Japanology Plus: Season 2022, Episode 10

2022 - 10: Name Stamps and Seals

For hundreds of years, Japanese have used name stamps, known as Hanko, to prove their identity. People use stamps in everyday situations, such as receiving a parcel, and in formal contexts, such as business transactions. Our guest, Hanko carver Kobayashi Shigehito, shows us how a Hanko is made by hand. We also learn how the move towards remote working, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, is affecting how Hanko are used.