Shachihata (Self Inking Stamp)
Growing up with an unusual name left me out quite a bit while I was growing up. Unlike Matt or Gary, I couldn’t find personalized license plate names in the Time Square gift stores. Nobi just wasn’t there between Nick and Norman when I looked for key chains that proudly bore my name. So it wasn’t until I was on a trip to Japan that I learned about and purchased my first Shachihata – unique self-inking stamps used commonly by the Japanese as a means of signature and personalization.
Ink stamps have a long history in Japan. The Inkan, or Hanko, dates back to as far as 57 AD (though its Chinese counterpart dates back a couple of hundred years earlier) and was first used by the Japanese Emperor as an official seal. For the next 1800 years, only the emperor, noblemen and samurai could use personalized Hanko; it wouldn’t be until the Meiji Restoration when the modernization of Japan allowed for the general population to begin using Hanko as well.
Four basic types of Hanko dominated most of the 20th Century. The ‘Jitsu-in’ was used for legally binding documents. The ‘Ginko-in’ was used for banking. While these two types of stamps were often heavily guarded, households also kept a ‘Mitome-in’ to sign for postal deliveries and low-security documentation. Finally, artists employed ‘Gago-in’ as a method of signing their work.
When Shachihata were introduced, it revolutionized the way the Japanese used their stamps. No longer did they have to deal with both a stamp and a stamp pad – this meant less chance of creating a mess with stray ink or poor handling. Also, Shachihata always produced a consistent image, devoid of any uneven lines that as all know can come with not using the right amount of pressure. The cultural impact was so great that even though there are many types of these ‘inku-shintou-in’ (self-inking stamps), people just refer to them as Shachihata, much like we would refer to tissues ‘Kleenex’.
Today, by going to the Japanese Shachihata website, buyers can even order customized stamps online, just by entering their names in Kanji. The accompanying American website also allows for various levels of customization when you order, though obviously we don’t have as rich a stamp culture here. There are also of course the standard business stamps that many of us use around the office – yet perhaps knowing the history of Shachihata you will now see them in a whole new light.
Today, digital technology is making Hanko fraud easier in Japan, and eventually we may see their use become more of a formality, but the popularity of inku-shintou-in isn’t about to wear off. The use of Shachihata remains intact, especially when there is a possibility of all sorts of shapes and designs that can adorn everything from stationery to gift-wrapping. Maybe we’ll see a Shachihata revolution over in the US someday.
See what all the fuss is about at:
http://www.shachihata.co.jp/english/
For availability of their products in the U.S. and store locations, check: www.xstamper.com
————- Reported by Nobi Nakanishi
My stamp addiction forces me to stamp my signature over and over,
until the piece of paper is filled.
Here, you can see what it looks like when a normal person uses one.
The small Shachihata are great for all the little things
you have that can use a bit more flair.
Personalize your extra set of keys, notebook, or claim ownership
of the person sitting right next to you.
All photo images courtesy of Shachihata Inc.
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