Japan trademark registrations last 10 years and renew for further 10-year terms with no upper limit. You can file the renewal in the six months before expiry. Miss the expiry date and a six-month grace period follows, but the government fee doubles. This guide covers the window, the payment options, renewals through WIPO's Madrid System (the Madrid Protocol), and the mistakes we see most often.
Japan Trademark Renewal Basics: 10 Years, Renewable Forever
- Registration term: Trademarks in Japan are valid for 10 years from the registration date. They can be renewed indefinitely in 10-year increments, so long as you meet the renewal formalities on time.
- No use required to renew: You do not need to submit use evidence for renewal. However, any trademark not used for three consecutive years can be targeted in a non-use cancellation action, so keeping solid use records is still essential.
- Who files: Foreign owners generally work through a qualified local attorney, who handles renewals and correspondence with the Japan Patent Office (JPO). Through our Japan trademark service, that attorney is already in place.
Why this matters: marketplaces, distributors, and customs recordations in Japan all rely on an active registration. Renewing on time keeps every one of those channels open.
JPO Renewal Deadlines: The Window and the Grace Period
- Standard window: File the renewal between six months before the registration's expiry date and the expiry date itself.
- Grace period: If you miss the expiry date, you have six additional months to renew by paying twice the government fee.
- After the grace period: the registration is treated as expired from the end of its term. The Trademark Act still lets the former owner apply for renewal within a further short period set by ministry rules, unless the renewal was missed on purpose, and the registration is then restored. Once that period has passed, a new application with a new filing date is the only path back.
Practical tip: Docket your portfolio so each trademark is slated for review at least nine months before expiry. This avoids rush filings, avoids the doubled fee, and gives room to align renewal strategy with product roadmaps and distribution plans.
JPO Renewal Fees: How They Work
The JPO charges its renewal fee per class. You can pay for the full 10-year term in one payment or split it into two five-year installments. The grace period doubles whichever option you choose. Professional fees are separate.
The JPO publishes the current schedule on its website (see Sources below). For the Total of a GTC renewal, with the local attorney's work included, see our trademark renewal service.
Remember: Government fees are per class. When budgeting, map each trademark's class count and renewal year to forecast spend by quarter.
Payment Options: 10-Year Lump Sum vs. Two 5-Year Installments
Japan gives you a choice:
- 10-year lump sum: One payment locks protection for the full term.
- 5-year installment plan: Pay at renewal and again at year 5 of the new term.
How to choose:
- Cash flow: Installments smooth costs but introduce a second deadline mid-term. If your team lacks a reliable docket, the 10-year lump sum reduces operational risk.
- Portfolio certainty: If a product line might sunset in 4 to 6 years, installments can be sensible. For long-horizon, flagship brands, the lump sum simplifies.
- Administrative overhead: Installments add reminders, purchase orders, and possible internal approvals, friction that can snowball across multi-class portfolios.
Renewing Japan Protection Through WIPO's Madrid System
If your Japan protection comes through an international registration, you renew through WIPO, not the JPO. WIPO charges a basic renewal fee for the international registration plus Japan's individual fee, all in Swiss francs. WIPO publishes the current amounts and adjusts individual fees from time to time, so check the WIPO fee calculator when the renewal falls due.
Two points to keep straight:
- Payee and currency differ. Domestic renewals are paid to the JPO in yen. Renewals of an international registration are paid to WIPO in Swiss francs and cover every country in the registration at once.
- Installments are a domestic feature. Renewals for Japan through WIPO follow WIPO's framework and timing, so the five-year split is not available.
Your total renewal economics depend on the overall structure of your international registration and the countries and regions it covers. Model both the timing and the per-class counts.
Pitfalls for Market Entrants: What Trips Owners Up in Japan
- Grace-period complacency: Relying on the six-month grace period doubles the government fee and invites last-minute errors. Build in lead time and internal sign-offs early.
- Non-use exposure: Renewal does not cure non-use. If a competitor can show three years of non-use, they can attack the registration by cancellation. Keep specimens, invoices, shipping documents, website captures, and ad proofs tied to Japan.
- Class coverage drift: Over time, product assortments change. If your commercial reality no longer matches the registration's goods and services, you may be over- or under-protected. Audit coverage a year before renewal.
- Address and name changes: Unrecorded ownership or address changes can slow or derail renewals. Record chain-of-title updates well before your renewal window opens.
- Rebranding and line extensions: When creative teams adjust brand families (new logos, refreshed word marks), counsel should assess whether new filings are needed alongside renewal.
The Role of a Qualified Local Attorney for Foreign Owners
- Representation: Foreign-domiciled owners typically work through a Japanese patent or trademark attorney for filings and renewals, ensuring compliance with JPO formalities and accurate fee payments.
- Coordination: A qualified local attorney can docket installment deadlines, track grace windows, and monitor for non-use vulnerability, all key parts of trademark maintenance in Japan.
- Evidence stewardship: While the JPO does not ask for use proof at renewal, maintaining organized evidence is vital to defend against three-year non-use claims.
Step-by-Step: Renewing a Japan Trademark Directly With the JPO
1) Eligibility check and docketing
- Confirm the registration number, owner name and address, classes, and expiry date.
- Decide between the 10-year lump sum and the two 5-year installments.
2) Data and document review
- Ensure all ownership and address records are current; record assignments or corporate name changes before filing.
- If a local attorney files for you, confirm power-of-attorney requirements and billing contacts.
3) File within the six-month window (or earlier)
- File the renewal application during the standard six-month window before expiry, or on or before the expiry date.
- If the window is missed, use the six-month grace period and expect doubled government fees.
4) Government fee payment and confirmation
- Pay the JPO renewal fee per class, according to your chosen payment schedule.
- Keep official receipts and acknowledgments for audit and finance.
5) Post-renewal housekeeping
- Update internal IP registers, license agreements, packaging and artwork trackers, and marketplace compliance files.
- Calendar the five-year installment (if selected) and the next 10-year expiry.
Cost Comparison: Domestic Renewal vs. Renewal Through WIPO
- Domestic renewal: a per-class JPO fee, payable as a 10-year lump sum or two 5-year installments, in yen.
- Renewal through WIPO: WIPO's basic fee plus Japan's individual fee, in Swiss francs, with no installment option.
Key considerations:
- Multi-country math: If your international registration covers many countries, consolidating renewals through WIPO can streamline operations, but the per-class totals and WIPO-level fees decide the full cost picture.
- Installments vs. lump sum: The installment option is a domestic feature only.
Bottom line: Run a scenario analysis for each trademark, by class count, renewal date, and channel strategy in Japan, to select the most efficient path.
Why Renew Early in Japan's Competitive Market
- Avoid doubled fees: Early filing within the standard window prevents the grace surcharge.
- Keep sales channels open: Marketplaces and distributors often require active registrations to onboard or keep listings active.
- Maintain your enforcement position: Customs recordations and platform takedowns rely on current registrations.
- Budget certainty: Early renewals lock in known government fees and smooth cash flow across quarters.
FAQs: Japan Trademark Renewal in 2026
When can I file my Japan trademark renewal?
You can file from six months before the expiry date up to the expiry date itself. A six-month grace period follows, but it doubles the government fee.
Do I need to prove use to renew my Japan trademark?
No. Japan does not require use evidence to renew. However, a trademark unused for three consecutive years can be canceled for non-use by a third party, so keep records.
What are the JPO renewal fees?
The JPO charges per class, with a choice between one payment for the full 10 years or two five-year installments. The fee doubles in the grace period. The current amounts are on the JPO website (see Sources), and our renewal service page shows the Total, with the local attorney's work included.
I am a foreign owner. Do I need a local attorney to renew in Japan?
Foreign owners typically work through a Japanese patent or trademark attorney to handle filings, fees, and correspondence with the JPO.
Is the grace-period fee double?
Yes. Renewing in the six months after expiry costs twice the standard government fee for the same term.
Renew With Confidence
Global Trademark Company helps Japan market entrants renew on time, model costs (domestic renewal vs. renewal through WIPO), and stay ready against non-use challenges. If your trademarks are within 12 months of expiry, or already in the grace period, our experienced attorneys can triage priorities and map installment vs. lump-sum options, and a qualified local attorney files promptly.
Renew Your Japan Trademark With GTC. To see the process from instruction to confirmation, read how it works, and for the wider filing picture see our Japan country guide.
