Sources have revealed that Oita Prefecture was informed by Patent Office that it was not permitted to trademark the term “Onsen Ken” (hot spring prefecture) that it is using to promote its abundant hot springs. After filing the trademark application, people from other prefectures objected on the grounds that Oita isn’t the only place with hot springs. The Prefecture was seeking trademark approval for the phrase it coined last August (“Japan’s Number One Onsen Ken—Oita” ), so that private businesses could not use it for commercial purposes. It its rejection notice, the Patent Office noted that other areas of Japan also have abundant hot springs and that Nagano and Gunma already use the phrase “Onsen Ken” (written in kanji as opposed to Oita’s hiragana phrase). Oita Prefecture has 40 days to submit a written request for re-screening. A prefectural official said the Prefecture would “consider how to respond” but would still use the phrase even without the trademark since its tourism campaign has started to gain momentum. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun, May 17
