Development of geographic indications applied to forest products: A comparison of Iwate Charcoal and Joboji Urushi in Iwate Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

The year 2018 marked the first registration of wood products, Iwate Charcoal followed by the Joboji Urushi under the framework of Geographical Indications（GIs）in Japan. The two products are from similar geographical settings from Iwate Prefecture while their motives, logic and challenges differ. Comparison under similar condition provides us with a unique opportunity to understand the Japanese GI system which has a short history compared to that of Europe. We report the latest information related to the processes and the tentative effects of the registration and characteristics of the GI of wood products which pose different characteristics from agricultural products. In concrete, we analyze the cultural conservational and economic purpose of the framework. As consequences, the two products differed in their logics for building “linkage to the production site” and basis for “tradition.” It became clear that the GI system serves the two purposes of cultural conservational and economic purpose.