{"id":379,"date":"2026-11-07T17:20:50","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T08:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-apparel-trademark-class-25\/"},"modified":"2026-11-07T17:24:25","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T08:24:25","slug":"japan-apparel-trademark-class-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brandagent.jp\/en_blog\/japan-apparel-trademark-class-25\/","title":{"rendered":"Apparel, Shoe and Bag Brands in Japan: Trademark Classes 25 and 18, Similar-Goods Groups and Copycats (2026)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">&#8220;We sell T-shirts, sneakers and tote bags. Is class 25 enough in Japan?&#8221; &#8220;Should we register our logo or just the brand name?&#8221; &#8220;A shop on a Japanese marketplace is selling copies of our hoodies \u2014 what can we do?&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Fashion is one of the most crowded fields in the Japanese trademark register, and one of the most copied. Overseas apparel, footwear and bag brands \u2014 from small D2C labels selling on Amazon.co.jp or Rakuten to established brands opening stores in Tokyo \u2014 often find that the brand name they use at home is already taken in Japan, or that copycat sellers appear as soon as sales take off.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">In this article, Japanese Patent Attorney Toru Kano of BrandAgent explains which classes a fashion brand should cover in Japan, how the Japanese &#8220;similar-goods group&#8221; system decides whether two marks conflict, whether to file a word mark or a logo, what it costs, and how a Japanese registration helps against copycats and counterfeit imports.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">*Information as of November 2026. Check the latest rules on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jpo.go.jp\/e\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JPO website<\/a>.<\/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%;\">Which classes cover clothing, shoes, bags, accessories and retail<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">How Japan&#8217;s similar-goods groups work \u2014 inside a class and across classes<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Word mark or logo: what to file first<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Typical costs for a two- or three-class filing<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Copycat sellers, fakes sent from abroad and Japan Customs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Foreign brands file through a Japanese patent attorney<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A company or individual without a domicile or business office in Japan cannot file a Japanese trademark application alone. The application and all later steps \u2014 responses to refusals, payment of the registration fee, renewals \u2014 must be handled by a representative in Japan, in practice a licensed Japanese patent attorney (<em>Benrishi<\/em>). The applicant&#8217;s name and address are written in Japanese, and the original-language name and address can be recorded too. We work in English and Chinese, and accept payment by PayPal (in JPY) or bank transfer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Which classes does a fashion brand need?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japan uses the Nice Classification, and the official fee is charged per class. For a fashion brand, the starting point is usually class 25, and then whatever else you actually sell:<\/span><\/p>\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%;\">Class<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Typical goods \/ services<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">When you need it<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>25<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Clothing, footwear, headwear, belts for clothing, sportswear<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Almost every apparel or shoe brand<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>18<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Bags, wallets, leather goods, umbrellas, clothing for animals<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">You sell bags, pouches or small leather goods<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>14<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Jewellery, watches, key rings<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Accessories line, collaborations<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>26<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Buttons, buckles, zippers, ribbons, hat and shoe ornaments<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">You sell branded trims or hair accessories<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>35<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Retail or wholesale services for clothing, shoes, bags, etc.<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">You run your own shop or online store in Japan<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Some items that look like &#8220;fashion&#8221; sit in other classes. According to the notes in the JPO&#8217;s similar-goods guidelines for class 25, protective helmets and fire-protective clothing are in class 9, surgical gowns and orthopaedic footwear in class 10, electrically heated clothing in class 11, clothing for pets in class 18, and fasteners, buckles, zippers and ribbons in class 26. Sunglasses are in class 9. If your range includes any of these, tell us so we can check the right class.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japan&#8217;s &#8220;similar-goods groups&#8221; \u2014 the key to understanding conflicts<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">In Japan, whether two marks conflict depends on two questions: are the marks similar, and are the goods similar? For the second question, examiners use the JPO&#8217;s <strong>Similar Goods and Services Examination Guidelines<\/strong>, which assign each item a similarity group code (<em>ruiji-gun<\/em> code). Goods with the same code are presumed similar; goods with different codes are generally treated as not similar \u2014 even if they are in the same class.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Inside class 25<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Class 25 is not one big group. For example, ordinary clothing is in group 17A01, shoes and boots in 22A01, and special sportswear in 24C01. There are separate groups for headwear, Japanese traditional clothing and belts. This has two practical consequences:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Good news:<\/strong> an earlier mark registered only for footwear does not automatically block your mark for T-shirts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Bad news:<\/strong> if you list only &#8220;clothing&#8221;, your registration may not cover sneakers. List every product type you actually sell or plan to sell.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Across classes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">The class number alone does not decide similarity. The JPO explains that retail or wholesale services for specific goods in class 35 \u2014 for example, retail services for clothing \u2014 can be treated as similar to those goods themselves. So an earlier registration for &#8220;retail services for clothing&#8221; can block a new application for clothing in class 25, and vice versa. The guidelines also list other cross-class pairs (presumed similar items in different classes), which is why we search by similarity code, not just by class.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Describing your goods in Japanese<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Goods must be described clearly in Japanese. Terms from the JPO lists are the safest. Broad wording such as &#8220;fashion items&#8221; or &#8220;accessories&#8221; is not accepted. If you are using a Madrid designation, the English goods list from your basic mark is reviewed by the JPO and vague terms often lead to a refusal that must be answered through a Japanese patent attorney.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Word mark or logo?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Fashion brands often care most about the logo, but for legal protection the order is usually:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>First: the brand name in standard characters.<\/strong> A standard-character mark protects the word itself regardless of font, so it covers new logo versions, labels and plain-text listings on marketplaces.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Second: the logo,<\/strong> if it has a distinctive design element (a symbol, monogram or emblem) that copycats could imitate without using your name.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Third: a katakana version,<\/strong> if Japanese customers will call the brand by a Japanese reading, or if you will print katakana on tags and in-store signage.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A pure design element \u2014 a pattern, a stitch, the shape of a sole \u2014 may also be worth protecting, but the right tool may be a design registration rather than a trademark. Ask us if this applies to you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Common reasons for refusal in fashion<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Earlier similar marks:<\/strong> short English words and two- or three-letter combinations are heavily registered in class 25.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Descriptive words:<\/strong> words that just describe the goods, their material or quality (e.g. a word meaning &#8220;cotton&#8221; or &#8220;premium&#8221;) lack distinctiveness on their own.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Unclear goods:<\/strong> vague or non-standard goods descriptions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A free prior search before filing catches most conflicts. When a mark is blocked only for some goods, deleting or dividing those goods can save the rest of the application.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">How much does it cost?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Official JPO fees: filing JPY 3,400 + JPY 8,600 per class; registration (10 years) JPY 32,900 per class. BrandAgent&#8217;s fees: <strong>JPY 25,000 per class at filing and JPY 25,000 per class at registration<\/strong> (excluding Japanese consumption tax). The prior search is free when you instruct us to file, and consultations and quotes are free. Several classes can be covered in one application.<\/span><\/p>\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%;\">One application<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Official fees<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">BrandAgent fees<\/span><\/th>\n<th style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Total (JPY)<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Class 25 only<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">44,900<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">50,000<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">94,900<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Classes 25 + 18<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">86,400<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">100,000<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">186,400<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Classes 25 + 18 + 14<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">127,900<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">150,000<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 8px; text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">277,900<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">*10-year registration. Japanese consumption tax may apply to our fees. The registration fee can also be paid for 5 years (JPY 17,200 per class). Normal examination usually takes around 9\u201312 months; if you claim Paris priority from a home-country application, file in Japan within 6 months of the first filing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Copycat sellers and fakes: why the Japanese registration comes first<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japan is a first-to-file country. A foreign registration, a Japanese company name or domain, or popularity on social media does not give you trademark rights in Japan. Without a Japanese registration, your options against copycats are limited \u2014 and a copycat may even register your brand first. If that happens, you can file an opposition within 2 months of the registration gazette, or an invalidation trial later, but these take time and money and are not always successful.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Marketplaces<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japanese marketplaces generally act on IP complaints from right holders, and a Japanese registration number is the strongest basis for a takedown request. Brand-protection programmes and their requirements differ by platform and change from time to time, so check each platform&#8217;s latest guidelines.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japan Customs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A trademark owner can file an <strong>application for suspension of import<\/strong> with Japan Customs. The JPO notes that Customs charges no fee, a decision is usually made in about one month, and once accepted, the application is enforced at customs offices nationwide. You will need to show that your right is valid, provide evidence of infringement, and explain how to tell genuine goods from fakes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Since <strong>1 October 2022<\/strong>, goods infringing trademark or design rights that overseas businesses send to individuals in Japan cannot be imported, even if the recipient intends them for personal use, and they are subject to confiscation by Customs. This matters for fashion brands, because many fakes arrive by post from overseas online shops.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"st-mybox  has-title st-mybox-class\" style=\"background:#ffebee;border-color:#ef9a9a;border-width:2px;border-radius:5px;margin: 25px 0 25px 0;\"><p class=\"st-mybox-title\" style=\"color:#ef5350;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>Who should own the Japanese mark?<\/p><div class=\"st-in-mybox\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Japanese importers or distributors sometimes offer to &#8220;register the brand for you&#8221; in their own name. If the relationship ends, getting the mark back can be difficult. As a rule, file in the brand owner&#8217;s name and give the distributor a license. If a distributor must file, put the ownership and transfer obligations in writing first.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">FAQ<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Does class 25 &#8220;clothing&#8221; also cover shoes?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. No. Shoes are a separate item and belong to a different similarity group. List footwear expressly if you sell it.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. We only sell online. Do we need class 35?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. If you sell your own goods, class 25\/18 is the core. Class 35 retail services matter mainly if you run a shop selling multiple brands or want broader protection for your store name.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Is a logo registration enough?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. A logo registration may not stop someone using the same name in a different style. We usually recommend the brand name in standard characters first.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. How long does registration take?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Normal examination usually takes around 9\u201312 months. Accelerated examination, if the requirements are met, can shorten this to around 2\u20133 months.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\"><strong>Q. Can we communicate in English or Chinese?<\/strong><br \/>\nA. Yes. We have handled more than 4,000 trademark applications, and every case is handled personally by the licensed 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%;\">Start with class 25, add 18 for bags, 14 for jewellery\/watches, 26 for trims and 35 for your own retail.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Similarity is judged by similarity group codes \u2014 clothing and shoes are different groups; retail services can conflict with goods.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">File the brand name in standard characters first, then the logo and katakana if needed.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">A Japanese registration is the basis for marketplace takedowns and Japan Customs.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">BrandAgent fees: JPY 25,000 per class at filing and at registration; free prior search when you instruct us to file.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\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>Launching your fashion brand in Japan?<\/strong><br \/>\nTell us your brand name, logo and product range \u2014 we will reply with the classes and goods you need and a fixed quote, free of charge. More than 4,000 trademark applications handled, every case by the patent attorney personally.<\/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\/trademark_lp\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">Get a free quote for your Japanese trademark<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Which classes a fashion brand needs in Japan (25, 18, 14, 26, 35), how similar-goods groups work, word mark vs logo, costs, and fighting copycats and fakes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":395,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trademark"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - 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