2022-07-24 06:59:13
What is that little Stamp that Japanese people use to sign papers?In Japan, personal seals are used instead of signatures on legal documents, forms, and other places where Westerners would sign or initial. Everyone in Japan has at least one, and most people have a few different ones. The stamp itself is called a hanko, and the ink mark it leaves is called an inkan.
Since forgery can be a problem, most Japanese people have multiple hanko, which are used for different purposes to keep important transactions separate, much like how people use different passwords for stuff like bank websites. It's recommended that one be reserved for casual use, like signing for packages (mitomein), while another is used exclusively for bank accounts, the impression of which is kept on file at the bank (ginko-in), and that your most important hanko, the one you register with the government, is reserved for only legal documents (jitsuin).
Hanko are an important part of everyday life in Japan. Shops that sell hanko and custom-etch your name in them are everywhere. Fancy carrying cases are sold everywhere too, and often have small changeable ink pads built-in. Typically, a hanko will cost around ¥3,000-5,000, but of course there are super expensive and super cheap ones too. Most hanko are made from wood or plastic, but more expensive ones are made from fancier materials.
Hanko typically are carved with just your family (last) name kanji, although some include a given (first) name as well. Titles (Doctor, Esquire, etc.) are not included. Unregistered hanko can usually have anything on them, but registered ones must have your legal name on it.
Foreigners can get hanko as well, but how their name is written can get a little weird, since personal hanko are less than 2cm in diameter, and so longer names often have to be abbreviated.
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