A name comes to stand for a place because, at some point, Japan wrote it down. This page lists every specialty we cover that holds a regional collective trademark from the Japan Patent Office, a Geographical Indication (GI) from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, or a traditional craft designation from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, by prefecture, so they can be checked and cited.
539 specialties: 413 regional collective trademarks, 57 Geographical Indications, and 180 traditional crafts.
Regional collective trademarks are registered by the Japan Patent Office; Geographical Indications are registered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; traditional crafts are designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. One product can hold more than one designation.
Place-name trademarks registered by the Japan Patent Office and held by a local cooperative or association.
Agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products registered by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with the name tied to the place.
Crafts designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry under conditions of technique and place of making.