Becoming an Adult
Each country or culture has an age where a person is considered an ‘adult’, ready to take on new responsibilities like working and voting* , but also partake in recreations like drinking alcohol or gambling. In Japan, the legal age of adulthood is 20, known as ‘hatachi’. For many young people and their families, turning 20 is a big deal, and the occasion is marked by a ceremony held on the second Monday of January, known as Seijin-shiki (成人式).
Between scenes of young people dressed to the nines in suits for the men and a type of Kimono known as Furisode for the women during the day and lively drinking and partying at night, it can be easy to forget that the day is meant to mark one’s transition into an age that carries a lot of new responsibilities, hopes, and opportunities. Because of this significance, a popular gift for the occasion is a Jitsu-in Hanko.
A Hanko for Everybody
A Jitsu-in is meant to accompany a person throughout their adult life, from finding employment to getting married, to buying a house. This is the reason why many choose one made from a long-lasting material that will retain its beauty over the years to come.
For men, a popular choice is the Titanium Inkan. The metal feels weighty in the hand, and the material’s superb durability means it won’t chip or scratch easily. The Kanji for titanium is written as 「鈦」with the radicals on the left and right meaning ‘wealth’ and ‘abundance’ respectively. It is for this reason that the Titanium inkan is said to bring good fortune!
Signifying luck in romance, family, and friendship, Pink Crystal is the symbol of love and is the Hanko material many new adult women choose. Some may opt to carve their first name instead of their last on their Jitsu-in, as women usually change their last name when getting married. Their first name, on the other hand, accompanies them for life, just like a Hanko. For this reason, there are people who believe that having their first name carved will bring good luck.
*Legal voting age in Japan is now 18.