With the growing popularity of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, manga publishing company Shueisha has been appealing to the Japan Patent Office to patent six designs that appear on different characters' clothing. The Japan Patent Office has stated repeatedly that the designs are too simple to be able to patent.
In the latest appeal, three of the Demon Slayer designs were finally approved for a patent. The designs include those for Demon Slayer Hashiras Tomioka, Shinobu, and Rengoku. The other three designs, which belonged to main character Tanjiro, his sister Nezuko, and demon slayer Zenitsu, were denied again due to a lack of complexity and defining markers. Shueisha will have three months to appeal again, this time to the Commissioner of the Patent Office.
The designs from Nezuko and Tanjiro's robes are actually historically recreated designs from the 18th century in Japan, and that reason they were denied a patent. For instance, Nezuko's robes consisted of a black and teal-colored checker pattern. This pattern was used often in the Edo period of Japan and kabuki actor Sanogawa Ichimatsu owns an 18th century period costume bearing the same exact pattern. Nezuko's robes are light pink with geometric shapes forming a sort of flower-like appearance. It was noted that this print very closely resembles the asanoha pattern, which represents hemp leaves from the Heian period of Japan. The design was often used for young childrens' kimono's and was ironically used to ward off evil.
Fans of Demon Slayer know that Nezuko is a young girl possessed by a demon, but she is able to assert her will over the otherwise brutal and violent urge to kill. Perhaps this protecting pattern helps her achieve this. Meanwhile, Zenitsu's pattern has no historical significance but simply is too lacking in originality to garner a patent. The design consists of an ombre orange background with small white triangles dotting the design.
Legal annoyances are nothing new to the ever-popular franchise, especially after the animation studio Ufotable was accused of tax evasion. The patent of the designs is not an incredibly important detail, but will surely allow Demon Slayer to have better control over merchandise and other goodies made using the patterns.
Demon Slayer has plenty of upcoming releases, including the follow-up to the Mugen Train movie, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Mugen Train Arc TV. The follow-up premieres on October 10th and the second season of Demon Slayer is coming out on December 5th.
Watch all episodes of Demon Slayer and look out for upcoming releases on Funimation.
Source: Crunchyroll (via Huffington Post Japan)