http://www.cas.org/training/stneasytips/patentnumber2.html
Unexamined applications (Kokai - kind code A)
・・・Before Dec 1999 Japanese emperor year numbering restart <- what the F. is a "restart"?
・・・Year 2000 forward Western year numbering restart
Examined applications (Kokoku - kind code B)
・・・Before May 1996 Japanese emperor year numbering restart
・・・May 1996 forward Replaced by Toroku
New law granted patents (Toroku - kind code B) May 1996 forward Continuous numbering
