Use of the Roman Letters, Etc., in Trade Names
Due to the amendment of the Regulation on Commercial Registrations, etc., in 2002, it is now possible to use the Roman letters and other symbols when registering trade names, which was not possible before.
2. Q&A about trade names written using the Roman letters
Q1. Can I register a corporation name that uses the Roman letters?
A. Article 50 of the Regulation on Commercial Registrations applies mutatis mutandis to regulations for registration of various types of corporations, etc., so corporations (other than companies) that use the Roman letters in their names can be registered using the current name. For example, specified nonprofit corporation can register its name as “NPO XXX.”
Q2. Can I register a trade name that combines the Roman letters and Japanese characters?
A. It is possible to register a trade name that combines Japanese characters and the Roman Letters; for example, “ABC東日本株式会社” or “大阪XYZ株式会社.”
Q3. Can I register a trade name using either uppercase or lowercase Roman letters?
A: Yes, you can register a trade name using either uppercase or lowercase letters.
Q4. Can I register a trade name that consists only of numbers?
A. For example, you can register the trade name “777 stock company.”
Q5. Can I register a trade name that uses “K.K.”, “Company Incorporated,” “Co., Inc.”, or “Co., Ltd.” instead of “stock company”?
A. Characters that are required by law to be used in trade names (for example, in the case of a company, the characters “stock company”, “general partnership company”, etc.) must be used according to the type of company (Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act). Therefore, you cannot replace such characters with “K.K.”, etc.
3. Procedures for using the Roman letters when registering the trade name of an existing company
(1) If the trade name has been listed in the Roman letters in the Articles of Incorporation since before the enforcement date of the revised Ministerial Order (November 1, 2002)
Since it has been possible to use the Roman letters in the trade name specified in the Articles of Incorporation, there are companies that use the Roman letters in the trade name in their Articles of Incorporation, but write the corresponding part in katakana when registering their trade name. If such a company wants to use the Roman letters in its registered trade name, it can correct its trade name to use the Roman alphabet by applying for a registration of correction of the trade name.
(2) Cases other than (1)
If a company whose trade name is listed in Japanese characters in its Articles of Incorporation wants to use the Roman letters in its trade name, it must change its trade name in the company’s Articles of Incorporation and then apply for a registration of the change of trade name.
<Reference> ○ Regulation on Commercial Registrations (Ministry of Justice Order No. 23 of 1964)
(Signs Used in Registration of Trade Names)
Article 50: The Roman letters or other signs designated by the Minister of Justice may be used for the registration of a trade name.
2 The designation referred to in the preceding paragraph must be made by means of public notice.
○ Ministry of Justice Public Notice: Pursuant to the provisions of Article 51-2, Paragraph 1 (Note) of the Regulation on Commercial Registrations (Ministry of Justice Order No. 23 of 1964) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to other ministerial orders), the signs and symbols that may be used in the registration of trade names are specified as follows, to come into effect on November 1, 2002.
July 31, 2002
Mayumi Moriyama, Minister of Justice
1. Roman letters
2. Arabic numerals
3. Ampersand, apostrophe, comma, hyphen, period and middle dot
Note: Article 50 of the current Regulation on Commercial Registrations
1. Signs and Symbols that can be used when registering trade names
(1) Roman letters (uppercase and lowercase letters)
(2) Arabic numerals
(3) & (ampersand)
’ (apostrophe)
, (comma)
- (hyphen)
. (period)
・ (middle dot)
*The symbols listed under (3) can only be used for separating terms (including Japanese characters). Therefore, these symbols cannot be used at the beginning or end of a trade name. However, a period (.) can be used at the end of a trade name to indicate an abbreviation.
*Please note that spaces can only be used to separate words when multiple words are written using the Roman letters.
*The symbols listed under (3) can only be used for separating terms (including Japanese characters). Therefore, these symbols cannot be used at the beginning or end of a trade name. However, a period (.) can be used at the end of a trade name to indicate an abbreviation.
*Please note that spaces can only be used to separate words when multiple words are written using the Roman letters.
2. Q&A about trade names written using the Roman letters
A. Article 50 of the Regulation on Commercial Registrations applies mutatis mutandis to regulations for registration of various types of corporations, etc., so corporations (other than companies) that use the Roman letters in their names can be registered using the current name. For example, specified nonprofit corporation can register its name as “NPO XXX.”
Q2. Can I register a trade name that combines the Roman letters and Japanese characters?
A. It is possible to register a trade name that combines Japanese characters and the Roman Letters; for example, “ABC東日本株式会社” or “大阪XYZ株式会社.”
Q3. Can I register a trade name using either uppercase or lowercase Roman letters?
A: Yes, you can register a trade name using either uppercase or lowercase letters.
Q4. Can I register a trade name that consists only of numbers?
A. For example, you can register the trade name “777 stock company.”
Q5. Can I register a trade name that uses “K.K.”, “Company Incorporated,” “Co., Inc.”, or “Co., Ltd.” instead of “stock company”?
A. Characters that are required by law to be used in trade names (for example, in the case of a company, the characters “stock company”, “general partnership company”, etc.) must be used according to the type of company (Article 6, Paragraph 2 of the Companies Act). Therefore, you cannot replace such characters with “K.K.”, etc.
3. Procedures for using the Roman letters when registering the trade name of an existing company
(1) If the trade name has been listed in the Roman letters in the Articles of Incorporation since before the enforcement date of the revised Ministerial Order (November 1, 2002)
Since it has been possible to use the Roman letters in the trade name specified in the Articles of Incorporation, there are companies that use the Roman letters in the trade name in their Articles of Incorporation, but write the corresponding part in katakana when registering their trade name. If such a company wants to use the Roman letters in its registered trade name, it can correct its trade name to use the Roman alphabet by applying for a registration of correction of the trade name.
(2) Cases other than (1)
If a company whose trade name is listed in Japanese characters in its Articles of Incorporation wants to use the Roman letters in its trade name, it must change its trade name in the company’s Articles of Incorporation and then apply for a registration of the change of trade name.
<Reference> ○ Regulation on Commercial Registrations (Ministry of Justice Order No. 23 of 1964)
(Signs Used in Registration of Trade Names)
Article 50: The Roman letters or other signs designated by the Minister of Justice may be used for the registration of a trade name.
2 The designation referred to in the preceding paragraph must be made by means of public notice.
○ Ministry of Justice Public Notice: Pursuant to the provisions of Article 51-2, Paragraph 1 (Note) of the Regulation on Commercial Registrations (Ministry of Justice Order No. 23 of 1964) (including as applied mutatis mutandis pursuant to other ministerial orders), the signs and symbols that may be used in the registration of trade names are specified as follows, to come into effect on November 1, 2002.
July 31, 2002
Mayumi Moriyama, Minister of Justice
1. Roman letters
2. Arabic numerals
3. Ampersand, apostrophe, comma, hyphen, period and middle dot
Note: Article 50 of the current Regulation on Commercial Registrations
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