Tokyo [Japan], March 9: Seizures of imported counterfeit goods in Japan surpassed 30,000 cases in 2023, the second-highest figure since record-keeping began in 1987, government data showed.
Cases regarding intercepted counterfeit items nationwide went up 17.5 percent from the previous year to 31,666, exceeding 30,000 for the first time in three years, the Finance Ministry said on Friday.
Clothing topped the list with 10,401 cases, or 28 percent of the total, followed by bags and shoes, with many items related to Japanese anime, the ministry said.
According to the ministry, the counterfeit branded products involved grew by 19.7 percent compared to the previous year to 1,056,245 items, the first time in four years that it has topped one million items.
Ministry officials said many counterfeit goods are being distributed through e-commerce, calling on people to be wary of extremely low prices.
Source: Xinhua
