A Personal Seal for Your Life in Japan
Hand-crafted jitsuin and bank seals for foreign residents, made in our Kamakura atelier and available in person or online.
A registered seal or bank seal carries your name into important moments. At KAMAKURA SIGNET, fourth-generation artisans design and carve each seal with care, creating a personal mark that is both useful and beautiful.
Which Seal Do You Need?
A jitsuin is a personal seal registered with the municipality where you live. When a procedure requires a registered seal, you may also need an official seal registration certificate. A ginkoin is a seal registered with a bank for an account that uses a signature seal. Some banks and account types do not require one. Check the requirements of your bank before ordering.
Can Foreign Residents Register a Seal?
Foreign residents who are recorded in a municipality’s resident register may be eligible to register a personal seal. The characters on a registered seal must correspond to a name or accepted name notation in the resident record, under the rules of the municipality where you live. Before we design your jitsuin, tell us your municipality and the name notation shown on your resident record. We can then discuss a suitable layout.
What names can go on your official seal (Jitsuin) in Japan?
Example name on Residence Record: SMITH EMILY ANNE
(Family name: SMITH / Given name: EMILY / Middle name: ANNE)
1. Full name — exactly as on your Residence Record
- SMITH EMILY ANNE / スミス エミリー アン
2. Family + Given name — middle name omitted
- SMITH EMILY / スミス エミリー
3. Registered alias (Tsūshō) — only if the alias is on your Residence Record
- 山田 エミリー / 山田 / エミリー
4. Family OR Given name only — one name is enough
- SMITH / EMILY / スミス / エミリー
5. Family + Middle name — given name omitted
- SMITH ANNE / スミス アン
6. Given + Middle name — family name omitted
- EMILY ANNE / エミリー アン
7. Full name with initials — keep one name in full, shorten the others
- S. A. EMILY / SMITH E. A. / スミス エ・アン
Notes
- Your seal must match the name on your Residence Record (Jūminhyō).
- Katakana or alphabet may be used. Rules can vary by city — please check with your city hall.
- Size: generally larger than 8 mm and within a 25 mm square.
Rules vary by municipality — please confirm with your local city hall.
See How Different Names Become an Impression
Roman letters, katakana and a name officially recorded in kanji can each create a different visual rhythm. We design the lines and spacing for the name you are entitled to use for your intended purpose. A long name may call for an adjusted layout or a different size. We will discuss the options before carving.
A Functional Work of Art
A seal can be a practical object and a piece of Japanese craftsmanship. Every curve, line and space contributes to the impression it leaves. We consider the shape of your name, the material in your hand and the balance of the finished mark. The result is made to be used and kept for years.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SEAL SIZE
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SEAL SIZE
Common sizes and name styles by seal type
Available diameters:
18 mm / 16.5 mm / 15 mm / 13.5 mm / 12 mm / 10.5 mm
Official Seal (Jitsuin)
- Men: 18–15 mm — Full name
- Women: 15–13.5 mm — Given name, written horizontally
Bank Seal (Ginkō-in)
- Men: 15–13.5 mm — Family name, written horizontally
- Women: 13.5–12 mm — Given name, written horizontally
Everyday Seal (Mitome-in)
- Men: 13.5–12 mm — Family name, written vertically
- Women: 12–10.5 mm — Family name, written vertically
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.
Made in a Fourth-Generation Kamakura Atelier
Our family’s seal-making tradition began in 1898. Today, the fourth generation continues the work in Kamakura. Both artisans are certified First-Class Seal Engraving Craftspeople. We listen to how you intend to use your seal, design the impression around your name and carefully carry it through carving, finishing and a final test impression.
Visit the Atelier or Order Online
Your seal is designed and crafted by the same artisans in our Kamakura atelier, whether you visit us or order online.
Clear Details Before We Begin
Registered seals and bank seals start at $98. After you order, our artisan prepares a design for your review. Once you confirm it, we carve and finish your seal. Most orders ship within 14–21 days of design confirmation. We deliver within Japan and ship internationally; delivery time after dispatch depends on the destination. See the product page for the final price and available delivery options.
Explore Your Seal
Registered seals and bank seals start at $98. Begin with a material that feels right to you. We will help you choose a design appropriate for your name and intended use. Each seal is individually made in our Kamakura atelier.
Questions We Often Hear
Can I include my middle name?
Tell us the name recorded on your resident record and where you live. Your municipality decides whether a proposed impression can be registered; we will discuss a layout based on its rules.
Can my seal be in katakana?
It may be possible when the relevant katakana notation is recorded and accepted by your municipality. Confirm the rules of your local office before ordering a jitsuin.
Can I use kanji chosen for the meaning of my name?
We can discuss an artistic kanji seal. For official registration, however, the characters must meet your municipality’s rules for the name on your resident record. A newly created kanji name is not automatically eligible.
Will my full name fit on a 15 mm seal?
It depends on the characters and the layout. Round 15 mm is our starting recommendation, and we may suggest another layout or size for longer names.
How to Choose Your Seal
Step 1
Choose its purpose. Do you need a seal for municipal registration, a bank account that requires a registered seal, or both?
Step 2
Confirm your name notation. For a registered seal, check the name shown on your resident record and the rules of your municipality. For a bank seal, check with your bank what it accepts.
Step 3
Start with a round, 15 mm seal. We recommend this size because it gives the artisan room to balance many names. Longer names or particular layouts may need individual advice; 15 mm does not guarantee that every full name will fit.
Step 4
Choose the material. Wood offers a warm, natural feel. Black buffalo horn offers a smooth, dark finish. Ask us about the appearance, feel and care of the materials currently available.
Step 5
Order in person or online. Share your name, intended use and preferences. The same Kamakura artisans will make your seal whichever route you choose.
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 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.
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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
