- Home
- News Releases
- Back Issues
- September FY2018
- Conveyance of Attractiveness of Outstanding Regional Brands in Tokai and Hokuriku Regions Starts on September 3
Conveyance of Attractiveness of Outstanding Regional Brands in Tokai and Hokuriku Regions Starts on September 3
Official account "tokai_hokuriku_brand_sousenkyo" on Instagram
September 3, 2018
The Japan Patent Office (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, an initiative contributing to establishing and protecting regional brands, and to encourage organizations to utilize the system.
As part of this effort, on September 3 (Mon.), 2018, university students in these regions will convey the attractiveness of regional goods and services through social media based on the results of their interviews with organizations that have registered their goods or services under the Regional Collective Trademark System through their Instagram accounts.
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:
Note: The term “Instagram” is a trademark or registered trademark of Instagram, LLC.
Division in Charge
Trademark Division, Trademark and Customer Relations Department, JPO