A counterfeit ramen shop imitating the Japanese chain Ichiran was discovered operating in Beijing under the name “本日一蘭拉面” (Honjitsu Ichiran Ramen) [1].
The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of intellectual property theft in China, where global brands are often targeted by imitators to capitalize on their popularity among local consumers and tourists.
Observers noted the shop at approximately 10 a.m. local time on Friday [1]. The establishment utilized a logo that closely mirrored the genuine Ichiran design but omitted the letter “I” [1]. While the authentic Ichiran logo references its founding in 1950 [1], the counterfeit version listed a founding date of 1965 [1].
Differences extended to the menu. The shop sold pork-bone ramen for 36 yuan [1], which is approximately 842 yen [1]. The fake restaurant also offered water dumplings, an item not sold by the genuine Ichiran chain [1].
Masatoshi Namba of TBS NEWS DIG said a shop that looked exactly like the ramen chain Ichiran was in Beijing [1]. He said the logo also used a design very similar to Ichiran [1].
The counterfeit shop has since disappeared from food-delivery applications [1]. Ichiran currently has no official presence in Beijing [1]. The brand's legal department is now preparing trademark action to address the infringement [1].
“The counterfeit shop has since disappeared from food-delivery applications.”
This case illustrates the 'shanzhai' culture of imitation in China, where brands with high recognition but no local physical presence are vulnerable to clones. By slightly altering logos and names, counterfeiters attempt to evade immediate legal detection while still attracting customers through brand association. The move by Ichiran's legal team to pursue trademark action suggests a proactive strategy to protect brand equity before attempting official market entry into the region.
