Invention Day in Japan Date in the current year: April 18, 2024

Invention Day in Japan marks the anniversary of the Patent Monopoly Act that established the first substantial patent law in Japan. It was passed on April 18, 1885. A little less than three months later, the first seven patents were granted. The first Japanese patent was obtained by Hotta Zuisho who invented an anticorrosive paint.

Over the subsequent years, the patent law in Japan has undergone significant change. It was amended and even completely revised several times. But the anniversary of the very first act is still celebrated as Invention Day, because shortly after the promulgation of the Patent Monopoly Act, the era of industrial revolution in Japan began.

The Japanese government is known for its active encouragement of new industries, and establishment of a patent system was a very important step towards industrial modernization of the country. After the Second World War, Japan experienced an economic boom which was stipulated buy several factors, including numerous inventions by Japanese scientists.