Inkan, Hanko, All that Good Stuff!

[Mikawa Ossan]

Do you have one? Do you know what it is? Do you know the different kinds there are? How to get one? What they're used for? Let's talk about it!

We're talking about personal seals. Name stamps that are used in place of signatures in the West.

I have several, but I only really use two. I'll elaborate later!

Tell me about your experiences or questions!

[deadhippo]

I have never had one and I have been avoiding getting one. I don't really get them. I think its like having a password that you keep in a little box in a drawer in your house. It's like a password and a little not saying that whoever finds this should now look for my bank book and head on over to the local bank to withdraw all my money for an early retirement in Tahiti, or in my case, two weeks in Saipan.

[Mikawa Ossan]

Well, to do anything of real importance, one must have a registered inkan. Even having that is not in and of itself enough, as you must also have written certification of your registered inkan, which you can only get at city hall.

Do you have a car, Dead Hippo? I believe you need one to get a car (Sorry, it's been a while since I bought mine, and I'm not 100% sure on this one any more.)

I figure that when in Rome do as the Romans do, and therefore I try to use inkans and hanko at the appropriate times. It makes life a whole lot easier, to be sure!

[deadhippo]

I don't have a car and it looks like it might be a while before I get one.
On the other hand I managed to get 2 apartments, three bank accounts, 2 credit cards and all going well, 3 jobs and live here for 5 years without one. I'm even going to try and get married without one.
That said should the need arise I will get one.

Whether you need to get one for your car or not I don't know but just because someone tells you you need one doesn't mean it is so. My friend was recently told he needed one to get a bank account at the same place where myself and at least a dozen other people I know got one without.

I was even told that I needed one to join the gym near here. It wasn't true of course but I would need to get their credit card to join. So I didn't.

Apart from that, not having one hasn't been a hassle and even that only took a minute to resolve.

[Mikawa Ossan]

Did you have a　hoshonin for your apartment? I would bet you anything that he or she had to use a registered inkan to make the contract binding.

As far as bank accounts and such go, you may not absolutely need one, but I find it much less of a hassle if you do have one. I'm trying to remember once when I was refused some kind of service until I brought my inkan with me. That was some time ago... I think it had to do with insurance or something...

Also, for things in which you must have registered seal, I don't know whether there is the gaijin exception that lets you use your signature instead. I would guess not. At least not at any of the places that I do business at, anyway.

[deadhippo]

Did you have a　hoshonin for your apartment? I would bet you anything that he or she had to use a registered inkan to make the contract binding.
You don't have to bet but that is still no reason for me to get one.

I'm not saying that you don't need it for something but I have yet to come across a reason to get one.
Regading your bank issue, if you are like me and don't have an income you surely won't be refused service until you go home and get it. I guess in this case having an inkan was a disadvantage.

[Doug M]

This reminds me that I've always intended to get a hanko stamp. No, I don't need one here in the US but hey, it's unique. My old pal at Jun Gifts sells them at http://www.jun-gifts.com/personalizedgifts/hanko/hanko1/hanko1.htm (also see http://japan-cc.com/hanko.htm if anyone wants to see what we're talking about.)

Hanko stamps are not only used for official purposes. For centuries Japanese artists have used hanko stamps as signatures for paintings and works of art. There are online databases of these stamps used to trace the origin of art from Japan.

I realize that members in this discussion probably already knew this but I wanted to fill in the blanks for others who happen by. Interesting topic.

[deadhippo]

I learned something.

[deadhippo]

Well, I finally got a hanko. I have even used it once. I'm thinking of setting up a business and it seems I need one to do that in Japan.