Seal Registration
In Japan, there are various occasions you should use a seal (“inkan”). A seal is required when you rent a room, make a bank book, buy a car, and go through procedures at the governmental office and/or at work. As you can see, Japan is “Society of Seal”.
Especially, a registered seal is very important and you should register your seal very carefully.
・Who can register a seal?
Anyone who is 15 of age and older and registered as a citizen of Kakegawa City
・How can you make your own seal?
You must order your own seal (“inkan”) at a special “inkan” shop. A seal which is mass produced such as ones being sold at 100 shops cannot be registered because there are some cases where you seal is used for bad ends and, even worse, your property gets stolen.
When you order your seal, use characters shown on your residence registry (“Jumin-hyo”) as your name. A seal can be made with your alphabetized name if it is registered on the residence registry.
You can use characters (Kanji, Hiragana, or Katakana) of your commonly used name for your own seal ONLY IF it is registered.
When you order your own seal, please make sure to include both your family name and given name. Your name on a seal cannot be abbreviated.
Since it costs thousands or even ten thousands, it is recommended that you visit the city hall and ask its advice for ordering your own seal.
・Where can you register your seal?
The seal registration can be accepted at the City Hall (Counter #2 at public affair division), Daito Branch, and/or Osuka Branch. Please make sure that a registrant come and apply for the seal registration in person.
・What should you bring for the seal registration?
Ordered seal, Zairyu Card, Seal Registration Application
Note: Your seal registration can be completed on that day but please note that it may take time for the registration procedure.
There are some cases where you are asked to re-order your seal or to register your commonly used name. In those cases, your seal registration cannot be completed that day and you have to come back for the procedure again. Please allow enough time for the seal registration.
Once the application process is completed, a personal seal registration card (the”Card”) will be issued to you. You need the “Card” for the issue of a personal seal registration certificate (the “Certificate”). The “Certificate” cannot be issued without the “Card”.
If you do not understand how to fill in the application form, please ask at the counter.
・Registration Fee
The issuance of a personal seal registration certificate also costs 300 YEN.
The seal registration fee is 300 YEN.
・Issue of Certificate
Please fill in the application form and submit it with your personal seal registration card. No seal is needed this time.
You will be charged 300 YEN for the issuance of the certificate.
・In case you lost your personal seal registration card
If you misplace your personal seal registration card, the personal seal registration certificate cannot be issued. In that case, you need to register your personal seal all over again and will be charged for the re-registration.