Osaka Customs Reports Record First-Half Seizures of Counterfeit Goods

Osaka Customs reported 6,546 cases of imports stopped for suspected intellectual-property violations in the first half of 2026, about 1.2 times the level recorded a year earlier and the highest number for a first-half period.

Counterfeit stickers accounted for about three-quarters of items seized by Osaka Customs for suspected intellectual-property violations during the first half of 2026. [Photo: Amazon Japan]

The customs authority announced the figures on Sept. 4, covering the first six months of the year across its jurisdiction in the Kansai and Hokuriku regions. By item, stickers accounted for the largest share, with about 209,000 pieces, or roughly 75 percent of all seized items.

One factor cited for the increase was the popularity of “Bonbon Drop Seal” stickers, which are known for their three-dimensional appearance and transparent designs.

Customs officials also pointed to the growing popularity of “sticker activities,” in which people collect and exchange stickers.

Osaka Prefectural Police have also taken action in several cases involving suspected counterfeit Bonbon Drop products allegedly held for sale in violation of Japan's Trademark Act.

Kazuyuki Teraoka, director of Osaka Customs' operations department, urged consumers to check whether stores and websites are trustworthy before purchasing products because the quality of intellectual-property-infringing goods is not guaranteed.

The seizures include a range of counterfeit and pirated products, including imitation branded goods and other items that infringe intellectual-property rights.