https://www.epo.org/en/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/asian/japan/numbering
Numbering system - Japan
Document types and kind codes
| KOKAI (A, U) | 公開 |
|
| KOKOKU (B, Y) | 公告 |
|
| TOROKU (B, U) | 登録 |
|
| KOHYO (A, T) | 再発表 |
|
| SAIKOHYO (A) | 発表 |
|
Number formats
| yy-nnnnnn |
|
| nnnnnnn |
|
Japanese number formats (Patents)
OLD LAW:
document no.: 2 500 001
NOTE:
from 2000 onwards the four-digit Western year is used instead of the Japanese imperial year
- application
yy-123456 - unexamined publication
yy-123456 - examined publication
yy-123456 - registration (no publication)
no. > 1 000 000
- application
yy-123456 - unexamined publication
yy-123456 - granted patent (publication)
no. > 2 500 000
document no.: 2 500 001
NOTE:
from 2000 onwards the four-digit Western year is used instead of the Japanese imperial year
Japanese number formats (Utility Models)
OLD LAW:
NEW LAW (1994):
document no. 3 000 001
- application
yy-123456 - unexamined publication
yy-123456 - examined publication
yy-123456 - registration (no publication)
1~approx 2 000 000
NEW LAW (1994):
- application
yy-123456 - granted utility model publication (without examination)
no. > 3 000 000
document no. 3 000 001
Japanese imperial years vs. Western years
| SHOWA (SHO, S) | 昭和 |
|
| HEISEI (HEI, H) | 平成 |
|
| REIWA (REI, R) | 令和 |
|
SHOWA + 25 = Western year
HEISEI + 1988 = Western year
REIWA + 2018 = Western year
NOTE:
1) The last year SHOWA is the first year HEISEI (SHOWA 64 = HEISEI 01 = 1989).
2) The western year 2019 is until 30 April HEISEI 31, and starting from 1 May REIWA 1