Instead of signatures, Japanese use personal seals
(stamps) engraved with their name. This is also called using a
hanko. Contracts are invalid without such seals, and to live and
work in Japan it is vital to understand the use of the inkan.
Three major types of inkan are generally used:
Maruin, kakuin and ginkoin.
Maruin
(round seal)
The seal of the company representative, usually round in shape
and about 18mm in diameter. The maruin is used to formalize contracts.
Kakuin
(square seal)
The seal with the company's name used for various reasons although
possessing little binding legal authority. Contracts sealed with
the kakuin but not the maruin are sometimes declared invalid.
An inkan is used to deliver an official seal to public offices,
which will issue notarized certificates of this seal upon demand.
Business offers are normally accompanied by official documents
with notarized seals.
Other stamps widely used at companies include the following:
Shinten
("Confidential")
Relatively important documents are put in an envelop, which is
inscribed with the name of the intended recipient and stamped "Confidential."
Naturally, only the person designated is supposed to open it.
Maruhi
("Secret")
This seal means the document must not be taken outside the office
or copied without special permission.
Boin
("Thumbprint")
When one is not carrying the personal seal, the thumbprint of the
right hand may be used. But strictly speaking, it is not accepted
in business matters.
Sammonban
("Ready-Made Seal")
The inkan must be specially made to serve their purpose as the
signature. Sammonban are cheap, massproduced inkan for use on documents
of limited importance.
印鑑
