Japan official to Kardashian West: Kimono belongs to Japan

belonging to Japan. cry kidies cry.

"belonging to Japan. cry kidies cry."

Another "expert" having comprehension problems!

She's trying to trademark "KIMONO".

"Seko said he will dispatch senior officials to Washington next week for talks with U.S. trademark officials."

Kimono is Japanese, whether JT "experts" like it or not.

The Chinese wore kimonos centuries before Japan. FACT.

When will this little back and forth between idiots stop. Have a cry Japan

Does Japan really want to play that game....?

Why is this still in the news??? This is the third story in as many days!

She's trying to trademark "KIMONO".

So what? As I've explained before, a lot of you don't seem to understand how copyrighting a brand name works. If she copyrighted the name Kimono as the brand name of her line of underwear, then no one else could sell underwear under the brand name 'Kimono'.

She wasn't going to own the word, she would have owned the brand name 'Kimono' only as it related to her underwear line. It's not like you could never call anything a kimono ever again. It's just not how copyrights work!

Here, have a read:

https://lisamerriam.com/shared-brand-names-for-different-products/

Everyone is freaking out over nothing.

"The Chinese wore kimonos centuries before Japan. FACT."

Did the Chinese call them Kimono?

Another one talking out of....

"It's just not how copyrights work!"

I think you're talking to the wrong person; I know how it works.

This is a national pride issue; what about a Chinese copyrighting Worcestershire pepper sauce?

For you to read as well; see if there's any parallels.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1758188.stm

extanker: Why is this still in the news??? This is the third story in as many days!

Answer: To keep peoples minds away from the elections

So what? As I've explained before, a lot of you don't seem to understand how copyrighting a brand name works. If she copyrighted the name Kimono as the brand name of her line of underwear, then no one else could sell underwear under the brand name 'Kimono'.

Trademarking and copyrighting are two different things. That said, your information is mostly correct about the effects of trademarking.

"Trademarking and copyrighting are two different things. That said, your information is mostly correct about the effects of trademarking."

Thanks; I did not want to get into this debate, given he should know better.

@chip star

Trademarking and copyrighting are two different things. That said, your information is mostly correct about the effects of trademarking.

Thanks for correcting me, you are absolutely right. Everyone keeps saying copyrighting instead of trademarking, which is actually what Kardashian is trying to do, and I didn't catch it myself.

@Peeping_Tom

I think you're talking to the wrong person; I know how it works. This is a national pride issue

Then why did you say this, which is the comment I was addressing:

She's trying to trademark "KIMONO".

@chip star

You know, looking back at my other comments, I think I just made a giant brain fart and I'm the one who made the copyright/trademark mistake! Haha oops!

"She's trying to trademark "KIMONO".

Because most people don't know the difference; actually for Americans trademark is more familiar; that's the reason.

The picture at top is downright scary!!!

Never mind all of that. WTH is she so freaking important to everyone? Does all her plastic surgery give her license to be so important? I really don't understand why she's even a celebrity.

"She's trying to trademark "KIMONO".

Because most people don't know the difference; actually for Americans trademark is more familiar; that's the reason.

I admit I am the one who screwed up and mixed up the two words. It was just me not paying attention. I've had to deal with trademarking quite a bit on the job. Brain fart.

But it still doesn't explain why you made an issue about her trying to trademark it, if you are only worried that it is an issue of 'national pride'.

You know the world has gone to s**t when the Japanese government is sending officials to the US because of Kim Kardashian. Why has the world gotten so sensitive?

Thank West for what?? She's absolutely disrespectful.

But it still doesn't explain why you made an issue about her trying to trademark it, if you are only worried that it is an issue of 'national pride'.

Ah, I guess I get it. You're saying that somehow Kim Kardashian trademarking the word Kimono hurts Japanese national pride. You know, I always thought the Japanese were a lot tougher than that.

Uh... she already said she's going to stop plans to use KIMONO. What's the fuss?

Peeping_Tom = "expert "

Japan's trade minister, Hiroshige Seko: Mind your own business. Keep your chauvinism to yourself. You have no authority to dictate fashion either in the United States or, for that matter, in Japan.

Anyway, the Kimono has been a part of Western culture for nearly two centuries, just as Western dress has been a staple in Japan since the Meiji Era. Before Western clothing took hold in Japan "kimono" meant simply something to wear.

Let me say something about cultural appropriate in Japan. Instead of comfortable traditional Japanese clothing businesses force men to wear uncomfortable suits and useless ties and force women to wear uncomfortable and dangerous Western high heel shoes.

And the world wears blue jeans, originally an American product. Japan makes blue jeans, but no one cares whether it is cultural appropriation on not.

seriously?? They make donald trump look like he has thick skin.

She has already said she isn't going to use the name. Why is this article still bring up something that's already over?

What about sushi clothing:

https://www.etsy.com/market/sushi_clothing

Oy vey!

The question should be, is the word Kimono even allowed to be trademarked? I think this is over blown. Just because someone trademarks the word Kimono doesn't mean no one else can use the word.

I'm pretty sure there are more important things for people to get their knickers in a twist about.

What a distraction.

She has as much talent as any other "celebrity" who made their fortune off of "talent". I rank her right up there with Melanie Griffith.

She's also proven to be a very, very shrewd business person that has built an empire.

As for the "kimono", the word is not Japanese property. I actually think if she is the first to copyright it for her brand, then it's her right.

I actually think it was a clever use of the word, and if anything, it brought more publicity to her brand. Regardless, she wins. To all of those complaining, she played you well.

and Kanji belongs to China...but many Japanese seem to think they invented it.. wtf?

She should just ditch Kanye and marry a Japanese guy with the surname 'Ono'.

That way she'd have no problems selling her new clothing range under her own name - Kim Ono.

You know the world has gone to s**t when the Japanese government is sending officials to the US because of Kim Kardashian. Why has the world gotten so sensitive?

Didn't the gov't used to send sushi chefs abroad to judge overseas' restaurants' sushi quality?

Crying over nothing..... where is the outcry....

YO! Sushi is a company that owns, operates, and franchises conveyor belt sushi restaurants, principally in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

On Monday, West tweeted that she would launch her brand under a new name following careful thought and consideration.

Why? I don´t care about this designer person or her products, but why does she cave to this stupid complaint?

Kimonno, problem solved.

and Kanji belongs to China...but many Japanese seem to think they invented it.. wtf?

Say what? I think most Japanese people recognize it comes from China by virtue of the fact that the first character of the word kanji refers directly to China (漢).

That's why Japanese people translate the word 'kanji' to English as 'Chinese characters' and not 'Japanese characters'.

Didn't the gov't used to send sushi chefs abroad to judge overseas' restaurants' sushi quality?

Authenticity, not quality.

Yeah, I remember the sushi thing. And you know, whatever. What is the standard of quality in Japan does not have to be the standard in other countries. If they enjoy their version of sushi, woohoo! In fact, I would say going to a sushi place is a far more fun experience than going to one of those Sushi Jiro joints, where you have to be so prim and proper. What did Ferris Bueller say about sticking a coal up Cameron's hole and winding up with a diamond?

What is he waiting for to claim back the four seasons as well? They naturally belong only to Japan...!!

Dear Kim, I suggest you name your brand of lingerie Kyoto. I am writing to The Vatican to complain about sacrilegious fake Christian weddings, fake ministers created by the Japanese an affront to Christianity. Am writing to fellow Yankees how the Japanese have massacred our name into YANKII to refer to Japanese thugs and the lovely innocent word 'girl' which Japanese have turned into GYARU, it's a disgrace. And all the Japanese owned operated sex clubs with names such as Roman Holiday, Milano, Gay Paris, you can see them all over Soi Thaniya in Bangkok and other major cities globally. Prostitution btw is illegal in Thailand but Japanese blatantly flaunt the law showing no respect. Los Angeles means City of Angeles but Japanese call it ROSU, most disrespectful.

Hmmmmm....  Must object when colleagues use the term "Open the kimono"........

City of Angels that is...

Kimono is Japanese, whether JT "experts" like it or not.

@ Peeping Tom - well argued. Nice to see a voice of reason on here. Kardashian hurt Japanese peoples feelings by stealing an important part of the heritage, their KIMONO. Good for Japan they lobbied and forced her to back down.

Seko said he will dispatch senior officials to Washington next week for talks with U.S. trademark officials.

nice little junket for somebody!

only a day late Seko-san!

What if my business is selling kimonos?

I think Ill name my next pet Kimono.

Registered trademark more than 30 years ago.Maybe people made a fuss about it at the time.

Get these on Amazon

KIMONO CONDOMS®

In 1987 Mayer Laboratories introduced Kimono brand condoms. For over 25 years Kimono condoms have delivered both sheer thinness and quality. A special formulation combined with advanced Japanese state-of-the-art technology allows us to produce strong, reliable, and incredibly thin condoms. Kimono condoms provide an unmistakable “smooth sensation”, a feeling unlike any other condom. Slip into a Kimono. Feel the difference.

Intelligence has prevailed

(can't believe I'm writing this, speaking about that a$$ on legs...)

JAPAN: WON

DA SLAPPER: ZERO

Honestly, whatever. It's already common to call a range of silky robes 'kimono'. Is Japan gonna challenge every clothes-maker now?

Just change it to Kymono, Kim.

"Japan's trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, said Tuesday that the kimono is globally known as belonging to Japan, and urged U.S. trademark officials to examine the case appropriately."

I'm willing to bet he said so in a pair of pants, and even underpants. If he wants to say this seriously, put on the hakama and sport the chonmage, and don't say it with a cell phone, created in the USA. What an idiot.

Kimonno, problem solved.

Did you mean Kimohno? At least her not so original idea of fusing her name with ono or ohno got her a lot of attention. She'll be pleased with that.