The Japan Patent Office (JPO) dismissed the opposition filed by Impossible Foods Inc. against TM Reg no. 6856327 for the “men impossible” mark due to dissimilarity to earlier mark “IMPOSSIBLE”.
[Opposition case no. 2024-900260, decided on June 17, 2025]
Men impossible
The contested mark consists of the word “men impossible” and a device representing cooked noodles in a bowl with chopsticks (see below). A Japanese individual filed it with the JPO for use in relation to restaurant services in Class 43 on March 5, 2024 [TM App no. 2024-22440].

“MEN” means ‘noodles’ in Japanese.
The JPO granted registration of the mark on October 11, 2024, and published it for post-grant opposition on October 29, 2024.
Opposition by Impossible Foods
Before the lapse of a two-month statutory period counting from the publication date, Impossible Foods Inc., a U.S. corporation that develops plant-based substitutes for meat, dairy, and fish products, filed an opposition with the JPO on December 16, 2024.
Impossible Foods Inc. argued that the contested mark should be canceled in contravention of Article 4(1)(xi) of the Japan Trademark Law due to a close resemblance to its earlier TM Reg no. 6646654 for the word mark “IMPOSSIBLE” in standard character, which designates restaurant services in Class 43.
Article 4(1)(xi) is a provision that prohibits the registration of a junior mark that is deemed identical with, or similar to, any earlier registered mark.
JPO decision
The JPO Opposition Board found the contested mark “men impossible” is dissimilar to the cited mark “IMPOSSIBLE” by stating that:
Visually, the contested mark and the cited mark differ by virtue of the presence or absence of figurative elements and the word “men,” and therefore relevant consumers are clearly capable of distinguishing two marks in appearance.
Aurally, the sound of “Men Impossible” arising from the contested mark and the sound “Impossible” from the cited mark differ in the presence or absence of the prefix sound “men,” so they are clearly distinguishable in terms of pronunciation.
Conceptually, the contested mark does not give rise to any specific meaning. In the meantime, the cited mark has a meaning of ‘not possible’. There is no risk of confusion in concept.
Therefore, the contested mark and the cited mark are obviously distinguishable in appearance and sound, and there is no risk of confusion in concept.
When considering the overall impression, memory, and associations evoked in the mind of relevant traders and consumers by means of the appearance, pronunciation, and concept of two marks, the Board has a reason to believe that the contested mark is dissimilar to and unlikely to cause confusion with the cited mark.
Based on the foregoing, the Board decided that the contested mark is not subject to cancellation based on Article 4(1)(xi) even if the designated service of both marks are identical or similar.