Synopsis

For centuries, the Japanese have relied on personal seals, called Hanko, as a mark of identity. These stamps feature in daily life – from accepting a delivery to conducting business – and are deeply ingrained in the culture. Today, we meet Kobayashi Shigehito, a Hanko carver, who demonstrates the painstaking process of crafting one by hand. We also explore how the shift toward remote work, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is reshaping the use of these traditional seals.