No. A PCT application cannot enter the Japanese national phase directly as a design application.

However, the applicant may first enter the Japanese national phase as a patent application and then convert that patent application into a design application, provided that the statutory requirements are satisfied.

If the applicant wishes to maintain both patent and design protection in Japan, it is advisable to first file a divisional patent application and then convert the divisional application into a design application. In this way, the original patent application can be maintained while design protection is also pursued.