How to Write Your Name in Katakana (With Examples) + How It Affects Your Hanko
One of the first practical questions foreigners face in Japan is deceptively simple: how do you write your name here? Not in a poetic sense — in a bureaucratic one.
Japanese Workplace Etiquette for Foreigners: The Practical Guide (Meetings, Email, and Punctuality)
Starting a job in Japan without understanding Japanese workplace etiquette for foreigners is a bit like arriving at a formal dinner without knowing the dress code. You can muddle through,
Japan New Arrival Checklist (Foreigner Edition): 12 Steps to Set Up Life Fast
Moving to Japan is one of those life decisions that feels exciting right up until you’re standing in a ward office with a stack of documents you don’t fully understand,
Digital Hanko Guide: Using a Japanese-Style Stamp on PDFs for Remote Work
Remote work changed a lot of things about how people in Japan handle documentation. Physical desks, shared printers, and office stamp pads became inconvenient almost overnight for a significant portion
Hanko vs Signature in Japan: What Documents Still Prefer Stamps in 2026?
Japan has been reforming its relationship with paper for years. Ministers have made headlines, deadlines have been set, and the word “digitalization” has appeared in more government press releases than
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
