From our other sites
The story
The Kochi Shimbun reported that NHK Enterprises had trademarked the term “John Mung,” a nickname for Nakahama Manjiro, the internationally renowned figure from the late Edo period, and the Naigai Times reported on October 10, 2026 that Tosashimizu, the Kochi Prefecture city considered his hometown, has been left puzzled by the move. The city has long used names like “John Mung House” that predate NHK’s dramatization, fueling concern that the trademark could restrict their use going forward. On 5ch, some pointed out that it’s not unusual for NHK to trademark the titles of its historical dramas, while others questioned the transparency of the move, wondering whether it was purely defensive or aimed at collecting licensing fees — opinion was split.
Report: Hometown Puzzled After “John Mung” Trademark Registration — NHK Has “Fenced Off” Names Like This Before – Naigai Times –
October 10, 2026, 7:01 PM
The Kochi Shimbun reported that Tosashimizu City in Kochi Prefecture is puzzled after NHK Enterprises, the broadcaster’s content-production arm, trademarked the word “John Mung,” and the story has sparked discussion.
Source: naigaitimes.com / Original article here
What people said
Isn't it weird for NHK to trademark a historical figure?
The one under the batting center? Man, that's a blast from the past.
This is NHK we're talking about, though?
Apparently it's to stop people confusing it with official show merchandise, so they might not let it slide.
That aside, NHK's Taiga/morning-drama division is garbage.
Maybe NHK just didn't think it through that far…?
It's basically there in case someone tries to sell sketchy merch using the name.
I doubt they'd actually charge the locals for using it.
If anything, having NHK hold the rights means they could step in and help if the town ever runs into trouble over it.
It'd be way worse if some private company had registered it instead.
There shouldn't be any real problem just using it regardless.
Things like "Toyotomi Brothers," "Kamakura-dono," and "Sanada Maru" too.
It's probably not just "John Mung."
Just speculating though.
It says they trademarked titles including "Hikaru Kimi e," so they've likely done this for past shows too.
Back when Ito-Yokado was still a Japanese company, they sold "Sanada Maru" tie-in merchandise.
Wonder how much NHK raked in just from licensing out the Sanada Maru logo.
but if they're charging trademark licensing fees, is that really okay for a public broadcaster?
JOAK (Tokyo Broadcasting Station, an incorporated association), JOBK (Osaka Broadcasting Station), and JOCK (Nagoya Broadcasting Station)
merged together
into the incorporated association Japan Broadcasting Corporation,
which then, under the Broadcast Act in June 1950 (Showa 25),
became the special public corporation NHK.
That's coming from someone who calls pro wrestler Jumbo Tsuruta "Jan-Tsuru" for short.
NHK: Please sign up for a license-fee contract.
Matsumoto Kiyoshi: "Doesn't sit right with me." (riffing on the drugstore founder's famous catchphrase)
I bet I'm the only one in this whole thread who even knows who John Kenn Nuzzo is.
What category would you even register such a generic noun under?
Background and Key Points of This Debate
NHK has a practice of trademarking the titles of its Taiga dramas, and shows like “Hikaru Kimi e” and “Sanada Maru” are reportedly registered the same way. The purpose is usually a defensive registration meant to prevent unauthorized merchandise or copycat marketing tied to a show, and in most cases it’s not thought to blanket-ban existing local use. The issue here is that Tosashimizu City had been using names like “John Mung House” even before NHK’s drama existed, and depending on exactly which goods and services the trademark covers, that use could end up restricted. The thread is split between an optimistic view — “it’s probably just a defensive registration,” “they’ll surely let locals use it for free” — and a skeptical one — “NHK can’t be trusted, same as with the license fee,” “they might end up charging usage fees.” Neither view goes beyond speculation. It’s also worth noting that trademark law offers some protection for parties who were already using a name before registration (prior-use rights), so based on the reporting alone it isn’t clear whether the town will actually suffer any real disadvantage.
※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “[NHK] Report: Hometown Puzzled by “John Mung” Trademark Registration — NHK Has “Fenced Off” Names Like This Before.”
Leave a Reply