Local News

Problems have arisen in recent years in China and Taiwan over the use by corporations and individuals in those countries of Japanese place names for branded products that have no relation to Japan. A total of 21 Japanese place names have already been approved as trademarks for products in those countries, including Saga and Kumamoto. The Japanese Patent Agency, however, says that the Chinese have started to discourage this practice since the beginning of the year, and turned down local applications to register the names of Fukuoka and Kagoshima as well as six other prefectures. Local Japanese governments are concerned that the use of their names will hinder efforts to export local specialties, particularly agricultural and food products.