The Evolution of Hanko: Personal Seals Leaving Their Mark On Japan

While Japan may seem lightyears ahead of other countries with some of its technology, vestiges of its past can still be seen, bridging the past and the present through seemingly small moments and actions in daily life. For anyone living in Japan, one of the most noticeable enduring traditions is that of the hanko or inkan, a personal seal used to sign official documents. 

History

The history of seals like this is closely linked with the start of civilization as we know it and can be dated back to ancient Mesopotamia. However, they only made their way to Japan around 57 AD. The oldest known Japanese hanko is said to have belonged to a ruler in northern Kyushu and was received as a gift from the Han dynasty of China. Crafted from gold, its design features a snake with its body coiled to form a handle for the snake.

The tradition truly took hold in the early 8th century when the imperial family began to use them to mark messages and decrees from the emperor. Since then, each emperor has had a unique seal in each era. Public use of these seals, however, wasn’t until much later. The seals were first popularized within the upper class and aristocracy and later spread to the samurai warrior class during the Kamakura period (1192-133). At the time, these seals would feature the family crest, rather than the family name as they do today.

During the Edo period (1603-1868) they were heavily regulated to help maintain social order, leading to a standardization of their creation and use. Then, during the Meiji period (1868-1912), when Japan was later pushed to open its borders to global trade, the need to adopt Western customs brought with it a law requiring the taking of surnames was put forth in 1875. Along with the surnames came the standardization and public use of hankos. 

Uses

Much like a signature in the Western world, hanko are used in a wide variety of situations from accepting a package to opening a bank account. However, different types of hanko are used for different tasks and paperwork

Jitsu-in, meaning “actual seal” are a type of personal seal that is used in an official capacity to sign for more serious tasks like purchasing a house, establishing a business, completing government documents, applying for loans, or even confirming job applications. Given their power, these must be officially registered with your local municipality. Once registered, you receive paperwork verifying the registration status of your hanko and proving it is legally valid. 

Ginkgo-in, meaning “bank seal” are exactly what they sound like. They are registered with the bank and used to carry out transactions and authorize the use of funds. Typically, foreigners do not need a ginkgo-in unless they are starting a business. 

Mitome-in are in everyday interactions like accepting packages, signing invoices, acknowledging bulletins, and verifying the receipt and reading of office documents. Families may even have a shared mitome-in with just their last name to make completing these tasks easier as any family member can use this seal. Similarly, there are sanmonban, also used informally for personal matters. Made from cheaper materials, they often come in a case with a self-contained ink pad. However, given their quality and replication levels, they may not be allowed on all forms.

Some people will use the same seal for all of these purposes but the less used your official seal is the better, as it adds a sense of security and makes it harder for your seal to be copied. A common practice is to keep the officially registered seal in a safe place and carry a cheaper version for daily use.

 For foreigners moving to Japan, you may not need a hanko but having one can help to avoid complicating processes while living there. If you are having a hanko made, it needs to include at least part of your legal given name (whole, last, first, or some combination of them). While locals are often able to fit their full name or full last name given the use of kanji, it can be much more difficult with foreign names given the small surface of the stamp, which is usually between 8 to 25mm. Foreigners can have their names written in katakana or English, but make sure it matches your official documents!

Types

While golden hankos may be an option for emperors and the like, most people have one made from wood and rubber. The cheapest wooden hanko sell for around 1300 yen while those looking for a bit of luxury can purchase hanko made from crystal, silver, gold or titanium for tens of thousands of yen. Seals can also be further enhanced by selecting a different font, like the curly blended scrawl of a traditional hanko or the sleek style of more modern versions. Hanko cases can also be a great way to reflect personal style. 

Wondering where to get one? There’s something for every budget. For those looking for a cheaper option, there are plenty of ordering platforms online. Many department stores also have engraving machines that can carve them out in a matter of minutes. Nowadays, brick-and-mortar hanko stores are harder to come by but they still exist and often have a wide selection of common names to choose from. 

You can also have your seal hand-crafted by experts, or in some cases, carve it yourself under the supervision of skilled craftsmen. These pieces can be on the pricier side given the skill and time it takes to make them but their quality is unmatched and it’s very difficult for them to be copied. For this reason, handcrafted hanko are often passed down as a family heirloom froom generation to generation. 

Unofficial hanko featuring standard names, common words, characters, and motifs like animals, flowers, and iconic Japanese imagery are available in hundred-yen stores like Daiso or Three Coins and can be a fun souvenir item. 

Hanko Vs. Inkan

There are two commonly used vocabulary words when it comes to these personal stamps and they are often used interchangeably, making them all the more confusing. One is the word “hanko” which refers to the physical stamp that is used to make the mark. 

Another commonly used word is “inkan”, however, this technically refers to the red ink pattern left by the stamp in place of a signature. The red ink, which is made with vermillion, is oil-based to resist water and fading. Borrowing from Chinese tradition, this color is still widely in use however, in less official capacity you may find other colors like blue or green. 

Present Day

Today, it is rumored that the Japanese government is in the process of phasing out the use of personal seals. During the pandemic, they were rendered unusable when the world turned to digital communications and transactions. Since then, plans have been set into motion with the government now having only 80 out of roughly 14,000 of its documents still requiring an ikan, and the private sector is quickly following suit. 

With that being said, the tradition of personal seals continues to endure within Japanese culture and art. Hanko are still commonly given as coming-of-age and wedding gifts, marking shifts into adulthood and the sharing of a name through this small but meaningful token. The idea of stamps is also woven into society with goshuin (shrine and temple seals collected by patrons), collectible train station stamps, and artist signatures. 

About the author: 

Nadine Pryor

Nadine first became interested in Japan and Japanese culture after working with an exchange program at her university. After hearing so many wonderful things from the exchange students she worked with she was longing for a chance to see Japan for herself. That opportunity came to her in the form of the JET program where she spent 5 years on a small island in the beautiful prefecture of Okinawa. While living in this very rural community of just under 1,300 people she was lucky to experience a glimpse into some of Okinawa’s unique traditions and culture. In her free time, she traveled the main island of Japan as well as eastern Asia, seeking out the most delicious foods and exciting experiences. She currently resides in the United States but hopes to return to Japan in the future.