCULATE mode is used by installing it under the air conditioner or in a corner of the room to improve the air quality.
We don’t have any pets, so we don’t get to use the PET mode, but we still have four other modes left to try, so we’re looking forward to using them all.

The trademarks “ａｂｉｅｎ　ＨＯＭＥＤＲＹＥＲ (standard characters)” (Japanese Trademark Registration no. 6835200) and “アビエン　ホームドライヤー (standard characters)” (Japanese Trademark Registration no. 6835201) were registered at our firm.
If you are considering registering a trademark or other intellectual property for your company’s products, please contact us. (Rabbit)

It’s that time of year when you start to see strawberries in the grocery stores and supermarkets.
When I see strawberries, I get excited thinking “I can eat those again”.

There is a Japanese confectionery that makes me feel that way, and that is “Ichigo Habutae” from Kitagawa Co, which is located in Kita-ku, Nagoya, Aichi prefecture.
As it is only available during the strawberry season, the specific date of its release is announced on the official website every year. I heard that it had gone on sale this year, so I went out and bought some straight away.

According to the official website (https://www.owarigashi-kitagawa.jp/ichigohabutae) of Kitagawa Co, the strawberry covered in a haubutae blanket from above is the official image.

The fluffy habutae rice cake, the elegant sweetness of the red bean paste filling, and the juicy strawberries are the perfect combination. In particular, the smooth, fluffy texture of the habutae rice cake is has an impact every time.

Another of Kitagawa’s signature sweets is the “Hesokuri Mochi”.
This is a product that is sold all year round, and a kumquat preserved in syrup is hidden inside the soft, fluffy habutae rice cake.

I forgot to take a photo of the filling…

Hesokuri Mochi is very popular all over Japan, and it seems to sell like hotcakes at events all over the country.
Hesokuri Mochi is a registered trademark (Japanese Trademark Registration No. 4774453) for “sweets and bread” and other designated products, as of May 28, 2004.

Why not register your important product or service names as trademarks?
For consultations and requests regarding trademark registration, please feel free to contact us here.
Of course, we also welcome individual customers. (Sakuramochi)