When You're in Trouble
Emergencies and Disasters
Accidents
Organizations Providing Support for Foreign Residents
When You Get Sick
Medical Treatment Questionnaire
Night,Weekend and Holiday Emergency Medical Facilities
Weights and Measures Conversion Table

@

to Yamaguchi City International Affairs Office

@

@

Name Seals

œName Seals vs. Signatures
In Japan, in general, instead of the signature, name seals (small wood or plastic sticks with one's name carved on one end) are used as the proof of the individuality when signing or applying for the contract. Therefore, it is better to have a name seal in daily life in Japan.

œKinds of Name Seals:
There are two kinds of name seals, a registered seal (jitsu-in) and a personal seal (mitome-in). Each one is used for the different purposes.

œHow a Registered Seal Is Used:
A registered seal is the one which has been registered at the City Hall as the proof of identification.@A register seal is used when purchasing extraordinary things such as real estate or automobiles, so it is not usually used for ordinary purposes.

œHow a Personal Seal Is Used:
In comparison with a registered seal,a name seal which is used in everyday life is called a "personal sea".
A personal seal is used for the following purposes:

• To open a savings or checking account at the post office or bank
• To apply for many different documents at the City Hall
• To start electricity, water, and gas services

œHow to Make a Name Seal:
The name seal can be ordered at any name seal shops (inbanten) in the city (please see the list below). Have the shop carve your name in kanji or katakana. The cost of a name seal will be determined by the numbers of the characters carved on the stick.. A six characters seal costs about 1,000 yen and will take about two days to make.@Name seals with fewer characters can sometimes be made in about 2 or 3 hours.

<Name Seal Shops in the City>

@