Japan Grants Geographical Indication Protection to Japanese Tea to Strengthen Global Brand and Exports

 

Japan has taken a significant step to reinforce the global identity of its tea industry by granting Geographical Indication, or GI, protection to Japanese tea. The registration, announced Friday by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is intended to safeguard the authenticity of Japanese tea as international demand, particularly for matcha, continues to accelerate.

The designation gives Japanese tea legal recognition under the country's intellectual property framework, making it more difficult for imitation products to capitalize on the reputation of authentic tea produced in Japan. As the popularity of matcha spreads across international markets, counterfeit and misleadingly labeled products have become an increasing concern for producers and exporters.

Unlike most GI registrations, which are reserved for products tied to a specific locality, Japanese tea received nationwide recognition. This marks the first agricultural, forestry, fishery, or food product under the agriculture ministry's jurisdiction to qualify for GI protection regardless of where it is produced within Japan. The distinction reflects the government's recognition that the value of Japanese tea lies not only in regional traditions but also in the country's established cultivation methods and quality standards.

The approach is comparable to protecting a national brand rather than a single hometown specialty. By extending protection across the country, Japan aims to preserve consumer confidence while ensuring that products marketed as Japanese tea meet recognized standards of authenticity.

Japanese sake remains the only other product with nationwide GI eligibility, although it falls under the jurisdiction of the National Tax Agency rather than the agriculture ministry.

The registration comes as Japanese tea continues to post strong export performance. Green tea exports reached approximately 72.1 billion yen in 2025, contributing to the broader expansion of Japan's agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food exports. Agriculture Minister Norikazu Suzuki expressed optimism that the new GI status would further strengthen the international competitiveness of Japanese tea and provide additional momentum for export growth.

Alongside Japanese tea, the ministry also granted GI protection to Hamanako unagi, a premium eel raised around Lake Hamana in Shizuoka Prefecture, and Kaga renkon, a renowned lotus root cultivated in Ishikawa Prefecture. With these additions, the number of agricultural, forestry, fishery, and food products protected under Japan's GI system, excluding alcoholic beverages, has increased to 170.