Japanese Boxwood Rakkan — the master-recommended artist’s seal for calligraphy and art.
A rakkan is the artist’s seal placed on a finished work of calligraphy, painting or other art. It is made exclusively for signing artwork — not for documents or everyday stamping — and is designed to become part of the composition itself.
Japanese boxwood (tsuge) is the material our master recommends for a rakkan. For generations the Tsukino family has arranged complex characters within the small end grain of wood — the precision that allows us to carve crisp, balanced seals, even very small ones for postcards and delicate works.
Why Japanese boxwood
- Light, durable and practical for regular use — made to be pressed again and again over many years.
- Fine, dense end grain that holds a sharp, lasting impression.
- A true Japanese tradition, not a substitute for stone: Nakamura Randai I, one of modern Japan’s leading seal engravers, carved boxwood seals for the painter Terasaki Kogyo, preserved today in Japan’s Cultural Heritage Online database.
Who it’s for
For calligraphers, painters and artists who want a precise, lasting signature seal for their work — whether it is your first rakkan or an addition to your set.
Choosing the Size
- 12mm — postcards and small works
- 15mm — hanshi, shikishi and small works
- 18mm — medium works
- 21mm — hankiri and hanging scroll works
- 24mm — large works
- 30mm — extra-large works
Shubun or Hakubun
- Shubun — the characters appear red against the paper. Often chosen for an art name seal.
- Hakubun — the characters remain white within a red field. Often chosen for a personal or formal name seal.
For a traditional pair, many artists order one of each.
RED INK
①Standard ink pad (included)
②Kamakura Vermilion in a gold chrysanthemum vessel — Artisan Seal Paste (option）+$55
Digital Hanko Data
①No digital file (included)
②Digital file of your Hanko impression (option) +$50 when purchased with this seal (regular standalone price $70)
