[Kamakura Stamps] [Traditional Japanese Culture] A Couple Becomes First-Class Seal Engravers Image
URL: Kamakura Stamps Press Release: August 30, 2025 [Traditional Japanese Culture] A Couple Becomes First-Class Seal Engravers Only five groups nationwide. Taking on the challenge of digitalization in adversity Mitsuhiro Tsukino (46), owner of Kamakura Hanko (a long-established seal shop in Onarimachi, Kamakura City, founded 70 years ago and passed through three generations. With a track record of carving over 30,000 seals for famous temples and shrines nationwide, ministers of state, politicians, sumo wrestlers, people in the entertainment and sports industries, and company executives), and his wife, Chieko Tsukino (41), have both passed the first-level national certification exam for seal carving (wood engraving). Only a handful of couples in the country (fewer than five) hold this first-level certification. Despite the headwinds of digitalization and paperless operations, we aim to “deepen our learning, share Japan’s traditional culture with the world, and pass it on to future generations.”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpOrvMKBkEE To qualify for the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s Grade 1 Skill Test, candidates must have at least seven years of work experience or two years of work experience after passing Grade 2, demonstrating solid skills and knowledge. The exam is held only once every three years, and at the January test held in Yokohama this year, only a married couple from the prefecture took the Grade 1 test. Approximately 110 people from across the country competed for both Grade 1 and Grade 2. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103045/3/103045-3-f62295db33c457d47c608ab4e656cff3-2954×2113.jpg 16 characters engraved on a stamp smaller than a 1 yen coin (Efforts to Pass) The practical section, considered particularly difficult, requires candidates to hand-carve 16 characters into an 18mm diameter piece of boxwood (tsuge) in five hours and 30 minutes. The characters are incredibly thin, measuring just 0.2 mm, and the artisan’s skill is evident in the way the seal blades are sharpened. In fact, they had attempted the first-grade exam three years ago. Unfortunately, they failed, but they vowed to pass the next one and continued to put in extraordinary effort. In addition to their daytime jobs, they attended seminars and practiced early in the morning and late at night, carving over 50 pieces of jujube wood each. We believe that “seals are a lifelong companion. We want to craft them with solid techniques and deliver them responsibly. Furthermore, with the nationwide decline in skilled craftsmen, we also want to focus on educational activities.”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yew75p1veWM Japanese craftsmanship (What is a first-class carving technician) The “certified seal engraver” is a national qualification awarded only to those who pass a test administered by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. By law, those without a seal engraver certification are prohibited from calling themselves a seal engraver. This certification certifies that the holder possesses a minimum level of knowledge of seals and rubber stamps, a thorough understanding of basic engraving techniques, and the carving skills to create a complete set of extremely difficult official seals (16 characters engraved on an 18mm round seal, smaller than a 1 yen coin) completely by hand. Achieving a first-class seal engraver is considered particularly challenging, requiring 7 to 15 years of dedicated training. Even among the approximately 10,000 seal-related businesses nationwide, only a select few (only about 100 people nationwide) can achieve this qualification.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103045/3/103045-3-8b0e3a285ca7d7e0898f4a7ab55236fd-378×337.jpg Of the approximately 10,000 seal-related businesses, there are several hundred seal engravers.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFY5d7H7rYE (For those aspiring to become a seal craftsman) First-Class EngraverThis is a certification for seal craftsmen, held by only a few hundred people nationwide. Obtaining this certification not only proves your work experience, but also your high level of skill and knowledge. If you’re interested in becoming a seal craftsman or stamp craftsman, please see below for details on the qualification, its benefits, how to obtain it, and testimonials. For those who want to become a stamp craftsman https://www.kamakurahanko.com/syokunin
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/103045/3/103045-3-ce975cea8a2c5fd7dcb5c7ef64f007d4-753×179.jpg Kamakura Stamps 5-6-1A Onarimachi, Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 248-0012 0467-37-9297 kamakurahanko@gf7.so-net.ne.jp ・A
long-established seal shop founded 70 years ago, passed down through three generations ・A track record of producing goshuin (red seals) for numerous temples and shrines across the country ・An experience of engraving over 30,000 seals for people in politics, business, entertainment, and sports ・Nationally certified first-class engraver ・Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award at the 63rd National Recommended Tourist Souvenir Review ・Gold Award in the Seal Script category and Gold Award in the Ancient Seal category at the China Seal Competition ・Received the Chairman’s Special Award at the Great Seal Exhibition Official Website https://www.kamakurahanko.com/ Japanese government SNS (article posted) [Facebook]
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