Conveyance of Attractiveness of Outstanding Regional Brands in Tokai and Hokuriku Regions Starts on September 3

1. Outline of the general election

JPO and the regional bureaus of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (i.e. METI Kanto Bureau, Chubu Bureau, and Kansai Bureau), have been advancing an event titled “General Election for Outstanding Regional Brands in the Tokai and Hokuriku Regions,” aiming to further popularize the Regional Collective Trademark System and further encourage organizations to utilize the system.

In the election, university students in these regions and rights holders of regional collective trademarks team up with each other to convey the attractiveness of their regional goods and services through their Instagram accounts. Following this, these teams will hold brainstorming discussions on new products and new business. The JPO will select 10 or so outstanding teams of participating university students and right holders based on the details of their posts and the number of “Likes” that their posts on Instagram earn. The selected teams will go on to the final.

In the final, these selected teams will make a presentation, and winners of the Grand Award (tentative title) and other awards will be determined.

Outline of the final

Date: December 12 (Wed.), 2018 (Program is not determined yet.)
Venue: Annex Hall, Nagoya International Center (1-47-1 Nagono, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya City; postal code: 450-0001)

The total number of “Likes” will hold the key to winning as a finalist. The JPO wishes that many of you will “Like” your favorite posts.

2. List of the Instagram accounts

On September 3 (Mon.), 2018, the university students mentioned above will begin posting information on their Instagram accounts. The accounts of the teams are shown below.

Note: Pictures posted on the Instagram will include the official logo below representing the mark of the Regional Collective Trademark System.

Instagram accounts of participating teams

Prefecture	University	Organization	Title of the goods/services registered under the Regional Collective Trademark System	Instagram account
Aichi Prefecture	Nagoya University	Minnade Toyokawa Shi wo Moriage Tai (NPO for uniting everyone’s efforts to vitalize Toyokawa City)	Toyokawa Inarizushi	toyokawainarizushi0903
		Aichi Ken Tokigawara Kogyo Kumiai (industrial association for manufacturers of ceramic tiles for roofing)	Sanshugawara (tiles for roofing)	sanshukawara0903
		Toyohashi Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Toyohashi Curry Udon (noodles)	toyohashicurryudon0903
Ishikawa Prefecture	Kanazawa Seiryo University	Noto Fugu Jigyo Kyodo Kumiai (cooperative association for globefish businesses in the Noto area)	Noto Fugu (globefish)	notofugu0903
		Komatsu Udon Tsurutsuru Soken (NPO for popularizing Komatsu Udon)	Komatsu Udon (noodles)	komatsuudon0903
Gifu Prefecture	Gifu University	Minowashi Brand Cooperative Society	Minowashi (traditional Japanese paper)	minowashi0903
		Japan Agricultural Cooperatives, Megumino	Hirugano Kogen Daikon (radish)	hiruganokougendaikon0903
		Hida Woodworking Federation	Hida no Kagu / Hida Takayama no Kagu (wooden furniture)	hidanokagu0903
Shizuoka Prefecture	College of International Relations, Nihon University	Kannami Tobu Nogyo Kyodo Kumiai (agricultural cooperative for the eastern area of Kannami)	Tanna Gyunyu (milk)	tannagyunyu0903
	Shizuoka University of Art and Culture	JA Topia-Hamamatsu	Mikatahara Bareisho (potatoes)	mikataharabareisho0903
	Shizuoka University	Yuiko Gyogyo Kyodo Kumiai (fisheries cooperative in the Yui area)	Yui Sakuraebi (spotted shrimp)	yuisakuraebi0903
Toyama Prefecture	Toyama University of International Studies	Uozu Gyogyo Kyodo Kumiai (fisheries cooperative in the Uozu area)	Uozu Bai Meshi (steamed rice with small water snails)	uozubaimeshi0903
	Toyama University	Dento Kogei Takaoka Doki Shinko Kyodo Kumiai (cooperative for vitalization of Takaoka copperware as traditional craft)	Takaoka Doki (copperware)	takaokadoki0903
Fukui Prefecture	Fukui Prefectural University	Obama Shi Shokuhin Kako Kyodo Kumiai (cooperative for food processing businesses in Obama City)	Wakasa Karei (flatfish)	wakasakarei0903
	Fukui University	Awara Onsen Ryokan Kyodo Kumiai (cooperative for hotel businesses in the Awara hot spring area)	Awara Onsen (hot springs)	awaraonsen0903
Mie Prefecture	Mie University	Mie Ken Kumihimo Kyodo Kumiai (cooperative for braided cord businesses in Mie Prefecture)	Iga Kumihimo (braided cords)	igakumihimo0903
		Mie Ken Imono Kogyo Kumiai (Mie Prefecture Cast Metal Industrial Cooperative)	Kuwana Imono (cast metal)	kuwanaimono0903
	Suzuka University	Ise Katagami Kyodo Kumiai (cooperative for kimono-pattern businesses in the Ise area)	Ise Katagami (paper patterns)	isekatagami0903

3. Reference: Outline of the system

Under the Regional Collective Trademark System, regional business cooperatives, industry associations, chambers of commerce and industry, NPOs and other associations are eligible for registering their own trademarks, a combination of a name of the region and a name of the product or service, if they satisfy predetermined requirements.

Regional collective trademarks aim to appropriately protect regional brands, thereby contributing to supporting the consolidation of the industrial competitiveness and the revitalization of regional economies by maintaining the trustworthiness of businesses. As of the end of July 2018, 631 regional collective trademarks have been registered.

Note: For the summary of the system and details of the regional collective trademarks that have been registered across Japan, visit the following JPO website for the system:

• The JPO website concerning the system (in Japanese)

Note: The term “Instagram” is a trademark or registered trademark of Instagram, LLC.

Division in Charge

Trademark Division, Trademark and Customer Relations Department, JPO