The Brisbane Japanese Language
and Culture School

The hanko  (判子) is a traditional seal used in Japan as a substitute for a signature on official documents, contracts, and other paperwork. Typically made from materials such as boxwood, a hanko  is a cylindrical piece measuring 10–20 mm in diameter, or occasionally square, with the owner’s name intricately engraved on one end. Interestingly, Japanese banknotes also feature a red hanko  imprint as part of their design. History of the Hanko The use of hanko  has ancient origins