Seal
Japanese Name:
印鑑
Romaji Name:
inkan
Description
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An inkan (also known as a personal seal or stamp) is a small, carved stamp used in Japan to serve as an official signature. It is typically made of wood, stone, or plastic, and is used to stamp documents, contracts, and other paperwork to verify identity and approval. Inkan are widely used in both personal and business settings in Japan as a legal form of authentication.
History
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Seals have been used since ancient Mesopotamia around 3000 BC, where cylinder seals were pressed into clay for identification and authentication. In East Asia, especially in China and later Japan, personal seals became an important tool for official documents and personal signatures. In Japan, seals (called inkan or hanko) have been widely used since the Nara period (8th century) and remain an essential part of business and legal transactions today.