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
People often hold multiple seals: a personal jitsuin for important matters, a mitome-in for daily use, and
Modern Japan is increasingly adopting electronic signatures and digital authentication, especially in government and business workflows.