Presentation Ceremony of the Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation to Mark the 140th Anniversary of the Industrial Property Rights System and FY2025 "Intellectual Property Achievement Awards"

April 11, 2025
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Japan Patent Office

The Intellectual Property Achievement Awards for 2025 are given to individuals who have contributed to the development, dissemination, and awareness of Japan's intellectual property rights system, and to companies that have actively utilized the intellectual property rights system. This year, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award and the Export and International Bureau Director-General's Award were newly established (to be continued after this year), and the Osaka-Kansai Expo Special Award will be presented (only this year).

In addition, as this year marks the 140th anniversary of the promulgation of the Patent Ordinance (the current Patent Law), the Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation will be presented to companies that have made extremely significant contributions to the diffusion and development of the industrial property rights system and to companies that have made significant contributions to the development of the regional economy through the use of the system. The Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation will be presented to the following companies and organizations

Outline of "Intellectual Property Achievement Awards" and "Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation"

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) annually presents the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award and the Commissioner of the JPO Award to individuals who have contributed to the development, dissemination, and enlightenment of the intellectual property rights system, as the "Award for Distinguished Service in the Intellectual Property Rights System", and to companies that have effectively utilized the system and contributed to its smooth operation and development as the "Award for Excellent Companies, etc. Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System". The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award and the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Award are given to companies that have made effective use of the IP system and contributed to its smooth operation and development.

In addition, starting with the Intellectual Property Achievement Awards for fiscal 2025, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award and the Export and International Trade Bureau Director-General's Award are given to companies that have effectively protected and utilized intellectual property rights and other intellectual property in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food industries, and have achieved outstanding results in the development of business management.

In addition, for fiscal 2025 only, on the occasion of the 2025 Japan International Exposition (hereinafter referred to as "Osaka-Kansai Expo"), the Osaka-Kansai Expo Special Prize will be awarded to companies that use intellectual property to create momentum for the Osaka-Kansai Expo and that take initiatives that are highly compatible with the theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, "Designing a Future Society that Brings Life to Life. The awards will be presented to companies whose activities are highly compatible with the theme of Expo 2010 Osaka-Kansai.

These awards are collectively known as the Intellectual Property Achievement Awards.

This year also marks the 140th anniversary of the promulgation of the Patent Ordinance (the current Patent Law), and to commemorate this milestone, the Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation will be presented to companies that have made extremely significant contributions to the diffusion and development of the industrial property rights system, and to companies that have utilized this system and made extremely significant contributions to the development of the regional economy. The "Certificate of Appreciation from the Prime Minister" will be presented to companies, etc. that have made extremely significant contributions to the promotion and development of the industrial property right system, and to companies, etc. that have made extremely significant contributions to the development of the regional economy by utilizing the system.

Recipients and Winners of Award

The Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation was presented to six companies, two individuals and seven companies were awarded by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, and five individuals and 14 companies were awarded by the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office. In addition, three companies received the Osaka-Kansai Expo Special Award, one company received the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award, and two companies received the Director-General of the Bureau of Export and International Affairs Award.

The Prime Minister's Certificate of Appreciation

Special Merit Enterprises for the Promotion and Development of the Industrial Property Rights System (in alphabetical order)
Asahi Kasei Corporation	[Tokyo]
Bridgestone Corporation	[Tokyo]
NTT Docomo, Inc.	[Tokyo]

Special Merit Enterprises for the Promotion and Development of Industrial Property Rights System (Regional Category) (in alphabetical order)
Fukui Keihen Kogyo Co., Ltd.	[Fukui]
Imabari Towel Industrial Association	[Ehime]
Satake Corporation	[Hiroshima]

FY2025 "Intellectual Property Achievement Award"

Awards form Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry

Awards for Contributor Concerning the Intellectual Property Rights System (in alphabetical order)
IHARA Tomoki	Miki & Ihara Law and Patent Office, Director, Attorney-at-Law, Patent Attorney
TANAKA Toshihiko	Kongo Co., Ltd. President and CEO

Awards for a good-standing company Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System (Award Category and Locarion) (in alphabetical order)
FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation	Design Management Company	[Tokyo]
Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Tokyo]
Heartseed Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property venture	[Tokyo]
Ibara Chamber of Commerce and Industry	Intellectual property utilization company (trademark)	[Okayama]
Okamoto Corporation	Intellectual property utilization company (trademark)	[Osaka]
Rigaku Corporation	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Tokyo]
Umaji Village Agricultural Cooperative	Design Management Company	[Kochi]

Awards from Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office

Awards for Contributor Concerning the Intellectual Property Rights System (in alphabetical order)
BEKKU Tomonori	Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Intellectual Property Department Senior Partner
ISHIKAWA Hiroshi	Director of Intellectual Property and Patent Attorney, Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
MIZUNO Hirofumi	Director of Mizuno Patent and Trademark Office
SAKURADA Masaru	Representative of Sakurada Patent and Trademark Office
TACHIBANA Toshihiro	President and CEO, Seiwa Denko Co., Ltd.

Awards for a good-standing company Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System (Award Category and Location) (in alphabetical order)
Capcom Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization company (trademark)	[Osaka]
Conde House Co., Ltd.	Design Management Company	[Hokkaido]
Eighterlink Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property venture	[Tokyo]
Gaia Environmental Technology Institute Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Miyagi]
Gunze Limited	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Kyoto]
Kinjo Rubber Co.	Design Management Company	[Osaka]
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Tokyo]
Metrol Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Tokyo]
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation	Open innovation promotion company	[Tokyo]
NICCA Chemical Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Fukui]
Nosaku Co., Ltd.	Design Management Company	[Toyama]
Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Osaka]
Shachihata Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization company (design)	[Aichi]
Tsubota Lab Co., Ltd.	Intellectual property utilization companies (patents)	[Tokyo]

EXPO2025, Osaka, Kansai, Japan Special Award (Awards from Deputy Director General of the International Expo Promotion Headquarters)

Excellent Companies Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System (in alphabetical order)
Kanamori Alloy Co., Ltd.	[Ishikawa]
Kajima Construction Co., Ltd.	[Tokyo]
Science Corporation	[Osaka]

Awards from Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Excellent Companies Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System
Sun Farmers Co., Ltd.	[Shizuoka]

Awards from Director General for Export and International Affairs Bureau

Excellent Companies Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System (in alphabetical order)
Aya Engei Co., Ltd.	[Miyazaki]
Tochigi Prefecture	[Tochigi]

Award Ceremony

The award ceremony was held as follows.

Date:	April 18, 2025
Place:	Akasaka Intercity Conference (1-8-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo)