Hanko is a common sign stamp in Japan. If you planning to move or maybe you already living in Japan, you shall have Hanko in your hand as a replacement for your signature for many formal documents. For those of you who don’t live in Japan and bought Hanko, we found that many of you bought Hanko as a gift for loved ones, recently we also get orders from artists and painters who have started using Hanko as their signature art and martial artists who use them for their dojo and certificates.
In Japan, almost all Japanese people use Kanji on their Hanko, but as a foreigner you will have your choice of which writing script you prefer to use. Your Hanko is a representation of who you are on paper, so it’s a good opportunity to let your personality shine through.
One great way to create your unique signature is by transforming your name from Romaji (how it’s written in English) into Katakana and Kanji. There are thousands of kanji, and each one has numerous readings and interpretations. You’re free to choose your favorite kanji based on the sound of your name, so there are a lot of creative opportunities.
Here is an example of a Kanji name carved in one of our Wood Series Hanko.
GETTING STARTED:
Most foreigners living in Japan use katakana for their Hanko. Let’s take a look at one of the results of the Katakana design engraved on one of our Makie Lacquer Series. Isn’t it beautiful?
However, today many people start to change their foreign names to Kanji. To design your own Kanji name, it’s important to translate your name into Katakana first to see how it will be interpreted in Japan’s syllabic language. Here are some examples of common English names translated:
Robert → ロバート(Ro-baa-to)
Josh → ジョシュ (Jo-shu)
Samantha → サマンサ (Sa-ma-n-sa)
Olivia → オリビア (Oh-ri-bi-a)
Do you know how to pronounce your name in Katakana? The easiest way to know common names in Katakana is by Google Translate. But it is always better to ask native Japanese to confirm your Katakana. When you order a hanko, our staff confirm the pronunciation of your name if you are seeking a katakana mark.
Order a Hanko Now and We’ll Help You Translate Your Name
CHOOSING THE PERFECT KANJI:
After you’ve translated your name into Katakana, you might even choose some kanji that suit your personality and match the readings required to spell your name – this will require some independent research, or you can ask a Japanese friend to help you! Some people stick with katakana, especially if you are using your hanko for legal purposes, but many artists may choose a kanji name for themselves.
For example, let’s use the above-mentioned name, Robert. Robert has three syllabic sounds in Japanese: ROH, BA, and TO. Robert will be able to choose three different kanji to spell out his name.
Let’s start with the first sound, ROH ロ.
Here are some Kanji that can be read as “ROH” and their corresponding meanings:
露・Dew
炉・Furnace
路・Road
顱・Time
Robert is a fan of vehicles and driving, so 路 (road) is a good fit. Next, we’ll move on to the second sound in his name, BA バ.
場・place
波・wave
葉・leaf
刃・blade
Robert often draws inspiration from the sea, so 波 (wave) is a nice fit. Lastly, we’ll decide on a kanji for the third sound, TO ト.
徒・believer, disciple, religious follower
人・man
途・path, way
斗・time, instant/occurrence
Robert is quite philosophical, so 徒 (believer) is a nice fit. If we combine the three kanjis selected they come together to create: 路波徒・Road, Wave, Believer. (ROH-BA-TO)
路波徒・“believer of the way of the wave”
Let’s see how the results of the characters above are made into your Hanko design. For example, we use the design of the best-selling product in our store, Hand-Carved Rakkan-in (Square Artist Chop).
This is the process of making Japanese names with Kanji. If your name is Robert, you’re in luck!
If it’s not Robert, are you interested in creating your own Japanese name too? We provide free kanji consultation for every purchase of our Hanko. We are more than happy to help you determine the perfect fit for your Japanese name that suits your personality.
