Japan’s first GeoTLD, .nagoya, entered sunrise today

GMO Internet Group company, GMO Registry, Inc. today announced the opening of new geographic top-level domain, .nagoya. In the first stage of the launch, application is open exclusively to trademark holders to protect both trademark rights and the integrity of the .nagoya namespace.

The new domain, .nagoya represents the city of Nagoya, in Aichi prefecture, central Japan. Birthplace to the three samurais that shaped an entire nation, Nagoya is a city rich in history and culture. Today, Nagoya is part of Japan’s third largest metropolitan region with a population of almost 9 million. One of the country’s most significant industrial and trade centers, Nagoya is also home to multinational giants like Toyota Motor Corporation.

The aim of .nagoya is to promote the city and provide a platform for communication between Nagoya and the world. No local address is required to register a domain name. The .nagoya TLD is an ideal choice for a targeted local marketing strategy, or could be used by any business or individual who wants to link their online identity to Japan.

Speaking at the official launch of .nagoya at the Marriott Hotel in Nagoya today, Nagoya Mayor, Takashi Kawamura said, “The City of Nagoya is a global leader not only in the automotive industry, but in fields as diverse as aviation, precision manufacturing and fine ceramics. With the launch of new domain, .nagoya today, we look forward to showcasing the City of Nagoya to the world.”

Background
In March 2012, GMO Registry submitted a proposal to the City of Nagoya presenting a vision for .nagoya that would raise awareness of the Nagoya city brand both domestically and globally. After undergoing a rigorous evaluation GMO Registry received official support from the Nagoya government to proceed with .nagoya. GMO Registry then submitted an application to the Internet Corporation of Names and Numbers (ICANN) and after successfully moving through the evaluation process, the company signed an agreement with ICANN to operate new GeoTLD, .nagoya on October 24, 2013. .nagoya is the first of a number of GeoTLD launches planned by GMO Registry. Both .tokyo and .yokohama are slated to open in April this year.

Launch Phases
Sunrise Phase: Priority registration phase for trademark holders
Date: February 20, 2014 12:00pm (JST) – April 21, 2014 23:59 (JST)
Land Rush Phase: Advance registration (open eligibility)
Date: April 28, 2014 12:00pm (JST) – June 13, 2014 23:59 (JST)
General Availability: Open first-come-first-served registration
Date: From June 23, 2014 12:00pm (JST)

Registrar Partners (in alphabetical order)
The following is a list of some of the registrars that will support .nagoya either from Sunrise or one of the later phases.
101domain.com
1API GmbH
Ascio Technologies Inc.
CSC Digital Brand Services
Dynadot LLC
eNom
GoDaddy
Gonbei Domain
IP Mirror Pte Ltd
Lexsynergy Limited
Mailclub SAS
Marcaria.com
MarkMonitor Inc
Name.com
Onamae.com
Safenames Ltd

About GMO Registry
GMO Registry was established in 2009 to provide all-in registry solutions for new gTLDs including assistance with the new gTLD application process, building and operating registry systems, and marketing support. The company is founded on the technology and extensive industry experience of the GMO Internet Group. Many global brands including Canon and Hitachi have chosen GMO Registry as a technology partner to build exclusive branded namespaces under their own brand extension. In 2014, GMO Registry begins rolling out GeoTLDs for Japanese cities with the launch of .nagoya in February, followed by .tokyo and .yokohama. For more information please visit: http://www.gmoregistry.com/.

About GMO Internet Group
GMO Internet Group is a comprehensive provider of industry-leading Internet solutions including domain name registration, cloud-based and traditional hosting, ecommerce, security, and payment processing services that each hold the top share of their respective markets in Japan. Other key business areas for the Group include online securities/FX trading, Internet advertising, search engine marketing, and smartphone game development and publishing. GMO Internet, Inc. (TSE: 9449) is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. For more information please visit: http://www.gmo.jp/en.