What is HANKO

There are roughly three types of HANKO for personal uses:
JITSUIN(registered seals),MITOMEIN(personal ordinary seals),
and YUUIN(hobby seals).

JITSUIN(registered seals)

samples of jitsuin

One must register the JITSUIN at a ward,city,town,or village mayor's office where the resident resides to identify that the seals actually belong the person registered.
The office issues an INKANSHOUMEI(certificate of JITSUIN)for each resident to certify the seals.
JITSUIN are required for important business documents,particularly financial transaction contracts.

MITOMEIN (personal ordinary seals)

samples of mitomein

In most companies,businessmen stamp their seals on documents they've written to signify that they will be responsible for the contents.
And seals are also used to express agreement in contracts,to give notices to government offices,to receive designated deliveries,etc.
So seals are necessary in business interactions and daily life in Japan.

YUUIN(hobby seals)

samples of yuuin

There are various hobby seals:
RAKKAN(using in calligraphy),HUUIN(sealing a letter),
ZOUSHOIN(for libraries)etc.
Many foreigners in Japan have these kinds of seals, and use them for many purposes.

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