Japanese people use Seal (Inkan or Hanko) instead of signature.
In Japan, generally, people have Seal(s) and perform stamping a document on a daily basis, such as collecting a parcel, opening a bank account, showing that a document is officially approved and so on.
However, there is no law about Seal itself.
The system is operated by council ordinances and regulations. There are no uniform standards for a stamp.
In Japanese, Seal is called different words, such as Inkan(印鑑), In (印), Hanko (判子), Insho (印章).
Types of a stamp
1. Mitomein (認め印)
Most Japanese people own a Mitomein Just for convenience.
Also a Japanese legal entity generally possesses it for a daily business transaction.
2. Ginkoin (銀行印)
The stamp is used to open a bank account for an individual and a company.
3. Jitsuin(実印)
The stamp is the official stamp for an individual and a company and is registered at the local council where an individual person resides and at the Legal Affairs Bureau as a company to legally authenticate company documents.
After the registration is done, a certificate is issued.
I hope the information is useful.
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For more information
Japanese business start-up consultant
Shihoshoshi Lawyer
(Judicial Scrivener)
Akiko HORI