JPO Supporting Expanding Japanese Regional Brands Abroad

The JPO selected this year’s regional brands that they will be receiving support for expanding their recognizability abroad.

The 10 regional collective trademarks selected by the JPO are indicated below:
◎「市田柿 “Ichidagaki”」
Dried persimmon made in a particular area of Nagano
◎「新潟清酒　“Nigata seishu”」
Sake made in Nigata
◎「堺刃物 “Sakai hamono”」
Knives and scissors made in a particular manner in Sakai city, Osaka
◎「東川米 “Higashikawa mai”」
Rice made in the town of Higashikawa in Hokkaido
◎「西尾の抹茶 “Nishio-no-Matcha”」
Green tea made in the Nishio area in Aichi
◎「高島ちぢみ “Takashima chijimi”」
Cotton crepe textile made in Takashima city, Shiga
◎「有田みかん “Arita mikan”」&「しもつみかん “Shimotsu mikan”」
Oranges grown in the Arita area and the Shimotsu area of Wakayama
◎「日田梨 “Hita nashi”」
Pears grown in the Hita area of Ohita
◎「うれしの茶 “Ureshino cha”」
Tea made in Saga and Nagasaki which originated from Ureshino city
◎「枕崎鰹節 “Makurazaki katsuobushi」
Dried bonitoes produced in Makurazaki city, Kagoshima

The regional collective trademark system was created to protect regional brands which are well-known and the rights are held by the local commercial and industrial associations or the local cooperative associations. Currently there are over 600 trademarks registered.

Last year, the JPO began supporting regional brands with the goal of expanding these brands abroad by providing up to 3 million yen (≒USD 27,000) per year in support with the funds being used for purposes such as marketing research abroad, overseas exhibitions, and negotiating with buyers abroad.
Every year, the JPO invites the public to apply for these regional brand subsidies.

If you come across any products of these Japanese regional brands, please give them a try!