Hanko: Japan's Personal Seals and Why They Still Matter

A small carved stamp pressed in red ink has stood in for signatures in Japan for centuries, and it still turns up in everyday life.

Published October 20, 2026 at 2:33 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: A hanko, also called an inkan, is a personal seal pressed in red ink in place of a signature on Japanese documents. People use different seals for different purposes: a registered seal for major transactions, a bank seal for accounts and an everyday seal for small matters such as accepting deliveries. Foreign residents can often use a signature instead, but a registered seal may be required for larger legal procedures.

Anyone who spends time in Japan eventually meets the hanko, whether it is a staff member stamping a form or a delivery driver holding out a small red ink pad. The practice can look surprising to visitors used to pens, but it has a long history and a clear logic. This guide explains what a hanko is, the main types, how registration works, why the seals persist in a digital age, and what visitors and foreign residents actually need to know. It also shows how the practice is changing as government offices and companies move more procedures online.

What is a hanko?

A hanko is a seal carved with a name, usually in a round or square shape, that is pressed into red ink and stamped on paper. The mark it leaves is called an inkan, though in everyday Japanese the two words are often used interchangeably. In many situations the stamp carries the same weight as a signature in other countries.

Seals are made from many materials. Wood, plastic and stone are common, and more expensive seals may use harder stones, ivory or other materials. The seal is kept with a small ink pad, often in a compact case, so that it is easy to carry. Many people have more than one, each with its own use.

What are the main types of seals?

People commonly keep three types of personal seal. The jitsuin is the most formal and is officially registered with the local municipal office. It is used for significant legal matters such as buying property or a vehicle, taking out a loan or certain family and legal procedures.

The ginko-in is a bank seal, registered with a bank for account transactions. It is typically kept somewhere safe at home. The mitome-in is the everyday seal, a simple and inexpensive stamp used for routine matters such as signing for a package, confirming a utility payment or approving an internal memo at work. Artists also use a decorative seal called a gago-in to sign their work.

How long has the practice existed?

Seals in East Asia go back a very long way. The earliest known example in Japan is a gold seal dated to AD 57, known as the King of Na gold seal, which a Han dynasty emperor gave to the ruler of Nakoku. At first seals belonged only to the emperor and his closest followers, and nobles began using personal seals after about 750.

Samurai later adopted them as well, and red ink became associated with seals. Use spread widely once modernization began in the 1870s, and the Meiji era set up a national registration and certification system. That background explains why many Japanese institutions still treat the seal as a mark of authenticity and personal commitment.

How does seal registration work?

Registration takes place at your local municipal office. You bring the seal and identification, and the office records the impression and issues a registration card. The city can later issue a certificate of seal impression, which proves that a particular seal belongs to you. Large legal transactions often ask for that certificate.

Foreign residents can register a seal too. In Minato City in Tokyo, for example, registered foreign residents aged 15 or older can register a personal seal by bringing a residence card and the seal, and the name on the seal must match the name in the resident record. Requirements vary by city, so check with your local office before you order a seal.

Do foreigners need a hanko?

Usually not for daily life. Foreign residents can often use a signature in everyday situations, and many banks and companies accept signatures from foreign customers. A registered seal and certificate may be needed for specific legal procedures, such as buying property or a car, certain loans, a power of attorney or setting up a company.

If you do need one, a seal can carry your name in the Roman alphabet or in katakana, and some shops can render a name in kanji. The seal usually needs to match the name on your resident record, so confirm how your name is registered before you order. A seal shop can advise you on spellings and what the local office will accept.

What does a hanko cost, and where do you buy it?

Prices vary widely. Simple ready-made or machine-carved seals can be inexpensive, often a few hundred yen, while handmade seals from a specialist shop cost more, with wooden ones often starting at a few thousand yen. Stationery stores and hundred-yen shops sell ready-made seals, usually for common surnames.

For an important registered seal, a specialist shop is the safer choice, because a mass-produced seal is easy for someone else to duplicate. Costs change, so ask the shop for a current quote. Some stores have machines that carve a name in a few minutes, which is handy for visitors who want a keepsake.

Why do seals still matter?

They matter because they are woven into procedures and habits that have lasted for generations. Offices use seals to show who has read a notice, managers stamp proposals to approve them, and contracts are often sealed. The system also has a certain security logic, since a registered seal is hard to reproduce and has an official certificate behind it.

Seals also carry cultural meaning. Hand-carved seals are an art form, and regions known for making them are proud of the craft. Visitors who enjoy crafts may find a seal shop a fascinating place to browse.

How is the practice changing?

In 2020, the Japanese government began a push to reduce the use of seals in administrative procedures. Then Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga asked ministries to review their requirements, and ministries were urged to drop seal requirements for hundreds of procedures. The aim was to make paperwork more efficient and to move more services online.

The change is gradual. Some organizations and procedures have moved to signatures or electronic systems, while others still ask for a seal. Seal-making communities have voiced their wish to keep the craft alive, and for visitors and residents the practical result is a mix. As of autumn 2026, requirements can differ by office and company, so confirm what is needed with the organization involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a hanko and an inkan?

They are closely related words. Inkan is the broader term and often refers to the impression left on paper, while hanko usually means the seal itself, especially an informal one. In daily speech people use them almost interchangeably, so either word will be understood at a shop or counter.

Can foreigners use a signature instead of a hanko in Japan?

In many everyday situations, yes, and many banks and companies accept signatures from foreign customers. For certain legal procedures, such as property purchases or a company setup, a registered seal and certificate may be required. Ask the organization involved what it accepts before you order or register a seal.

How do you register a hanko in Japan?

Take the seal and your identification, such as a residence card, to your local municipal office and ask to register it. The office will record the impression and issue a registration card, and you can later request a certificate of seal impression. Rules on name format and fees vary by city, so confirm with your office.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Moving to Japan: Residence Card, Address Registration and the First Visit to City Hall, Opening a Bank Account in Japan as a Foreign Resident and My Number and the My Number Card: What Residents Should Know.