News

Dear Valued Customers and Partners,
Thank you for your patronage of URAWA machines.

Please be informed that our office will be closed as follows as Golden week holidays in Japan.
We apologize for your inconvenience and appreciate your kindest understanding.

Sincerely yours,

URAWA Corporation.

Dear Valued Customers and Partners,
Thank you for your continued cooperation this year.
Our company will be in winter recess between Dec. 28 and Jan. 5.

As end of the year festivities get underway, we want to thank you for your patronage and support throughout the year.
Sincerely yours,

URAWA Corporation
President
Tatsuya Koyama

URAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Kuki-Shi, Saitama-Ken, Japan; President: Tatsuya Koyama; hereinafter referred to as “URAWA”) filed a lawsuit on August 5, 2022 against KUPA Inc. (Headquarters: 2353 W. La Palma Ave. 92801 U.S.A., CEO: Richard Hurter (hereinafter referred to as “KUPA”) in the Central District Court of California, regarding trademark (design/color) rights for the Upower UP200 series nail machines, including to establish its senior rights to the mark, The Purple Machine.
The UP200 nail filing machine, known as the “Purple Machine,” was marketed in the United States by KUPA as URAWA’s Exclusive Distributor. The UP200 was developed, manufactured, and marketed worldwide by URAWA. It quickly became famous in the industry due to its superior performance and design, with consumers referring to the UP200 by its unique purple color. KUPA was only a distributor for URAWA and did not own or claim to own any rights to the “Purple Machine” name. Nevertheless, KUPA registered, presumably as URAWA’s Exclusive Distributor, the trademark color design rights related to the UP200 without URAWA’s knowledge.

In addition to obtaining a transfer of the color mark registration, Urawa sought damages against KUPA for false advertising and unfair competition, including bad faith dealing as URAWA’s U.S. distributor. In addition, on August 10, 2023, URAWA filed a lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against KUPA seeking damages for breach of the annual minimum purchase obligation and default under the distribution agreement between the two companies.

URAWA announces that the lawsuits have successfully concluded via a settlement agreement whereby the Central District of California has retained jurisdiction for a period of time to help ensure KUPA’s performance of the agreement.

  •  KUPA shall pay URAWA US$1,000,000 (approximately ¥158 million)
  •  KUPA has provided and URAWA has recorded a security interest in KUPA’s assets, including Intellectual Property, to ensure full payment
  •  KUPA has acknowledged URAWA’s senior trademark rights and assigned to URAWA and URAWA has recorded design rights to the COLOR PURPLE used in connection with nail filing machines
  •  KUPA shall dispose of its stock of nail filing machines in the COLOR PURPLE and discontinue their sale
  •  KUPA has dismissed its counterclaim against URAWA with prejudice

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URAWA terminated its Exclusive Distribution Agreement with KUPA (which covered North America) in 2021 and appointed CT Beauty Supply, Inc. and Angelina Nail Supply, Inc. as new distributors of UP200 aka the “Purple Machine.”

To forestall competition, KUPA sent a letter to URAWA and its new distributors claiming the sale of the UP200 in the U.S. was an infringement of the “Color Purple” trademark and damages.

In investigating KUPA’s trademark claim, other concerns surfaced. Although KUPA was URAWA’s exclusive distributor in North America during the COVID-19 pandemic, allegations arose that KUPA was misleading nail product distributors and consumers by providing false or misleading information regarding the UP200’s availability and production status to suppress UP200 sales in the U.S. There were reasons to believe KUPA was acting in bad faith in violation of the Lanham Act and the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing by suppressing UP200 sales and giving priority to sales of nail machines manufactured by other companies.

On August 5, 2022, URAWA filed a lawsuit against KUPA in the Central District Court of California concerning the registration of its trademark and design rights and against KUPA’s bad faith and unfair trade practices. The trademark and design right lawsuit sought a declaratory judgment confirming URAWA’s ownership of the “Color Purple” trademark and design rights related to the UP200. Furthermore, on August 10, 2023, URAWA filed a lawsuit against KUPA in the Tokyo District Court seeking damages for breach of their distribution agreement.

In the United States, KUPA filed counterclaims under the Color Purple registration seeking damages against URAWA and its new distributors.

The settlement that was reached and agreed upon is a resolution of all the above lawsuits and the settlement terms include transfer of the Color Purple registration and secured payments by KUPA to URAWA. Future plans for URAWA will continue to strictly manage its own intellectual property rights and contribute to the development of the nail industry by providing nail machines and services, including the UP200.

For press inquiries, please contact
Mitsuo Sakaguchi, Sales Department
Phone: +81-480-24-1751
Email:  sakaguchi@urawa.co.jp
(https://www.urawa.co.jp)

UP200

URAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Kuki-Shi, Saitama Prefecture, JAPAN; hereinafter referred to as “URAWA”) has appointed Ms. Emese Koppanyi as a member of “Team URAWA” which globally disseminates information about nail machines manufactured and sold by URAWA.

Team URAWA has been operated under leadership of Mr. David Fowler.

<A brief history of Ms. Emese Koppanyi >
Emese began her career in her home country of Hungary in 1999 and was based in Hungary from 1999 to 2016.
She had her first competition on the same year she started doing nails, 1999.
Not only did her competition on nails take her on tour but her client services were so superior that clients in the French Riviera also took hold from 2012 to 2016.
She moved to the United States in 2016. Her love of the beach took her initially to Miami Florida and led her to her destination where she now calls home, Los Angeles California.

Regardless of where Em chose to live, she found undisputed success and now enjoys a hugely successful private studio in Beverly Hills. Emese would like to give credit to many of the top competitors in her journey to the top. Many names walked beside her to her successes including Tom Holcomb, Alisha Rimando, Tom Bachik, and Trang Nguyen.

Em’s techniques have led countless students to their own success in the competition arena. Emese continues to teach nail professionals globally to include the EU and all countries therein, Malaysia, England, the USA, Brazil, and countless others. Emese is also a well sought after judge in the biggest competitions throughout the nail industry.

Em has represented multiple brands in the competition arena successfully. She has helped with product development, team education, and imagery.
Emese decided to develop her own brand in 2017. She started with brushes and quickly expanded into a full product line under the name EDKO.

Emese continues with her success in her salon, judging, and educating throughout the world.

Brands:
• EDKO
• Cesar’s Secrets
• Odyssey Nail Systems (ONS)
• Trinity Nails
• Pearl Nails

Competitions:
• 2010 World Champion (Monaco)
• 2004, 2009, 2011, 2015 European Champion
• 2002-2014 Hungarian Champion (10-Times Hungarian Champion)
• 2011 first place Global Nail Cup Helsinki
(1st place sculpted acrylic nails, salon success, team relay 2nd place photoshoot)
• 2018 NailPro Cup Champion
• 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018 Nailpro top 10 finalist

Magazines:
• Nailpro USA 12/2013
• Nailpro USA 10/2018
• Nailpro USA 07/2014

URAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Kuki-Shi, Saitama Prefecture, JAPAN; hereinafter referred to as “URAWA”) has signed a two-year Independent Contractor Agreement with Mr. David Fowler, a nail artist who has served as a judge at numerous nail competitions around the world, including Nailmpia, is also well known as one of the best educators for nail worldwide and an icon in the nail industry, and has many celebrity clients.

Mr. Fowler has been appointed as the leader of “Team URAWA,” which globally disseminates information about nail machines manufactured and sold by URAWA with this agreement.

<A brief history of Mr. David Fowler>
Mr. David Fowler began his career in nail industry in 2000 in USA.
Early in his career, he worked as a consultant for one of the biggest global nail brands and also worked at events like the Grammys, Oscars, and Sundance Film Festival, and so on.
He began doing nail services for celebrities in Los Angeles at the same time.

He started educating other nail professionals nationally and he found himself travelling from his homebase in Düsseldorf to the rest of Europe teaching others in 2004.

With his experience in the US and throughout Europe he was invited to represent various brands, help business owners build their brands, and educate brands on a global scale. He has educated others on every continent, over 100 countries, and countless cities.

Brands:

  • Signature Nail International: Co-founder/co-owner
  • Astonishing: brand developer, photo/video creator, director of education, artistic director
  • N2: brand developer (re-launch of existing brand), photo/video, director of education, artistic director
  • Magnetic: product developer, photo/video creator, director of education, artistic director
  • Alessandro: outside consultant for product/brand development, education
  • Fantasy Nail: outside consultant for product/brand development, education
  • Nail Creation/CNC: outside consultant for product/brand development, photo creator, education.
  • Odessey Nail Systems (ONS): outside consultant for product development
  • CND: outside consultant, product demonstration, education, special events
  • EZ Flow: outside consultant for education
  • Indigo: outside consultant for education
  • Rome Nail Academy: outside consultant for education
  • Lady Nail: outside consultant for education
  • Glory Nails: outside consultant for product demonstration, education

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Competition (Judge):

  • Beauty Düsseldorf International: Organization, Stage presentations
  • Nailympia: London
  • Poland, Finland, Norway, Moscow, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Netherlands, Denmark, Estonia, Greece

URAWA Corporation (Headquarters: Kuki-Shi, Saitama Prefecture, JAPAN; hereinafter referred to as “URAWA”) has launched “Team URAWA,” a project team to globally disseminate information about URAWA nail machines, including their attractiveness, usage, and self-maintenance methods, and so on, to users with nail artists who are successful throughout the world.
URAWA will strive to contribute to the nail industry as a top manufacturer by disseminating useful information on nail machines not only in Japan but also throughout the world.

Dear Valued Customers and Partners,
Thank you for your continued cooperation this year.
Our company will be in winter recess between Dec. 28 and Jan. 3.
As end of the year festivities get underway, we want to thank you for your patronage and support throughout the year.

Sincerely yours,

URAWA Corporation
President
Tatsuya Koyama

Dear Valued Customers & Partners,

Due to the Summer Holidays in Japan, our office will be closed on the following period:

August 11 (Fri.) ~ 16 (Wed.)

Please note that there will be possible delay in processing orders in the period.
We will resume our business on August 17 (Thu.).

Sincerly yours,

Dear Valued Customers & Partners,

Due to the Golden Week Holidays in Japan, our office will be closed on the following period:

April 29 (Sat.) ~ May 7 (Sun.)

Please note that there will be possible delay in processing orders in the period.
We will resume our business on May 8 (Mon.).

Sincerly yours,

 

 

On April 11, 2023, URAWA Corporation donated portable nail machines, G3 for professional, to Kelly Pang Nail (Nail School) in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the aim of supporting the next generation of nail artists and nail technicians.
On the same day, at the school’s graduation ceremony held at The Adora Grand View, G3s were presented to the graduates with excellent grades, too.