inkan

Inkan, written 印鑑 in Japanese, is a personal seal used in Japan to authorize documents and contracts, functioning in practice as a signature. An inkan is typically carved from stone, wood, or resin and bears the owner's name in kanji, katakana, or occasionally romaji. When used, the seal is pressed into red ink paste (shuniku) and stamped onto paper to leave a distinctive imprint.

Inkan is part of a broader system of stamps known as hanko. The main distinction is between registered seals (jitsuin) and everyday or unregistered seals (mitome-in). Jitsuin is registered with the local municipal government and carries legal weight for many transactions, including real estate and official documents. Mitome-in is commonly used for routine administrative tasks and carries no special legal status. A separate seal, the bank seal (ginko-in), is commonly used specifically for banking purposes. Companies may also use a corporate seal (kaisha-in) to authorize corporate documents.

People often hold multiple seals: a personal jitsuin for important matters, a mitome-in for daily use, and a ginko-in for banking. The use and security of inkan are important, as forgery or unauthorized stamping can have legal consequences. Seals are often registered under the name of the owner, and their design can influence the ease with which they are verified.

Modern Japan is increasingly adopting electronic signatures and digital authentication, especially in government and business workflows. Nevertheless, inkan remains widely used in everyday life, property deals, and many contractual processes, reflecting a long-standing cultural and legal practice.