How to Choose Your Hanko
A Hanko begins with your name, but it becomes something more: a personal mark shaped by purpose, character, material, and the hand of the engraver. This guide will help you find the one that feels unmistakably yours.
Hand-carved in Kamakura by fourth-generation, nationally certified master engravers.
There is no single “best” Hanko. The right one depends on what you want it to carry: your identity, a relationship, your art, a new beginning, or a legacy. Begin with meaning. We will guide you through every choice that follows.
What Will Your Hanko Mean to You?
Choose the purpose closest to what you have in mind. You can change direction at any time, and if you prefer, our master can make the final recommendation for you.
For Calligraphy and Art: The Rakkan Seal
The artist's final mark, designed to complete your work.
If your seal will sign calligraphy, painting or other artwork, you are looking for a rakkan. A rakkan is not simply a smaller hanko. It becomes part of the composition, so its size, shape and balance of red and white are designed around the work it completes. Our master recommends Japanese boxwood, the material that best expresses the Tsukino family's precision engraving since 1898. For a bespoke work of craft, choose Kamakura-bori.
How Should Your Name Be Expressed?
Your name can be carried into Japanese in more than one way. Some choices preserve its sound. Others add meaning. We consider pronunciation, balance, character meaning, and how the finished imprint will look as a whole.
.jpg)
Kanji
Characters chosen for both sound and meaning. Our master prepares balanced proposals and explains every character.
Meaningful gifts, milestones, collectors
Katakana
The most natural Japanese phonetic rendering of a foreign name. Clear, modern, and authentically Japanese.
Personal use, first Hanko, accurate pronunciation
Hiragana
A softer and more lyrical phonetic expression with a gentle visual rhythm.
Creative work, intimate gifts, selected names
Alphabet
Your original spelling re-composed as a seal design.
Brands, logos, international signatures
Master’s Choice
Tell us about yourself or the recipient. The master recommends the characters and balance.
Anyone unsure, premium commissions
VISIT THE KAMAKURA ATELIER
Kamakura gives KAMAKURA SIGNET its atmosphere: quiet, historical, disciplined, and deeply tactile. Here, each work is designed, carved, and finished in an environment where craft is not a trend, but a way of life. The result is a signet that carries the spirit of place as much as the name it bears.
Choose the Presence of Your Imprint
A seal should belong to the space where it will be used. Its shape and size change the balance of the characters, the surrounding white space, and the presence of the finished impression. Use the recommendations below as a starting point; the master considers your name and intended use before recommending a final design.
12 mm round
Compact
Small spaces and quiet personal marks
15 mm round · recommended
Versatile
A balanced starting point for a personal seal
18 mm round
More presence
Designs that benefit from more room
18 mm square
Subtle
Smaller artwork and delicate signatures
21 mm square · recommended
Balanced presence
A clear artistic mark with room for the design
24 mm square
Prominent
Spacious work with room for a defining mark
Choosing for artwork
Look at the actual paper or object, the intended position of the seal, the signature, and the available white space. The 21 mm square is our recommended starting point. On a smaller or more delicate work, 18 mm may sit more naturally; on a spacious composition, 24 mm can provide greater presence. Compare impressions at actual size before deciding.
The Master’s Perspective
We consider how many characters must fit, how the lines breathe within the outline, and how the imprint meets the surrounding work. The master reviews the design at its actual size before recommending the final proportion.
Choose the Character of the Line
The same name can feel entirely different depending on how each line is composed. Seal script is not a digital font applied to a product. It is a design drawn for one name, one shape, and one owner.
.jpg)
Tsukino Style
Our signature approach, shaped by brush calligraphy, balance, empty space, and the cultural atmosphere of Kamakura.
Graceful, individual, quietly refined
Tensho — Seal Script
An ancient script tradition with carefully structured, often symmetrical forms. The engraver adapts its lines to the name and the shape of the seal.
Historic, composed, dignified
Gyosho — Semi Cursive Script
Flowing brush strokes connect movement and expression while keeping the characters recognizable. The engraved design is composed for the chosen name.
Fluid, expressive, personal
Kaisho — Regular Script
Clearly defined strokes and orderly character forms give the name a direct, legible appearance. The final balance is still drawn for the individual seal.
Clear, structured, calm
Master’s Choice
The engraver selects the approach after considering the name, purpose, shape, and material.
The most coherent overall result
Choose What You Want to Hold for Years
Material changes the weight, texture, durability, rarity, and emotional presence of a Hanko. Natural variation is part of the work: no two pieces of wood, horn, amber, or stone are exactly alike.
Boxwood
Warm, traditional, light in the hand, and an ideal introduction to an authentic Hanko.
First purchase and thoughtful gifts
Precious stone and titanium
Exceptional weight, color, rarity, and presence.
Collectors and statement pieces
Betula Bark
Natural texture with a contemporary color palette and a distinctly tactile character.
Design-conscious customers
Kamakura-bori
The highest expression of KAMAKURA SIGNET, uniting the Hanko with the carved and lacquered heritage of Kamakura.
Heirlooms and collectors
Buffalo Horn
Dense, polished, durable, and visually deep. Each natural pattern is unique.
A lasting personal seal or premium gift
Century-old wood and amber
Rare materials with depth, history, and a strong sense of individuality.
Milestones and refined commissions
Find the Level That Feels Right
Every KAMAKURA SIGNET is individually designed and hand-carved in our Kamakura atelier. The collections differ in material rarity, scale, decorative craft, and the time required to create each piece.
First HANKO
Three clear entry choices by shape and size for a first authentic Hanko.
$98 to $180
Signature Collection
Award-winning Kamakura-bori Hanko and related lacquerware, produced in extremely limited numbers.
$510 to $1,300
Classic Collection
Seven approachable wood, bark, and horn choices with traditional or contemporary character.
$180 to $500
Precious Stone Collection
Sixteen stone and titanium works with exceptional weight, color, rarity, and presence.
$1,150 to $2,900
Masterpiece Collection
Eleven rare wood, amber, and horn works with greater material distinction and object presence.
$360 to $1,000
A clear and accessible first purchase
Pay securely with PayPal — encrypted checkout, buyer protection, and no card details shared with the seller.
Approachable Materials for Everyday Use
Pay securely with PayPal — encrypted checkout, buyer protection, and no card details shared with the seller.
Rare natural material and a refined heirloom
KAMAKURA SIGNET at its most distinctive
Color, weight, rarity, and statement presence
Chosen With Confidence Carved With Care
Every seal is designed, carved, finished, and tested in our Kamakura atelier by nationally certified master engravers. Before carving begins, we confirm the design with you. Most orders ship within 14 to 21 days after design confirmation, with tracked international delivery.
I do not know Japanese. Can I still order?
Yes. Enter your name in the Roman alphabet. We will guide you through the Japanese character options and explain their meanings in English.
Should I choose Kanji or Katakana?
Choose Katakana when accurate pronunciation and natural Japanese usage matter most. Choose Kanji when you want meaning as well as sound. If you are unsure, select Master’s Choice.
Can I see the design before carving?
Yes. We send the proposed design for confirmation before hand engraving begins.
Which size should I choose for my first Hanko?
For most personal names and gifts, 15 mm round is the most versatile starting point. The ideal size can change with name length and purpose.
Are all Hanko hand-carved?
A certified First-Class Skilled Craftsman—holding the highest level of national certification—performs every step of the process, from design and rough carving to finishing and stamping.
Do you ship worldwide?
Tracked international delivery is available to most destinations. Duties and taxes, where applicable, are determined by the destination country.