| Summary: | In order to protect its high-quality agriculture and adapt to an expanding free-trade system in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan, through the introduction in 2015 of a sui generis system to protect geographical indications, has radically altered its international positioning. Three years later, the number of indications granted is already significant, but they face the problems of rapid growth and have brought about both economic and geographical changes. Research shows that competition between products now overlaps with competition between registered trademarks and places of origin, as well as between the indications themselves. The goal of all those involved is to capitalise on consumers’ desire for clearly identifiable local products.
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