Seals
In Japan, when filling in an application form at a public office, receiving important (registered) mail, or receiving home-delivery parcels, etc., a seal is used in the same way as a signature is used in other countries. For such purposes, usually a small general-purpose seal (mitome in) is used.

Official Seal (jitsu in) and Seal Certificate (inkan shomei sho)
The seal that is registered at the city, ward, town or village or other public bodies, is referred to as a jitsu-in (official seal).
The seal used as one’s offical seal is usually a little larger in order to prevent it from being forged.
Registration of the seal is made at a city, ward, town or village office.
The document certifying the official nature of one’s seal is called an inkan shomei sho (Seal Certificate).
When using one’s official seal, the Seal Certificate is often used as proof of the official nature of the seal.
In Japan, when buying land, a house, a car, etc., or when important contracts are involved, an official seal and seal certificate are required.


Registering a seal
Seal registration is a very important system that protects one’s property and rights.

(1)    Who can register a seal:
A person over 15 years old who has a fixed address in the city, ward, town or village, or a person registered as an alien can register a seal.
(2)    How to register a seal:
If the owner of the seal making the application brings the seal and their Certificate of Alien Registration (gaikokujin toroku shomei sho) to the public office, registration can be completed that day.
An application by proxy is also possible.
(3)    Registering one’s signature:
A signature (written by the individual) can also be registered instead of a seal.


Inkan Toroku Card (Seal Registration Card)
When you register a seal, a Seal Registration Card (inkan toroku card) is issued.  If the owner or a proxy presents this card to an official at the desk of a city, ward, town or village office and makes an application, they can obtain a copy of the Seal Certificate (inkan shomei sho).


Note 1    The authorities responsible for applications, procedures, services and the naming of these may vary according to the city, ward, town or village.
For details, ask a person who understands Japanese to enquire for you at your city, ward, town or village office.
Note 2    The information given is that confirmed as of July 2002. Note that a new system or system revisions may have been introduced after this date.

This information is from the CLAIR website. The Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) was established in July 1988 in response to rising concerns about local level internationalization in Japan.