Monthly Archives: May 2025

Myaku Myaku-san♪~Official Character’s Intellectual Property and Secondary Creations~

  • May 15, 2025
#design #trademark

The Osaka-Kansai Expo has finally opened!
The event will last for six months, including the hot summer months, but we hope everyone will take proper precautions against the heat and enjoy the event to the fullest.

The official character, Myaku Myaku-san♪
With its bold red and blue colors and numerous eye-catching features, the design initially felt a bit eerie, but now that I’ve grown accustomed to it, I find it incredibly cute.
Myaku Myaku merchandise has started appearing in department stores and bookstores. Curious to purchase something as a memento, I looked into it and discovered that capsule figures are available! These are Myaku Myaku figures. I absolutely must have one!!
It seems to have been re-released in April, but I haven’t been able to find it anywhere… Even when I do find it, it’s already sold out.

By the way, the official website for the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo (Official character | Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan Official Website) has guidelines for secondary creations.
Cute characters are irresistible to draw, but in today’s social media age, more people seem to share their creations on social media or support their favorite characters online rather than drawing them on paper and showing them to friends.
However, since secondary creation has some gray areas, having clear guidelines like these allows creators to enjoy their work with peace of mind, and if the works gain popularity, it could also bring significant benefits to the Expo organizers.
When searching for the applicant “Public Interest Incorporated Association 2025 Japan International Exposition Association” on J-PlatPat, five design patents and 60 trademark registrations were found.
The design of Myaku Myaku is protected by three design patents as icon images and plush toys.
Additionally, multiple trademarks related to Myaku Myaku have been filed, including basic illustrations (e.g., No. 6656708) and standard characters such as “ミャクミャク” and “MYAKU-MYAKU,” which are registered across all 45 classes. Trademarks are also fully protected.
I considered drawing Myaku-Myaku and using it as an illustration for this blog, but according to the guidelines, permission is limited to personal social media or blog posts (or individual inquiries may be required), so I decided to give up…
While admiring various Myaku-Myaku designs, I will pray for the success of the Expo and the re-release of the capsule figures! (Cacao)

【Postscript】
After submitting this blog post, I managed to get my hands on the Myaku Myaku capsule figure!! It’s the reverse color version! So cute…
Apparently, a portion of the sales from official licensed products will be used for the Expo.
Thank you so much to Rabbit who found the gacha machine and gave it a spin♪

MYAKU-MYAKU

MYAKU-MYAKU

Correction fluid

  • May 12, 2025
#Inventions of the Day

　Today (May 12, 2025), I will introduce an invention closely related to this date. The invention I will introduce today is ”correction fluid”.
　May 12 is the death anniversary of Bette Nesmith Graham (March 23, 1924 – May 12, 1980), who is known as the inventor of correction fluid.

　In the 1950s, typewriters were widely used in the United States. However, once a typo was made, it was necessary to retype the entire document from the beginning, which was a time-consuming and tedious process. As a result, there was a growing demand for an easy way to correct typos.

　Nesmith, who was a typist, is said to have come up with the idea of using the same color as the typewriter paper to cover up mistakes while watching a painter decorate a bank window. She discovered that mixing tempera paint with water and applying it with a watercolor brush could correct mistakes so effectively that his supervisor couldn’t notice them. She began using this method and later started selling the product under the name “Liquid Paper” in 1958.

　This marked the beginning of the widespread use of correction fluid worldwide. In Japan, it was also extensively improved, and today, correction tape-type products are widely used, as is well known. I found an article that succinctly summarizes this history, so I will share it here.

correction fluid

　Nesmith was also recognized for her significant contributions that had previously been overlooked. After death, she was honored with an obituary in The New York Times, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a lengthy tribute article about her. (blink)