In Japan, signatures for formal documents are not used. Instead, Japanese use a system where each person is required to have a personal seal made.  Since personal seals are easily copied, it is necessary to have everyone's personal seal registered in one data base for security reasons. A personal seal may be necessary to rent an apartment, buy a car, sign legal documents etc, and it is a necessary part of living in Japan.

Those under 15 years of age are not able to register.

How to apply
Necessary items:

• Inkan
• Completed Inkan application form (available from any city office information center). 
• Alien registration card
• Processing fee of 200 yen.

Only the romanized version of the name, as it appears on the passport and Alien Registration Card, or the katakana version of the name will be allowed.  In cases of  Chinese and Korean residents who choose to register their personal seal will Chinese character, this is also allowed.

Please see notes and restrictions below:

• Personal seals cannot be registered to more than one person.

• Inkans cannot be made of a material which is easily altered or destroyed ,ie. rubber

• The border of the inkan cannot be more than 1/4 of the size of the entire personal seal.

• Patterned borders will not be accepted.

• Personal seals must be circular, oval, or square, and cannot be less than 8 mm square, and no more than 25 mm square.

• Personal seals cannot be easily copied.

• Any part of your name can be used. For example, your first, middle, or last name are all acceptable, as long as the chosen name is on your alien registration card and passport. Initials are not allowed, nor is a shortened form of a name.