What is "kokoku"

Kōkoku (興国) was a Japanese era of the Southern Court during the Era of Northern and Southern Courts after Engen and before Shōhei, lasting from April 1340 to December 1346. The emperor in Kyoto was . Go-Kōgon's Southern Court rival in Yoshino during this time-frame was .

A kokoku or kokoku tokkyo koho is an examined and approved Japanese patent application, published for opposition, in contrast to the kokai, the published ("laid-open"), unexamined Japanese patent application. The kokoku system of publishing for opposition was abolished in 1996.