Korean Brand Tokyo Berry Accused of Copying Tokyo Banana
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- Tokyo Berry faces allegations its products closely resemble Japan's Tokyo Banana, with consumers sharing side-by-side packaging comparisons on social media to highlight the similarities
- Lotte and Shinsegae department stores had hosted Tokyo Berry pop-ups that drew long lines, but a department store official told The Korea Herald on July 31 that all future Tokyo Berry pop-ups were cancelled
- Tokyo Berry promoted itself with phrases like "capturing the flavours of seasonal fruits and the essence of Tokyo," which some consumers said falsely implied the brand was Japanese
- Backlash extended beyond outer packaging, with some consumers accusing Tokyo Berry of copying the hanji-paper wrapping used by Korean brand Hanjungsun for its chapssaltteok rice cakes
- Tokyo Berry hid its promotional Instagram posts and disabled comments amid the criticism, with some online users calling the controversy a "national embarrassment"
- Grapestone, the Japanese confectionery company that operates Tokyo Banana, has reportedly begun reviewing the matter through its relevant department
Why it matters: For newly launched Tokyo Berry, the controversy cost it all scheduled pop-ups at Lotte and Shinsegae in a single day — its main retail channel since launch. The dispute is also two-front: consumers accuse the brand of copying not only Japanese rival Tokyo Banana but also Korean peer Hanjungsun's hanji wrapping, while Grapestone has opened a review that could escalate into formal IP action.
