Reception window

Citizen's Affairs Section

1st Floor, Urasoe City Hall

TEL: (098) 876-1234 (ext. 3065)

About personal seals / inkan

In Japan, personal seals (inkan　印鑑 or hanko　判子) are traditionally used instead of signatures. Although institutions increasingly allow foreigners to use their signatures, personal seals are still very handy for life in Japan. They can be made to order at stores all over Okinawa. In most cases, you can purchase an ordinary personal seal (mitome-in　認印) and begin to use it. Ordinary personal seals can be used at banks, at work, and for city-related documents.

A formal personal seal (jitsu-in　実印) registered at City Hall may be required to buy a white-plate car, and for various other procedures. Formal personal seals are considerably more expensive than ordinary personal seals. If you are told you need a formal personal seal, please bring the seal you wish to register as well as your residence card or passport.

Personal seals that cannot be registered

• Seals that are smaller than 8mm or larger than 25mm


• Seals that are engraved with a name other than your first or last name


• Seals that are made of rubber or plastic


• Seals that have a border more than 1/4 the size of the whole seal or are chipped in 2 or more areas

Nicknames are generally not acceptable for formal personal seals; however, you may register a nickname if and only if the nickname is registered alongside your real name on the Proof of Seal Registration. Because there are no regulations regarding personal seals, it is recommended to use your real name.

Notes on personal seals:

• The application form is available at City Hall for a nominal fee.


• You require proof that the name on the personal seal is one you actually use (e.g. bank book, health insurance card, car registration, etc.). Without this proof, only the romanized version of the name, as it appears on your passport, will be allowed. With the proof, the katakana version of the name will also be allowed.
  
  
  
  • As a general rule, Chinese and Korean residents are asked to create formal personal seals using Chinese characters, though providing the above proof would theoretically allow one to use katakana if desired.
  
  
  
  


• Personal seals cannot be registered to more than one person.