{"id":277,"date":"2026-11-01T18:43:28","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T09:43:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-power-of-attorney-documents\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T16:19:17","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T07:19:17","slug":"japan-power-of-attorney-documents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-power-of-attorney-documents\/","title":{"rendered":"Power of Attorney and Documents for Japanese Trademark, Patent and Design Filings (Foreign Applicants, 2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">&#8220;Do we need to sign and courier a power of attorney before you can file our Japanese trademark?&#8221; &#8220;What documents do you need for a Japanese patent or design application?&#8221; &#8220;How should our company name and address appear on the Japanese application?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Overseas applicants often expect heavy paperwork before filing in Japan. In practice, Japan is one of the easier jurisdictions: in most cases you can file without sending any signed document. In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains when a power of attorney is needed, what the Japan Patent Office (JPO) says about seals and signatures, how your name and address are written, and which documents are needed for trademarks, patents and designs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">*Information as of November 2026. See also the JPO&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpo.go.jp\/system\/process\/shutugan\/madoguchi\/info\/faq-after-filing\/dairinin\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Q&amp;A on representatives<\/a> (in Japanese).<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"st-mybox st-mybox-class\" style=\"margin: 18px 0; padding: 16px; border: 2px solid #e5e7eb; border-radius: 10px; background: #fafafa;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>What you will learn<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 18px;\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Why foreign applicants need a Japanese patent attorney<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Why no power of attorney is usually needed at filing \u2014 and when it is needed later<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">What the JPO says about seals, signatures and copies<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">How your name and address appear, including the original-language notation<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Documents for trademark, patent and design filings, and priority document deadlines<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Foreign applicants file through a Japanese patent attorney<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A person or company with no domicile or business office in Japan generally cannot file directly with the JPO. Japanese law requires them to act through a representative domiciled in Japan \u2014 in the Patent Act, a &#8220;patent administrator&#8221; \u2014 and the same applies to trademarks, designs and utility models. In practice, this representative is a licensed Japanese patent attorney (<em>Benrishi<\/em>).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">If your group has a Japanese subsidiary but the overseas parent company is the applicant, the parent is still treated as a foreign applicant. Decide early which entity should own the Japanese rights, because it affects licensing and enforcement later.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">No power of attorney is usually needed at filing<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">When a Japanese patent attorney files a trademark, patent or design application on your behalf, a power of attorney generally does not have to be submitted together with the application. This means we can file as soon as we have the content of the application, without waiting for documents to arrive from abroad \u2014 a real advantage when you need to secure an early filing date.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">When a power of attorney is needed later<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A document proving the attorney&#8217;s authority (a power of attorney) is needed for certain later procedures, for example:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Withdrawal or abandonment of an application<\/strong> and similar acts with serious consequences for the applicant.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Appointing or changing the attorney<\/strong> \u2014 for example when you move a pending case from another firm to us.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Changes of applicant and transfers:<\/strong> usually powers of attorney from both the assignor and the assignee.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Some post-registration requests and trials<\/strong>, for example where a new attorney takes over the case.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Under the Patent Act, an attorney acting for a person domiciled in Japan needs special authority for acts such as converting, abandoning or withdrawing an application, claiming or withdrawing priority, and appointing a sub-agent. A foreign applicant&#8217;s patent administrator in principle has full authority, but the JPO may ask for proof of authority where the scope of the authority is not clear. In practice, expect to provide a power of attorney for these procedures.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Seals, signatures and copies: what the JPO says<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">According to the JPO&#8217;s Q&amp;A on representatives, <strong>no seal is required<\/strong> on a document proving authority, and where the principal is a foreign national (including a Japanese national living abroad), <strong>the principal&#8217;s signature is not required either<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">In addition, since 26 September 2022 the JPO accepts a <strong>copy<\/strong> of a power of attorney, as long as there is no doubt that it is a copy of a power agreed between the principal and the attorney. Copies of general (comprehensive) powers of attorney are also accepted. So there is normally no need to courier an original to Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#f1f8e9;border-color:#a5d6a7;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#4caf50;font-weight:bold;text-shadow: #fff 3px 0px 0px, #fff 2.83487px 0.981584px 0px, #fff 2.35766px 1.85511px 0px, #fff 1.62091px 2.52441px 0px, #fff 0.705713px 2.91581px 0px, #fff -0.287171px 2.98622px 0px, #fff -1.24844px 2.72789px 0px, #fff -2.07227px 2.16926px 0px, #fff -2.66798px 1.37182px 0px, #fff -2.96998px 0.42336px 0px, #fff -2.94502px -0.571704px 0px, #fff -2.59586px -1.50383px 0px, #fff -1.96093px -2.27041px 0px, #fff -1.11013px -2.78704px 0px, #fff -0.137119px -2.99686px 0px, #fff 0.850987px -2.87677px 0px, #fff 1.74541px -2.43999px 0px, #fff 2.44769px -1.73459px 0px, #fff 2.88051px -0.838246px 0px;\"><i class=\"fa fa-check-circle st-css-no\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>BrandAgent's practice<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">We prepare the power of attorney ourselves, with your company name and the name of your representative typed in. <strong>No handwritten signature and no company chop are needed.<\/strong> You simply check the content and tell us it can be filed. This saves the days or weeks usually spent collecting signatures from headquarters.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">How your name and address appear on the application<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">On a Japanese application, a foreign applicant&#8217;s address is written in Japanese, in the order of administrative divisions (country, state\/province, city and so on), with the original pronunciation shown in katakana. The name is also written in Japanese (katakana and\/or kanji).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">In addition, the JPO&#8217;s trademark application form provides that where a foreign applicant&#8217;s address or name can be written in Roman letters, fields for the <strong>original-language address<\/strong> and <strong>original-language name<\/strong> should be added right after the address and name fields, and the original should be given wherever possible. For a Chinese company, this is usually the official English name and English address matching the business licence.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The original-language notation makes it much easier to show that the Japanese right belongs to your company \u2014 useful for enforcement and for brand programmes on marketplaces. Please send us:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Your official company name in the local language and your official English name<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Your registered address in the local language and in English<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The name of your legal representative<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A copy of your business licence or certificate of incorporation (so we can check spellings)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Documents by type of right<\/span><\/h2>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\" border=\"1\">\n<thead>\n<tr style=\"background-color: #f5f5f5;\">\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Right<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">What we need to file<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Priority document deadline<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Trademark<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The mark (word or logo image), goods\/services, applicant details<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Within 3 months of the Japanese filing date<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Patent<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Description, claims, drawings, abstract (with Japanese translation if in a foreign language), inventor and applicant details<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Within 1 year 4 months of the earliest priority date<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Design<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Drawings or photographs, article name, creator and applicant details<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Within 3 months of the Japanese filing date<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A priority document is needed if you claim priority from your first filing abroad (for example in China). If it is not filed in time, the priority claim loses its effect, so check before filing that you can obtain it from your home office.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Trademarks<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Trademarks need the least paperwork. For a logo, we use the logo image you actually use. For the goods and services, we ask what you sell and draft wording that works well in Japanese examination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Our trademark fees are JPY 25,000 per class at filing and JPY 25,000 per class at registration (excluding consumption tax). The prior search is free when you instruct us to file, and consultations and quotes are free.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Patents<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">If your specification is in a foreign language, a Japanese translation is required \u2014 whether you come in under the Paris Convention or enter the national phase from a PCT application. The translation becomes the basis of your Japanese patent, so its quality matters.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Designs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">In a design application, the drawings define the scope of protection. Drawings from your home application can often be reused, but they may need to be adjusted to Japanese requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Documents often needed after filing<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Deed of assignment:<\/strong> for a change of applicant or a transfer of a registered right.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Japanese translations:<\/strong> any foreign-language document attached to a JPO filing needs a Japanese translation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Power of attorney:<\/strong> for the later procedures described above.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">We communicate in English and Chinese, and you can pay by PayPal (in JPY) or bank transfer. For procedures other than trademark filing, ask us for a free quote.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Tips for a smooth start<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Fix the applicant first:<\/strong> headquarters, the Japanese subsidiary, or joint applicants. Changing it later means a change-of-applicant procedure and extra cost.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Send your business licence at the start:<\/strong> it lets us confirm the name and address spellings once, instead of going back and forth.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Decide early on priority:<\/strong> if you claim priority, have the number and date of your first filing ready, and know how you will obtain the priority document.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Skip the signature round:<\/strong> no power of attorney is needed at filing, and no signature is needed later, so there is no internal signing workflow to plan for.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Do you need a signed power of attorney before filing?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. No. A power of attorney is generally not required at filing; it is needed later for procedures such as withdrawal or a change of attorney.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Does our CEO have to sign the power of attorney?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. The JPO states that no seal is required and that a foreign principal&#8217;s signature is not required. We prepare the document with your representative&#8217;s name typed in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Do we need to send the original by courier?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Normally not. Since 26 September 2022, copies are accepted unless there is doubt about them.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Is the English name of our company shown on the Japanese application?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. For trademark applications, the original-language name and address are to be given wherever they can be written in Roman letters, and we include them as standard.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Who handles our case?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. BrandAgent has handled more than 4,000 applications, and every case is handled personally by a licensed Japanese patent attorney.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#f1f8e9;border-color:#a5d6a7;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#4caf50;font-weight:bold;text-shadow: #fff 3px 0px 0px, #fff 2.83487px 0.981584px 0px, #fff 2.35766px 1.85511px 0px, #fff 1.62091px 2.52441px 0px, #fff 0.705713px 2.91581px 0px, #fff -0.287171px 2.98622px 0px, #fff -1.24844px 2.72789px 0px, #fff -2.07227px 2.16926px 0px, #fff -2.66798px 1.37182px 0px, #fff -2.96998px 0.42336px 0px, #fff -2.94502px -0.571704px 0px, #fff -2.59586px -1.50383px 0px, #fff -1.96093px -2.27041px 0px, #fff -1.11013px -2.78704px 0px, #fff -0.137119px -2.99686px 0px, #fff 0.850987px -2.87677px 0px, #fff 1.74541px -2.43999px 0px, #fff 2.44769px -1.73459px 0px, #fff 2.88051px -0.838246px 0px;\"><i class=\"fa fa-check-circle st-css-no\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Key points<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Foreign applicants without a Japanese address file through a Japanese patent attorney.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A power of attorney is generally not needed at filing, only for certain later procedures.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The JPO requires no seal, and no signature from a foreign principal; copies are accepted.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Trademark applications include your original-language name and address where possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Priority documents: 3 months from filing (trademarks, designs); 1 year 4 months from the earliest priority date (patents).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"related-articles\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Related articles<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/how_to_register_a_trademark_in_japan\/\">How to Register a Trademark in Japan: Step-by-Step Guide for Foreign Applicants [2026]<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-trademark-name-address-change\/\">Changing the Owner&#8217;s Name or Address on a Japanese Trademark: Pending vs Registered (2026)<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/how-to-file-a-patent-in-japan\/\">How to Get a Patent in Japan as a Foreign Applicant: Documents, Routes and Process<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/how-to-file-design-application-japan\/\">How to File a Design Application in Japan: Process, Drawings and Timeline for Foreign Applicants<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f0f7ff; border: 2px solid #0066cc; padding: 20px; margin: 24px 0; border-radius: 6px;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Planning to file in Japan?<\/strong><br \/>\nTell us what you want to protect \u2014 we will reply with the documents we need, the best route into Japan and a quote, free of charge.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">BrandAgent Patent Office (Kyoto, Japan)<br \/>\nToru Kano, Japanese Patent Attorney<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a style=\"color: #0066cc; font-weight: bold;\" href=\"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en\/home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Free consultation \u2014 visit BrandAgent&#8217;s English site<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When foreign applicants need a power of attorney in Japan, JPO rules on seals and signatures, and the documents for trademark, patent and design filings.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":289,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-277","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trademark"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=277"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":287,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/277\/revisions\/287"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=277"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=277"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=277"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}