Award-Winning Japanese Seal Craftsmanship
National Gold Prize recognition.
Two award-winning artisans.
Your personal hanko.
At KAMAKURA SIGNET, your hanko is created by Mitsuhiro and Chieko Tsukino, a husband-and-wife team of nationally certified First-Class seal engraving artisans.
In 2026, Mitsuhiro received the sole Gold Prize in the Mokkou Mikkoku fine-detail engraving category at Japan’s National Seal Engraving Skills Competition. In 2025, both artisans received Gold Prizes in their respective categories at the Chugoku Seal Engraving Competition in Japan.
These achievements reflect the skills we bring to the design, engraving and finishing of your personal seal.
A Ritual in Four Steps
We don't think of these as "production steps." Each seal moves through four stages, each with its own Japanese name and its own focus — and every stage happens here, by our hands alone.
1
Kanso 観想
Quiet Study
字入れ
Before the blade touches anything, there is silence. The master studies your name, your character, and how it should sit — finding the right balance and spacing the way stones are placed in a Zen garden.
2
Botto 没頭
Full Immersion
粗彫り
Cutting away the empty areas. Lost in the work, the master's bold, confident strokes give the seal its strength and life.
3
Seishin 整心
Calm Precision
仕上げ
The most exacting stage. A difference of just 0.1mm changes the dignity of the whole imprint. With a calm, steady mind and controlled breath, the master refines every line.
4
Zanshin 残心
Lasting Care
捺印
A Japanese idea meaning "the spirit that remains" even after an action is finished. The master's attention doesn't relax until the very first press of red ink onto paper — the moment your mark enters the world.
The Sole Gold Prize in Fine-Detail Engraving
2026 · 26th National Seal Engraving Skills Competition · Mokkou Mikkoku
Organized by the All Japan Seal Industry Association, this biennial event is the largest competition in Japan’s seal industry. The 2026 competition brought together 151 works across nine categories from artisans throughout Japan.
Mitsuhiro Tsukino received the only Gold Prize awarded in the Mokkou Mikkoku category, which focuses on intricate engraving on the end grain of wood. This recognition highlights the precision and control demonstrated in his award-winning work.
Extraordinary Detail in Just 30 Millimetres
Lines as fine as approximately 0.1 mm.
Within a 30 mm square seal face, Mitsuhiro engraved a serene Buddhist figure holding a lotus flower. The folds of the robes, the gestures of the hands and the delicate ornamentation are expressed through carefully controlled lines.
At their finest, these lines measure approximately 0.1 mm. Each cut requires concentration, a steady hand and close attention to the relationship between the engraved surface and the printed impression.
The same attention to balance, spacing and detail guides the lettering and finishing of the hanko we create for our customers.
Two Artisans. Two Gold Prizes.
The first husband-and-wife Gold Prize recipients in the history of the Chugoku Seal Engraving Competition.
In 2025, the Chugoku Seal Engraving Competition in Japan received 121 works across five categories. Mitsuhiro and Chieko Tsukino each received a Gold Prize in a different category, becoming the first husband-and-wife pair to achieve this distinction in the competition’s history.
Mitsuhiro received Gold in the Mokkou Jitsuin category for personal seal engraving, and Silver in the Mokkou Kakuin Shoten category for square seals in small seal script. Chieko received Gold in the Mokkou Kakuin Kointai category for square seals in traditional kointai script.
Their individual achievements reflect the complementary skills they bring to their work together.
Made by the Artisans Behind the Awards
Both nationally certified. Both Gold Prize recipients.
Mitsuhiro and Chieko both hold Japan’s national First-Class qualification in seal engraving.
Mitsuhiro consults with customers, designs the lettering and undertakes the rough carving. Chieko carries out the finishing, checks the printed impression and prepares the completed seal for delivery.
From the arrangement of your name to the final impression, your hanko passes through the hands of two artisans who have each earned recognition for their craft.
A Craft Refined Every Day
Zen practice, calligraphy and continuing study in Kamakura.
Mitsuhiro’s daily practice includes morning zazen meditation and calligraphy. He continues to study engraving under his teacher, Yutaka Nagasawa, returning to the fundamentals while refining his technique.
In the workshop, tools inherited from his grandfather remain in use. Preparing, maintaining and handling these tools is part of the care that goes into every seal.
These routines sustain the concentration, understanding of letterforms and respect for materials that shape our work.
This Craftsmanship, Your Name
A personal Japanese seal for your art, your signature or a meaningful gift.
A personal hanko begins with your name and how you wish to use it. We help you explore lettering, materials and the balance of the design, creating a seal that feels personal to you.
Whether you are choosing a signature seal for your artwork, a keepsake from Japan or a gift for someone important, our award-winning skills guide the design and finishing of your hanko.
Tell us about the name and meaning you would like your seal to carry.
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.
