Request for a special Dan certificate for Godan and above

As a micro business working in a very niche market our client base is especially important to us and continuing to build relationships with groups is key. 

We have worked with HKA over a number of years and produce their dan grade certificates for them.

HKA's current dan certificate

However early in the year they wanted to explore the production of a senior grade certificate. 

We offer a standard template for groups that don't have anything particular in mind, which is based on a classic Japanese JKA style. Typically a standard international dan certificate will be in A3 portrait with an English translation at the base. It is common for Senior dan certificates to be A3 landscape with no English. 

 We may have mentioned before, "Custom is what we do best" and we are very proud that we are equally happy to drive the design process and finalise in a few days, or work with a very informed and experience group that may start with an "inception brief" and go through a number of reviews before they get the end result they are looking for. 

HKA's Completed Certificate for Godan and above

We don't normally get involved in arranging printing, but HKA's CI had asked if we could support for this occasion. 

We produced a certificate for the group in both a specialist parchment paper and in a 300gsm white glossy card so they could select which they preferred and sign ready for the presentation. HKA went with the parchment (which would have been my choice also), so the group has a A3 Portrait certificate, which is produced on white glossy card for Shodan to Yondan and a A3 Landscape certificate that is on parchment for Godan and above. 

I know I am biased, but i think it is important to recognise the difference between a senior dan grade which usually comes for 20+ years dedication of study. 

We were particular pleased to be involved in this project as the recipient was key in developing our relationship with the HKA. 

 Congratulations Colin, Oss!

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

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EKF Senior Dan Grade Certificates

Our Congratulations go to Doug James - 9th Dan, Ged Tumman - 8th Dan, Tomiyama Sensei - 9th Dan and Barry Tatlow - 9th Dan on your awards made by the EKF today, Sensei ni rei, Oss!

EKF Senior Dan Awards - July 2022

It was a great honour to be asked by the English Karate Federation to work with them to develop a fully custom certificate.

Doug James's - 9th Dan certificate

We did not use one of our standard templates for this project as the EKF had some essential elements that they wanted to incorporate. 

The certificate needed to be suitable for a multi-ryu organisation and needed to balance a Japanese heritage with a more diverse group of Associations.  

Ged Tumman's - 8th Dan Certificate

So if you are thinking of updating your certificates with either a full or semi custom version just drop us a e Mail and we can start developing a graphic for your approval.

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Certificates section shop page

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If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.

Fully Custom A3 Senior Dan Certificate

 Most of our certificates we design are templates where names and dates are added by ourselves to produce individual certificates or templates where associations complete these details themselves.

This job was quite different. We were asked by Hombu Dojo Karate International to work with them to produce a one off certificate for their Chief Instructor on promotion to 7th Dan.

The promotion was awarded by the HDKI Kokusai Shingikai (International Council /advisory body) so it is their kanji that appear in the vertical left hand column.

The members of the Shingikai are at the bottom of the certificate, so the layout is quite different to what a standard certificate awarded by an association may look like. 

There was quite a lot of correspondence between the UK, members of the International Council and advisors in Japan to agree on the final layout and exact kanji that were selected.

So to be honest we did not have too much involvement other than layout the customers requirements.

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Certificates section shop page

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If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.

A3 Senior Dan Certificate

We are excited to bring a "New" product to our portfolio of services.
A traditional International format A3 Senior Dan grade certificate, these are typically used for 6th dan and above and usually are produced in kana only with no international text.
We have produced a template that has kana in prominence, but also  provides all the information in English without taking away from the traditional Japanese roots.

Just double click on the image to bring up in your documents viewer.

There are many companies that offer a "template" service for Associations and some that will make one-off certificates, but these are understandably quite expensive.
We have developed with the assistance of existing clients a service which we hope will appeal to traditional karate associations that do not have a Japanese Honbu dojo.

The service is two-fold:-
(1) The development of your own personal A3 senior dan certificate template. 
The purple bits in the template above.
You can use use any of our six standard style formats of Wado Ryu, Shotokan, Shinto Ryu, Goju Ryu or Karate-do (at no additional cost) or choose to fully customise your style/name, logo and hanko to your association (for an additional cost).
You also choose up to two appointments for officials, their positions and names translated and appear vertically in the main text and horizontally at the base of the certificate, all included in the price.

(2) The production of Individual A3 senior dan grade certificates. 
The Blue bits in the template above.
Including serial number, candidates name translated into katakana, grade and date in kanji.

We have kept our costs as low as possible by producing an "Electronic" Service Only.
The template is held by Soto Sabisu to ensure all future certificates follow the same layout.
Individual certificates are sent to you in a high resolution pdf file format.

All you have to do is get them printed off at your local printers.
So there is no chance of them getting lost or damaged in the post and you have incurred no postage or insurance charges.

The Senior dan certificate explained:-
(a) Authentication Stamp - Usually only part is on the certificate and part in the associations record book. The border is not part of the pdf and part of this hanko should be off the printed area (please inform your printer). Hanko size 10 x 28mm You have a few options here:
   (i) Choose from one of our six standard style packs - free
   (ii) Custom to your template 3 or 4 kana developed between us.
   (iii) Leave blank - purchase a discounted red self inking stamp to apply after you receive the certificates from your printer. Standard cost less 25% 
(b) Ordinal number prefix - dai
(c) Serial number - This is in the top right of the certificate in kanji and lower down on the certificate in English. You can advise what ever format you want, perhaps the last two digits of the year followed by 001 upwards, it is up to you.
(d) Ordinal number postfix - go
(e) Style / Association hanko - Hanko Size 38 x 38mm. Again you have a few options here:
   (i) Choose from one of our six standard style packs 
   (ii) Custom to your template up to 16 kanji / kana developed between us. 
   (iii) Leave blank - purchase a discounted red self inking stamp to apply after you receive the certificates from your printer. Standard cost less 25% 
(f) Logo - Again you have a few options here:
   (i) Choose from one of our six standard style packs 
   (ii) Custom to your template - Convert your image to a vector by tracing 
   It would need to be a good quality - high resolution image or
   (iii) A fully custom discounted vector image logo - Standard cost less 25% 
(g) Style / Association name in kanji or kana. Options:
   (i) Choose from one of our six standard style packs - free
   (ii) Custom to your template up to 16 kanji / kana developed between us. - if you have picked option (ii) in (e) above we will re-arrange the kana from your hanko in a horizontal format - free
(h) Style / Association name in English.
(i) Kanji for Sho - this means proof. The Japanese for certificate is Shomeisho and this is just an abbreviation.
(j) Name of recipient - We will provide a free translation into katakana. We can also use an existing translation from an old certificate or Obi if preferred.
(k) Grade in Formal Number kanji - These are not the same as the kanji used in the serial number but the kanji used on bank notes. These are designed to protect against forgery.
(l) Main text - It translates to superiors' examination result, line up with the (grade) ranks.
(m) Date - The imperial calendar is used because this is an official document. The first two characters are Heisei the current Emperor of Japan. The years of his reign followed by the month and day of this year.
(n) Official 1 Title - In this example Chairman has been used
(o) Official 2 Title - In this example President has been used.
You will need at least one official but it is not necessary to have two.
(p) Name of Official 1 - in katakana
(q) Name of Official 2  In katakana
We will provide a free translation into katakana. We can also use an existing translation from an old certificate or Obi if preferred.
(r) not used
(s) Hanko of Official 1 - Hanko Size 13.5 x 13.5 mm. Again you have a few options here:
   (i) Choose from one of our standard title hanko - free
   (ii) Custom to your template up to 9 kana developed between us. 
   (iii) Leave blank - purchase a discounted red self inking stamp to apply after you receive the certificates from your printer. Standard cost less 25% 
(t) Hanko of Official 2 - As (s) above

How to Order an electronic template (kept by Soto Sabisu)
Just drop us an E Mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com with a few details:
Name of Association:
Your Name:
Your Position:
Your requirements for
(a) - hanko                          e.g. as Style pack 1 (Wado ryu) etc
(e) - hanko                          e.g. as Style pack 1 (Wado ryu) etc
(f) - logo                             e.g. as Style pack 1 (Wado ryu) etc     
(g) - Kanji                          e.g. as Style pack 1 (Wado ryu) etc
(h) - Style/Association       e.g. as Style pack 1 (Wado ryu) etc
(n) - Title 1                         e.g Chairman
(o) - Title 2                         e.g. (not required)
(s) - hanko                          e.g. Chairman
(t) - hanko                          e.g. (not applicable)
The certificate template will be developed with you and a proof sent for your approval.

How to Order electronic custom certificates
Again just drop us an E Mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com with the following details:
Date of Examination
List of names and grades attained
Format of registration numbers to be used

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Certificates section shop page

Top Tip

If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.