Club and examiner's hanko

 We worked with Soncho Karate Club to produce a club and examiners stamps.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Club and personal hanko

 A personal and club hanko for all your stamping needs.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Kengona Hanko

 堅固な = Kengona which means solid / firm /steadfast. The first kanji on its own can also be used to represent the same meaning. The graphic was provided by the client and converted to a vector image for the hanko.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Shodan to Yondan stamps

Shodan to Yondan hanko.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Grading Examiner Stamp

We have recently made up a grading stamp for a newly qualified  grading examiner.

Although only a small gift from their club, was does it signify?

Well for the recipient it signifies, twenty years of karate, attainment of Sandan, recognition as a club level instructor by his association, undertaking a written exam and responding with consideration drawing on all of the experience gained in his journey so far.

Small Stamp = Big Achievement.

Personal stamp for grading books

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Custom Club Stamps

Although we make mainly traditional Hanko we can also work with you to make any custom club stamp to suit your needs.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Hanko for a New Association

A square 24 x 24mm Association hanko and an oval 16 x 11mm personal Hanko. 

The hanko have been made with our standard block style font, we also offer a brush style font and in collaboration with a partner in Japan, we can now offer a seal script font at a small additional cost. 

We also produce round 12mm personal stamps and larger 38 x 38mm square Association stamps for Dan grade certificates etc. Our stamps are self inking and last for many years, additional ink pads are available if they ever run out.

Above is the work up of the design for the hanko from our graphics suite.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Personal and Shotokan Tiger Hanko

We recently manufactured a couple of small 12mm hanko, one was a traditional layout of a surname and one was a Shotokan tiger.

We were apprehensive that the resolution for the tiger may be too low as there is a lot of detail in the design, but we think it works.

If you are thinking of ordering a Shotokan tiger, depending on the application it will be used for it may benefit from being a little bigger.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Dragon Hanko

We recently manufactured an oval hanko which incorporated a Christian name and a image of a dragon.

A little different from a traditional layout, but custom is what we do best.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Personal Inkan in kanji

We recently manufactured self inking stamps for use in grading books for an exiting customer.

They have a Nafudakake (Name board) where all the members names are represented in kanji.

They sent us the representations that they wanted to use and we made some graphics in both a round and oval format.

They selected the round stamps and here are the finished hanko ready for posting

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Personal Hanko for grading books

We recently manufactured square self inking stamps for use in grading books for the Southwest Karate Association.

The work up in the graphics package

We translate the names and import them into the software. The font was then reduced in size and individually spaced vertically. The font was increased in width by 25% to "fill" the hanko and SKA was embolded and added.

The graphics for the individual stamps

The finished hanko ready for posting

Personal hanko are normally round or oval, but  our client wanted to use Christian and Surname and SKA. So it is a bit of a hybrid between a personal an organisational stamp. The Square format is traditionally used for a business, club or Association etc, but we like how they turned out and ideal for the clients requirements.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Square Personal Hanko

We recently manufactured a square self inking stamp for use in grading books.

Personal Hanko are normally round or oval, but to get a good "fit" for Christian, Middle and Surname  we were asked if we could design to a square format.

The width to height ratio and spacing have been adjusted in our graphics package and individually placed.

The client requested if we could design, manufacture and deliver ready for a mid July grading. 

The Hanko is in the post with a few days to spare.

Square personal Hanko

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Club and Personal Hanko

A 24 x 24mm standard club hanko, the kana are katakana and kanji.

Also a personal hanko producing an oval inkan. Most personal hanko are 12mm diameter and this is like an "everyday" hanko for personal use in Japan and would normally just have the surname. 

We are regularly asked to produce a hanko with both Christian and Surname. There are too many kana for a small round stamp so we  recommend an oval design with dimensions of 16 x 11mm is used. 

In the West it is common practice to just use your Christian name on a hanko (the name you are known by). In the East people may have been friends for 40 or 50 years, but would still call each other by their Surname. 

Although it is not "normal" in Japan, I think it is much more common in the West to be known by your full name. When perhaps using just the Christian name is too informal and using a title and Surname too formal, a happy balance perhaps.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Simone's stamp to Sweden

 We recently made an examiner's stamp and sent over to Sweden.

We offer Worldwide postage and delivery is usually about 10 to 14 days from order, hopefully we will beat the Xmas rush.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Oval Inkan Format

 We were recently asked to produce an inkan with a full name. 

Traditionally a single name is used and it is the name you are known by. So in the east this is normally your Surname and in the west typically your Christian name. If you do require both the normally round format does not really work so we opt for a oval format, which is also quite common in Japan. 

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Seishin Stamps

 We were recently asked if we could do some designs for both dojo and individual stamps for Seishin karate. 

The club hanko were in our standard 24 x 24mm format and the individual stamps were sized at 12mm diameter.

The club requested were do a graphic of their logo with the kanji in the four corners. This is not something we have done before but custom is what we do best.

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

This weeks hanko "Specials"

This week we have done a few "Specials" that I thought I would share with you.
Although 90% of our business is producing what I would call "semi-traditional" stamps now and again we are asked if we can look at making something a little different.

The first was for a personal hanko, this would normally be first name for a westerner, but our client requested to have both names we produced some graphics for him to look at.

and he selected the Square stamp with both his names in a square border.

The second stamp was a request to make a self stamping version of the client's traditional hanko, but the customer wanted a larger stamp to fill more of the space in the grading book.

We again produced a few graphics and the client requested to add his full name as well as the Katakana for Harris.

The Third stamp was a request for a club logo in a hanko, the graphics the club had was very poor quality so we had a bit of work to do to to convert to a vector image that we could use, but we got there in the end.

The last was a bit of a "blue sky" request from the "Karate Doctor" he had a graphic below

and requested if we could turn this into a hanko. Well there were a few challenges, a stamp can only be a single colour of course. We had to start from scratch and started with a line drawing of a doctor, we added a dogi with a rising sun and added the kanji for karate Isha - Karate doctor.

Commercially custom stamps don't make any sense, they would be very expensive if we charged for all the time it takes to create them. We are happy for them to be a "lost leader" and enjoy providing a service for fellow martial artists.

If you are interested in purchasing a hanko, please contact us with some initial details of your requirements to sotosabisu@btinternet.com

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

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.

Traditional Inkan

A great video about traditional Inkan



To find out more about our ranges of self inking stamps, click on the links in the sidebar, please take a look and drop us a mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com with details of your project.

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.

Name Seals - Hanko by Begin Japanology

A great little video giving great detail about Inkan and Hanko in Japan


To find out more about our ranges of self inking stamps, click on the links in the sidebar, please take a look and drop us a mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com with details of your project.

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.

Inkan for Ireland

We recently had a general enquiry from Northern Ireland and were happy to offer some advice, just as "added value".

We were a little surprised (and pleased) when our client first requested a traditional style Inkan that would typically be used by the examiner in grading books.
Followed by a fully custom stamp that is not to a traditional Japanese layout, but incorporates his name in script and translated into katakana below.

Although it takes considerably longer to produce a fully custom stamp rather than stock, we take great pride in working with our clients and try our best to produce something to their requirements.

Pictured above are the completed stamps just before shipping.
Delivery is normally 7 to 10 days from inquiry.

If you have a project in mind just drop us an E Mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com
Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan 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.