Japanese Element Symbols | Japanese Culture: Seal of JapanArchive

In Japan, a "seal" is used instead of a signature.

The case which a seal is used for

Notarial deed.
Real estate deal.
Various procedures in government and municipal offices.
The buying and selling of telephone subscription right.
Receipt of insurance and security money.
Registration of marriage.
The registration of a birth.
Establishment of bank account.
Receipts and payments of deposit.
Registered mail and package.
The receipt of parcel delivery service.
The registration seal at the time of the company establishment.
Draft and check of the company.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　...etc. Japanese seal

In Japan, the seal is used in various scenes besides these.

Moreover, as for both juridical person and individual, use of the seal is basic in Japan.
In the world, there are few countries where a seal is used routinely.

The roots of the seal came at Japan through China from old Mesopotamia of 5000 years ago (present Iraq ).
But, in present Iraq and present China, the seal isn't needed for the life of a civilian.

It is a thing after the Meiji era[1868-1912] that a seal came to be used for general people in Japan.

"The necessity of the seal" for the Japanese.

Intention verification of the person :
The tacit rule that the will of the person is confirmed by the act that a seal is pushed.

Document of building management

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The handwriting and sealing are used to prove the person in question's intention confirmation to be correct.

Proof of identity of person in question :
Only the person has the stamp of person in question's family name, and only the person in question has the registered seal to which the stamp is registered.

There is "top and bottom" to a Japanese seal !

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Look at the left image.
Is the hollow of a seal visible to you?

This is a hollow to show the upper part of the stamp.

By attaching an index finger to this hollow and sealing a seal, the print of a seal serves as an exact direction.
An upper position is shown by the hollow, the sticker, and the projection, etc.

A seal with various names.

Gomu-in

In Japan, the seal is called by various names.

Inkan, Insho, Hanko, Mitome, Mitome-in, San-mon-ban, Gomu-in, shachihata, etc.
[The name shown with the orange is common.]

"In-kan, in-sho, and Hanko" are the collective names of a seal.

In addition, "Shachihata" is a stamp manufacturer name of Japan.
The true brand name "X stamper."

But, people in most Japan are calling "X stamper" "Shachihata".
The reason is that the company "Shachihata" that invented X stamper was an unnamed company until X stamper is developed.

Because goods called X stamper have sold explosively, the company name "Shachihata" became famous rather than the brand name "X stamper ."

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This is "Hara" of my family name.

The Japanese who invented X stamper.

"X stamper" was invented by "Mr. Takaji Funahashi" who is a founder of Shachihata. Mr. Takaji Hunahashi who is founder of Shachihata

舟橋高次 [Takaji Funahashi]

He used "the glycerin which absorbs moisture in the air" instead of "the early water-soluble ink of evaporation", and succeeded in invention of the ink pad with which ink does not get dry.

A lot of hardships and long years were necessary by the time it reached the success.

The technology was applied to the seal and present "X stamper" was invented.

SHACHIHATA which has developed the original idea one after another with the time is the way of thinking flexible from now on and passion, and is the companies which continue challenging the production of goods which produces new value.