Renting an Apartment in Japan: When a Hanko Is Requested (And What Alternatives Work)
If you have ever sat across from a Japanese real estate agent and watched them slide a stack of documents across the desk, you already know the feeling. The contract
Opening a Bank Account in Japan: Do You Need a Hanko as a Foreigner?
If you have ever walked into a Japanese bank armed with your residence card and a confident attitude, only to be handed a form asking for your inkan, you will
How to Register Your Hanko (Inkan Toroku): Step-by-Step for Foreign Residents
Most foreigners living in Japan encounter the hanko early—signing a lease, receiving a parcel, starting a new job. For a while, an unregistered stamp handles everything just fine. Then comes
Katakana vs Romaji vs Kanji on a Hanko: What Foreigners Should Choose
Choosing how your name appears on a hanko sounds like a small decision. It is not. The format you pick determines whether your stamp gets accepted at the bank, the
Hanko Size Guide: 10.5mm vs 12mm vs 13.5mm vs 15mm vs 18mm
When most people order a hanko for the first time, size is the detail they think about last—if they think about it at all. You pick a material, decide on
