What to Do with Your Maiden Name Stamp After Getting Married? Lesser-Known Tips on Handling Your Seal

2020.02.23 published

If You Change Your Surname, You Will Need a New Hanko!

When you get married and change your surname, you will need a new hanko.

☑ "Jitsuin" with legal authority

☑ "Ginkoin" required for banking procedures

☑ "Ninjin" needed for everyday administrative tasks

These are the three types.

If you have been using a hanko with your previous surname, you will no longer be able to use it after the marriage.

After the marriage, you will need a hanko for many situations like moving or changing the name on accounts, so it's important to prepare a new one with your new surname as soon as possible.

@ryui0402

I Bought a Hanko with My New Surname! What Should I Do with My Old Hanko?

It's fine to simply purchase a new hanko with your new surname.

But what should you do with your old hanko?

The hanko with your old surname is something you'll likely never use again in your life.

You could:

☑ Give it to your parents

☑ Keep it as a memento

However, many people may want to dispose of it if they feel it's no longer needed!

Therefore, this article will explain how to dispose of unnecessary old hankos, as well as precautions and timing for disposal.

How to Dispose of an Old Hanko Method 1: Throw it Away Yourself

The easiest way is to throw it away as household waste. If you don't have a particular attachment to the hanko, perform either of the following before disposal:

☑ Scrape the surface of the hanko with a cutter

☑ Apply glue to the surface to fill in the grooves

It's important to ensure the disposed hanko can't be misused; make sure it's rendered unusable before throwing it away.

How to Dispose of an Old Hanko Method 2: Have a Hanko Shop Dispose of It

Some hanko shops offer hanko disposal services. They not only break down the surface to eliminate its legal authority but also perform a ritual to honor it over time.

In Japan, there's a long-standing belief that "hankos must have their 'ki' released before being discarded."

A cherished hanko is considered a part of that person. It's thought to be bad luck to dispose of it without properly releasing its spirit.

To release the 'ki,' you need to wrap the hanko in paper and leave it on a home altar or in a dark place for about a year.

Since doing this at home can be challenging, many prefer to pay a hanko shop to handle it for them.

How to Dispose of an Old Hanko Method 3: Have a Shrine Perform Hanko Memorial Services

Hanko memorial services are held by many shrines across the country on October 1st, "Hanko Day," where old hankos and nameplates are collected, prayed over, and then burned.

This is similar to taking old talismans or charms to a shrine on New Year's Day.

This method is recommended for those who are hesitant to dispose of the hanko as trash, or those who wish to express gratitude when disposing of it.

You can take it directly to a shrine, but sending it to a hanko shop to take it for you seems to be a more common practice.

Note that rubber stamps are often excluded from this.

I have introduced methods for disposing of unnecessary old hankos.

If you're thinking of disposing of it right away, hold on a moment!

The timing for hanko disposal is important too.

When is the Right Time to Dispose of an Old Hanko?

The right time to dispose of an old hanko is not immediately after marriage.

If it's your bank stamp, you'll need to have it on hand for name change procedures. Be careful not to dispose of it before completing this process!

Furthermore, if you were using the old hanko as a jitsuin, make sure to register your new surname's hanko as a jitsuin before disposing of the old one.

This way, even if it were to be misused, it would no longer be effective, providing peace of mind.

The items needed for jitsuin registration are as follows:

It's smooth to process after completing name change procedures for your driver's license or passport following marriage.

☑ Hanko for registration

☑ Identification document (passport, driver's license, etc.)

☑ Registration fee (around 100-300 yen)

Since it's not something you need to dispose of immediately, it's recommended to keep it on hand until your new life settles down.

Saying Goodbye to Your Old Hanko with Gratitude♡

This article has introduced methods for disposing of your old hanko.

Getting married is the start of a new life with a new surname, and it’s a meaningful gesture to express gratitude to your old surname by considering a memorial if time permits.♡