A hanko (or inkan) is a seal widely used in Japan by individuals or companies as an equivalent to a signature. For personal use, there are at least four kinds of seals differentiated by their importance and formality. Off-the-shelf hanko like the ones in the photo, being mass-produced, of course should not be used for official or legal documents but rather for signing for postal deliveries, utility bill payments or receipt of internal company documents, for instance.
