Accelerated Trademark Examination in Japan: Requirements, Evidence, Pros and Cons

"We are launching on Amazon Japan next quarter — can the trademark be registered faster?" "Someone is already copying our brand in Japan. What can we do?"

Under normal examination, it takes about 9–12 months to get a decision on a Japanese trademark application. If you qualify for accelerated examination, that can be shortened to about 2–3 months. In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains how the system works, who can use it, what evidence you need, and the pitfalls to avoid.

*Based on the JPO's Guidelines for Accelerated Examination of Trademarks, including the revision effective October 1, 2025 (last updated: October 2026).

What you will learn

What accelerated examination is and how fast it is
The benefits for foreign brand owners
The three eligibility categories
What evidence of use (or preparation for use) is required
How to apply, and the common pitfalls

What is accelerated examination?

Accelerated examination (soki shinsa) is a Japan Patent Office (JPO) program that examines a trademark application ahead of the normal queue. You submit a written "explanation of circumstances" together with evidence that you are using, or are well advanced in preparing to use, the mark.

The basic condition is the same for every category: the applicant (or a user under the applicant's substantial control) must be actually using the mark, or have substantially prepared to use it, in Japan. Simply wanting a faster result is not enough.

How fast is it?

	Time to a decision (guide)
Normal examination	about 9–12 months
Accelerated examination	about 2–3 months

The result is either a decision to register or an Office Action. If an Office Action is issued, the response period and re-examination add time.

Benefits of accelerated examination

No official fee

The JPO charges nothing for the request. You pay only your attorney's fee for preparing the explanation and evidence.

You know sooner whether you can use the name

If the mark is refused, you find out early — before investing heavily in Japanese packaging, listings and advertising.

Faster action against copycats and marketplaces

A registered right lets you send warning letters and file infringement complaints on Amazon Japan, Rakuten and other platforms. A quicker registration can also help with brand programs that require a registered mark (check each platform's current rules).

The three eligibility categories

	Requirement
Category 1	Used (or prepared for use) on some of the designated goods/services, and there is urgency (see below)
Category 2	Used (or prepared for use) on all of the designated goods/services
Category 3	Used (or prepared for use) on some of the designated goods/services, and every designated item uses standard JPO/Nice wording

Category 1: the five urgency cases

a) A third party is using the same or a similar mark without permission
b) You have received a warning from a third party about your use of the mark
c) A third party has asked you for a licence — or you have granted one
d) You have also filed the mark in another country or region
e) You plan to use the Japanese application as the basis for a Madrid international application

Case d) is especially useful for foreign applicants: if you have already filed in China, Korea, the EU or elsewhere, and you use the mark in Japan on at least some of the goods, you can usually meet Category 1.

Why Category 3 is so convenient

Category 3 needs no urgency. If every designated item is worded exactly as listed in the JPO's examination standards or the Nice Classification, you only need to prove use on some of them. Standard wording also reduces objections about the goods/services, which makes registration faster overall. The JPO's "Goods and Services Support Tool" shows which wording qualifies. We check this for you when drafting the list.

What evidence of use is required?

The evidence must show three things together: the mark, the goods/services, and who is using it. And it must show use in Japan — use only in your home country does not count.

Already in use	Preparing to use
Photos of products bearing the mark Catalogues and price lists Screenshots of your Japanese website, Amazon/Rakuten listing or SNS (a URL alone is not enough) The Japanese seller information page	Purchase orders and order confirmations for products or packaging showing the mark Orders for signage or advertising Press coverage of the upcoming launch

For "preparation," the bar is high: internal design drafts alone do not qualify. The evidence must show that you have committed externally, such as a placed order.

How to apply

Step 1: File the trademark application — the request can be made at the same time or any time afterward. We recommend filing it together with the application.
Step 2: Prepare the explanation of circumstances — who uses the mark, on which designated goods/services, since when, where (address or URL), a description of each piece of evidence, and for Category 1 the urgency facts. We draft it in Japanese from the information you send in English or Chinese.
Step 3: Submit it online — we file the explanation and evidence electronically with the JPO.
Step 4: Wait for the result — if the request is accepted, there is no separate notice; the next thing you receive is the decision or an Office Action. If it is not accepted, the JPO gives the reason, and you can re-submit once the requirements are met.

Not eligible for accelerated examination

Madrid designations of Japan are currently excluded. If speed matters, file directly in Japan.
Certain new types of marks (motion, hologram, colour, sound, position) and some three-dimensional marks
Applications relying on the consent system (written consent from the owner of a similar earlier mark)

Drawbacks and common pitfalls

Preparing evidence takes effort. Saying "we use it" is not enough; the documents must clearly show mark, goods and user.
The mark must match exactly. If you file the mark in Latin letters but use it in Japan only in katakana (or with a different logo), it may not be accepted as use of the filed mark.
Category 2 requires evidence for every item. Items without evidence must be deleted first.
Do not narrow the goods too far just to qualify. Deleted items cannot be added back, and gaps in protection may hurt you later.
No use in Japan yet? If you have no Japanese sales or orders at all, you will not qualify. Consider filing now under normal examination so your filing date is secured.

FAQ

Q. Can anyone use accelerated examination?
A. No. You must be using, or substantially preparing to use, the mark in Japan, fit one of the three categories, and prove it with evidence.
Q. Is there an official fee?
A. No. The JPO charges nothing for the request; only the attorney's fee applies.
Q. Can we request it for a Madrid designation of Japan?
A. Not at present. Madrid designations are excluded, so file directly in Japan if you need speed.
Q. Is a URL of our website enough as evidence?
A. No. Screenshots showing the mark and the goods must be submitted.
Q. What if the request is not accepted?
A. The JPO tells you why. Once the requirements are met, you can re-submit; the application itself continues under normal examination in the meantime.

Summary

Key points

Accelerated examination shortens the wait from about 9–12 months to about 2–3 months, with no official fee.
You must be using, or preparing to use, the mark in Japan, and fit one of three categories.
Foreign applicants who have filed abroad often qualify under Category 1 (d); standard wording opens Category 3.
Madrid designations are not eligible — file directly in Japan if speed matters.
BrandAgent has filed more than 4,000 applications, and every case is handled personally by a licensed patent attorney.

Planning to protect your brand in Japan?
Tell us your mark and your products — we will reply with the classes you need and a fixed quote, free of charge.

BrandAgent Patent Office (Kyoto, Japan)
Toru Kano, Japanese Patent Attorney

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