Trademark registration in Japan (JPO)
Japan registers first and hears oppositions afterwards, so a clean application moves quickly. A company without a base in Japan files through a Japanese representative, normally a patent attorney (benrishi).
Trademark registration in Japan: fees, steps and timing
Trademark registration in Japan is handled by the Japan Patent Office (JPO). The official cost has two parts: an application fee of ¥3,400 plus ¥8,600 per class, and, once the JPO decides to register, a registration fee of ¥32,900 per class for ten years, or ¥17,200 per class for each five-year instalment. An applicant not resident or domiciled in Japan must appoint a representative in Japan, and the JPO recommends a patent attorney. In the JPO’s 2026 status report, the first examination action took 6.8 months on average and the total pendency was 7.8 months (fiscal 2024 figures).
Opposition in Japan comes after registration: anyone may oppose within two months of the registration being published in the Trademark Gazette. Separately, a registered mark that has not been used in Japan for three consecutive years can be cancelled on request, and the owner then has to prove use. A brand registered for later and never launched is exposed.
Name, script and searches
Japanese shoppers often see a foreign brand written in katakana, and competitors can file that version too. Ask the attorney whether to file the Latin-script name, the katakana form, or both, and run the 商標登録 検索 (trademark search) in the free J-PlatPat database for both forms. A Madrid designation of Japan is possible without a Japanese representative at filing, but a refusal must be answered through one; see our Madrid guide.
Please read this as general information. Our role is coordination: the application is filed by a Japanese patent attorney, in the name of your company. For product rules, see the Japan market page, and for other offices our country comparison.
JPO registration at a glance
Fees and averages from JPO pages and its Status Report 2026, checked on 3 November 2026.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Japan Patent Office (JPO) |
| Who can file / representative | Applicants not resident or domiciled in Japan must appoint a representative in Japan; payments go through that representative |
| Application | Filed with the JPO by the representative; one application can list several classes |
| Classes | Nice classes; fees are per class |
| Official fees | Application ¥3,400 + ¥8,600 per class. Registration ¥32,900 per class for 10 years, or ¥17,200 per class per five-year instalment |
| Examination | Substantive examination of distinctiveness and earlier marks; refusals can be answered with arguments or amendments. Accelerated examination is available in qualifying cases |
| Publication and opposition | After registration: two months from publication in the Gazette (opposition fee ¥3,000 + ¥8,000 per class) |
| Typical timing | 6.8 months to first action, 7.8 months total pendency on average (fiscal 2024); accelerated cases averaged 1.9 months to first action in 2025 |
| Validity and renewal | 10 years from registration; renewal can be requested from six months before expiry; renewal fee ¥43,600 per class (¥22,800 per class in instalments) |
| Use requirement | Cancellation possible after three consecutive years without use in Japan |
General information, not legal advice. The JPO revises fees occasionally; the Japanese attorney confirms the amounts at filing.
From search to certificate
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1
J-PlatPat search
Latin and katakana forms, plus similar-sounding marks, in the classes you need.
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2
Appoint the representative
A Japanese patent attorney receives the power of attorney and handles payment.
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3
Application
The goods list should follow the JPO’s accepted descriptions to avoid queries.
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4
Examination
If a notice of reasons for refusal arrives, the attorney replies by the deadline set.
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5
Decision and registration fee
Pay for ten years or for the first five; the mark is registered after payment.
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6
Post-registration opposition
Two months after Gazette publication; watch for it before planning big launches.
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7
Use and renewal
Keep evidence of use in Japan; renew from six months before expiry.
What to prepare
- Company name and address in English, plus the name of the representative
- Power of attorney for the Japanese patent attorney
- The mark, and a katakana version if you decide to file it
- Goods list per class
- Priority certificate if claiming an earlier filing
- Decision on paying the registration fee for 5 or 10 years
Japan-specific mistakes
Ignoring katakana
The market may name your brand in katakana. If someone else files that form first, you have a dispute.
Registering and waiting
Three years without use opens the mark to cancellation.
Budgeting only the filing fee
The registration fee per class is several times the application fee.
Assuming grant ends the risk
Oppositions are filed after registration, within two months of publication.
Frequently asked questions
How much does trademark registration cost in Japan (商標登録 費用)?
Official JPO fees as of November 2026 are ¥3,400 plus ¥8,600 per class to apply, and ¥32,900 per class to register for ten years. Japanese patent attorney fees are additional.
How long does it take to register a trademark in Japan?
The JPO reports an average of 6.8 months to the first examination action and 7.8 months total pendency for fiscal 2024. Accelerated examination, where available, is much faster.
Can a foreign company file a Japanese trademark without a local attorney?
Not directly. An applicant not resident in Japan must appoint a representative in Japan. A Madrid designation can be filed without one, but responding to a refusal needs one.
How do I search Japanese trademarks (商標登録 検索)?
The free J-PlatPat database (Japan Platform for Patent Information) lets you search registered and pending marks. A professional search also covers similar-sounding and katakana variants.
Can I register a logo in Japan?
Yes. Logos, words and combinations can be registered. Many brands file the word mark first so the protection survives a later redesign.
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