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Commissioner, Japan Patent Office

ONO Yota

picture of iwataka kazuchikaMr. Ono Yota serves as Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), a key government agency that administers the industrial property rights system—the collective name for the patent, utility model, design and trademark systems.
He assumed this key role on July 1, 2024. This appointment marks the latest assignment in a long career at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) where Mr. Ono has served in several senior positions supporting international investment and trade as well as engaging in international energy affairs at METI and related organizations.

Early in his career, Mr. Ono was involved in the establishment of Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), which plays a critical role in supporting international investment and trade. He also led efforts to strengthen NEXI’s organizational systems and functions. As the head of the NEXI New York Office, Mr. Ono contributed to the launch of a reinsurance scheme with the Export-Import Bank of the United States for aircraft exports.

While serving as the Director of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Mr. Ono was responsible for supporting energy-related projects, advancing bilateral and multilateral energy cooperation, and designing policies for resources and fuels. Specifically, he also contributed to strengthening cooperation with oil-producing and gas-producing countries and ensuring a stable supply of oil and gas to our country. Additionally, he contributed to launching a framework for transition finance to support decarbonization in Asia.

Mr. Ono also held senior roles in financial policymaking. While serving as the Deputy Vice-Minister of Finance, Mr. Ono supported initiatives to promote international financial cooperation undertaken by Japan’s Ministry of Finance. In the domestic economy, he had oversight over SME and consumer finance from the twin perspectives of supporting businesses and protecting consumers.
Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Ono served as the Senior Executive Director of the Japan Finance Corporation, an organization that supports SMEs and agricultural businesses in fundraising. During this assignment, he supervised and strengthened that organization’s operational capabilities by laying out plans for human resources and electronic systems for the post-COVID era.

Mr. Ono was born on December 18, 1964, in Osaka Prefecture. He graduated from the University of Tokyo’s Faculty of Law, in March 1989, and earned an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1995.

Last updated:2024-09-04